High School Students Demand Change
They’re calling BS and fighting for their lives
By Amanda Westlake
The Progressive Teen Staff Writer
SINCE THE TRAGIC SCHOOL SHOOTING IN PARKLAND, FL on February 14th, the United States has been grappling with grief, guilt, and the daunting question of how to prevent shootings like this from happening again. The most recent tragedy in a list that is far too long, the event has sparked a national conversation that is, like most national conversations these days, heated and contentious. Progressives champion gun control, background checks, a ban on semi-automatic weapons; conservatives point towards mental health as a root cause and stand steadfastly by second amendment rights; and the President of the United States suggests arming teachers in a highly controversial plan to defend students.
At first glance, one might assume that this is merely more of the same old, same old rhetoric that has been repeated so many times in the past but rarely leads to any actual action. After all, nearly twenty years have gone by since Columbine, and we still have no clear solution to what has become an epidemic of violence- by one count, there have been 63 school shootings in the United States since Sandy Hook took place five years ago. And that’s just in schools- if you look at the number for mass shootings, defined as incidents in which four or more people were killed, it goes all the way up to a staggering 1,607 separate incidents. After each fresh tragedy, everybody agrees that something needs to be done, and yet time after time, a few weeks pass and the public and media move on without any new legislation or meaningful reform having been instituted. Eventually, another shooting happens, and so the horrific and endless cycle goes on and on again.
This time around, though, something seems to be different. Discourse on gun violence still features prominently in the news almost two weeks later, and momentum for gun control seem to be growing rather than declining. People are no longer content with the oft touted “thoughts and prayers” sentiment or purely symbolic moments- they want reform, and students more than anyone else. Leading the way are the survivors, the students from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School who witnessed the tragedy firsthand. Unafraid to “call BS” on a government they feel is apathetic and ineffective, the group is now speaking out for what they believe in and working to establish tougher gun control with their movement entitled #NeverAgain.
Last week, dozens of Parkland students traveled by bus to Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, to lobby the Republican held State Legislature for a gun control bill, holding their representatives accountable and pushing for immediate action in response to the shooting. As student Oliva Feller put it, “We are, honestly at this point, begging them to do something, to save our lives, to save teachers’ lives.” On Tuesday, though, the Florida House failed to bring an assault rifle ban bill to the floor. While this was a disappointing outcome for all, the teens barely paused before continuing on. Instead of becoming discouraged, the next day they responded by holding a rally outside of the State House with thousands of students in attendance. Then, they went directly to their US Senators and Representatives, including past Presidential candidate and recipient of NRA donations Senator Marco Rubio, on a CNN town hall.
“We are, honestly at this point, begging them to do something, to save our lives, to save teachers’ lives.”
Everything about these students is impressive, from their eloquent, powerful speeches to actions that appear consistently well thought out and organized. They’ve effectively harnessed the power of social media, too- @NeverAgainMSD, the movement’s official twitter page, has 96.1 thousand followers as of February 25th. News organizations, along with millions of Americans, are paying them close attention- something new for high school students, who rarely ever make waves in the political scene. It’s an achievement in itself to make headlines, and instrumental for a group of young people who need the government to take notice in order to accomplish their goals.
And though the Parkland students are at the forefront of the movement, perhaps even more significant are the thousands of teens across the country standing behind them. Already, there are two national events planned- the #Enough school walkout of March 14th orchestrated by the Women’s March organization, and the March 24th March for Our Lives, led in Washington DC by the #NeverAgain student leaders, and with satellite style marches planned across the country. Combined, these two events have the power to attract an enormous amount of attention- the walkout in particular, because it takes place during school hours and will be much harder for elected officials to ignore.
Will this movement lead to sufficient gun control reform and a definitive end to school shootings? Maybe- but then again, maybe not. Congress remains deeply divided, and it’s unlikely that the second amendment will be repealed anytime soon. As always, the forces at play here are complex, and it would be a mistake to underestimate the NRA and other pro-gun advocates. However, there could be positive steps on the horizon- banning bump stocks, maybe, or raising the legal age to buy guns from 18 to 21. Neither of these are comprehensive solutions, but at least it’s something, and even the smallest of changes are progress. And in a time when young people are characterized as only caring about Instagram or avocados, this could be a large step forward for them, too. As the Stoneman students have proved, teenagers really do care about the issues, and when given the chance, they’re capable of doing incredible things.
