Image via Facebook
On February 14, the nation had to come to grips with yet another mass shooting. This time the victims were students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. A former student, who had a prior record of being unstable, entered the school with an AR-15 rifle — a similar weapon to those used in the gun violence massacres at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012, Pulse Nightclub in 2016 and in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The gunman’s killing spree left 17 people dead and at least 14 more people injured.And yet again, elected officials are refusing to take action on gun control legislation.Following these deadly events, politicians issued predictable “thoughts and prayers,” while the majority of Americans are pleading for gun control. One day after the tragedy in Parkland, President Trump took twitter to emphasize the problem of mental health while glazing over the epidemic of mass shootings.Despite most being too young to vote, the survivors of the school shooting are calling their elected officials to task and demanding them to create stricter gun laws.Students and the organizers of the Women’s March have planned a National School School Walkout Day on March 14. On that day at 10 a.m., students and allies will walk out of school for 17 minutes, the number of victims left dead from the shooting, to highlight the need for gun legislation. The Facebook event already has 29,000 confirmed attendees who will participate on the day of the event.Celebrities have begun to voice their support and donate to the cause.
Advertisement
Several students are speaking up about the government’s inability to keep them safe and complicity in accepting money from gun lobbyists from National Rifle Association (NRA).
It’s clear from the student response to the rampage in Florida that young Americans are poised to lead a social movement that can change cultural views about gun control.
What you can do:
Also, students organized the event called “The March for Our Lives,” which is scheduled for March 24. The demonstration will take place in Washington, D.C. and in various satellite cities across the country at 10 a.m. On the event Facebook page, more than 8,000 people are expected to attend.
Advertisement
And then some:
On Tuesday, actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney have pledged half a million dollars to the event.
Also, Lady Gaga and Alyssa Milano have given the activist teens a shout out for their advocacy work.Voting for people who support gun safety will help to push more gun laws that either prevent violent and potentially deadly people from gaining access to firearms or take away the ones they do have. Contact your congressperson today.