A generation that has grown up post Columbine, with lock-down drills a part of every school year, has decided to engage in the issue of gun violence.
My kids have lock-down drills in Pre-K. I cannot explain how insane that seems. The school does a good job explaining it to younger kids without scaring them too much. But it is still terrifying to hear your child come home and talk about how they hid in a closet to practice if there was a “bad man in the school”.
It’s good to know that when these kids grow up, they will question these why we are the only country in the world where mass shootings are routine.
At other high schools across the country, students rallied in solidarity with Stoneman Douglas High and staged walkouts to protest what they called Washington’s inaction in protecting students and teachers. A gun control advocacy group, Moms Demand Action, said it had been so overwhelmed with requests from students that it was setting up a parallel, student focused advocacy group.
“People say it’s too early to talk about it,” Mr. Kasky said. “If you ask me, it’s way too late.” [...]
“We agreed that our politicians have to do more than say thoughts and prayers,” Ms. Campbell-Oates said. “We want voters to know that midterms are coming up. Some of us can’t vote yet but we want to get to the people that can to vote in common sense laws, ban assault rifles and require mental health checks before gun purchases.” — www.nytimes.com/...
Point students who wish to be engaged in this issue to Everytown and Moms Demand Action, you can use the info below.
This generation is smart enough to realize the politicians can respond to tragedy with meaningful policy change:
It’s often said that the gun lobby is so effective because it has a small number of very highly-motivated single issue voters. It seems as if an entire generation of kids is going to become highly-motivated voters very conversant with this issue. And that is our best chance for change.
Like all effective movements, these students are finding each other and working collaboratively.
— @subirgrewal