On February 14, 17 were killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Since then, the national debate about gun violence in America has taken center stage. Students who survived the shooting started the #NeverAgain movement, and in just a few weeks, gained massive support in fostering change in America’s legislature. The fact that these students have taken action is great, but there are two major problems with the protests and many responses to the protests.
1) Saying “you’re either for us or against us.” Every American agrees that shootings like the one at Stoneman Douglas are a horrible atrocity. The #NeverAgain movement has gained so much coverage and support because people on both sides of the aisle understand the dire nature of the situation. Anyone who claims that the debate on a solution to this violence is a battle of good vs. evil is wrong. Emma Gonzalez, a survivor and student at Stoneman Douglas tweeted, “They are actively rooting for our deaths” in response to the Senate’s rejection of an assault weapons ban. Not only are things like this morally wrong, saying something like that is not a great move for support. Statements like these alienate a great portion of the country by calling them bad people because of what they believe.
2) Pretending any of the students are experts. Just because someone went through an awful tragedy doesn’t mean that they are now more qualified than anyone else in creating policy for the country. While these students are not stupid and are just as capable of having good ideas, they are also capable of having bad ones. The opinions and ideas of the survivors, while still important, should not be treated as any more factual or wise than any others.
I commend the students for taking action to change America and solve a problem in their world. Now, as an equally qualified high school student, here is my opinion on what America should do moving forward.
I believe that there is some criticism to be had with the system of purchasing a gun in America; there should be more thorough background checks to assure that disturbed people like Nikolas Cruz, the accused Stoneman Douglas shooter, cannot legally obtain a firearm. However, I think that gun control measures should stop there.
America guarantees the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment because America was established by everyday people who used their guns to fight tyranny and assured that future oppression and tyranny could be resisted. Some people believe that this does not account for modern weaponry like assault rifles, but I disagree.
In the modern day, handguns, not assault rifles, are used in 80 percent of gun violence in America annually, so unless we are willing to ban handguns, gun violence will not decrease. American citizens legally own about 270 million firearms, so seizing this many weapons would be next to impossible. Additionally, there is no evidence to support that this would be a good idea. A 2007 study published in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy found that “the nine European nations with the lowest rates of gun ownership (5,000 or fewer guns per 100,000 population) have a combined murder rate three times higher than that of the nine nations with the highest rates of gun ownership (at least 15,000 guns per 100,000 population).”
In America, specifically in schools, we should encourage, not discourage, responsible gun ownership. Teachers should be allowed (but not forced) to carry guns in school, and gun-free zones in general should be reduced. While this solution will not completely erase gun violence or violence in general in America, it is the easiest, most efficient, and most reasonable solution available right now. The best way to stop bad guys with guns is good guys with guns.
All this being said, I think the most important thing to keep in mind after the atrocities that America has experienced recently is unity. Civil discourse and disagreement is healthy for the country, but conflict and bitterness between parties is extremely destructive, and it gives more power to the people who seek to cause chaos in our society. We win by moving forward and making progress together, not by allowing evil people to create so much tension that we tear ourselves apart.
– By Harper Johnson