Thousands of students across the nation walked out of their classes at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 14 to protest the rash of gun violence at schools that began nearly 20 years ago and has intensified in the past decade. Students in Florida, which experienced to most recent shooting marched to the state house demanding universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons such as the one used last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Students in the Washington D.C. area marched to the U.S. Capitol building with similar demands on the nation's lawmakers. At Aragon students and teachers sat silently for 17 minutes on the football field observing a minute of silence for each of the victims. Parents and children from the neighborhood attended the event and brought signs of support.
Discussion Questions
1. Why did you choose to participate in the walk out or not?
2. What changes do lawmakers need to make to break the pattern of school shootings?
3. Is it time to rethink the 2nd amendment or are there better ways to address the problem?
I seriously think that the 2nd amendment needs to be changed. With the tragic event that happened in Parkland, Florida, something needs to be done. We cannot keep allowing gun violence to cause such devastating results all around the country. I feel that in order to reduce the amount of incidents that happen, we need to make gun laws tighter. This starts with the issuing of a gun permit at a higher age. We need to realize that guns are weapons and serve one main function. How is it possible that we are ok with teenagers walking around with these weapons, but are ineligible to consume alcohol. Guns are way more dangerous than rash decisions under the influence of alcohol. Secondly, we need to stricken background checks. Some people with gun permits use their weapons irresponsibly, and we need to make sure that these people do not get their hands on them. Obtaining and using a guns requires an extreme amount of precaution. Currently, the gun policy in the United States is not working out. Politicians need to understand this and fix the manner in which guns are distributed. We cannot allow more innocent people to be harmed due to a law that needs to be revised.
ReplyDeleteThe second amendment is a crucial topic that needs more thought about. Of course people have the right to own an gun but when events such as the shooting in Parkland, Florida happen it is a sign that something needs to change. Gun laws should be stricter especially as Neel said that we need to realize that background checks should be a neccesity. This is not the first time where a school full of innocent children have been killed. As seen in the Sandy Hook shooting children were killed as a result of the gun "laws." Guns are for self protection but when they start to become a use for taking other people lives then something needs to change. For someone to have the capability to take someone life is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteI chose to participate in the walkout because I am an avid supporter of gun safety and legislation that can ensure the public is safe from tragedies like the event of a little over a month ago. The majority of Americans feel the same way, regardless of their political association. This shouldn't be a partisan issue anymore. The safety of students and the general American public shouldn't be identity politics anymore. Lobbying from the NRA is an incredibly big issue that has given the NRA intense political power, which disproportionately affects the views of our congresspeople and angers the majority of constituents. Multiple companies funding and partnering with the NRA have taken notice of this, and in lieu of the Stoneman Douglas shooting and the consequential awareness stemming from that mass shooting, have stopped their relation to them. To further combat this, strict regulations should be put in place to limit the amount a single organization can give a candidate, regardless of intent or party. It creates bias and a disproportionate representation of their constituents. They should also implement background checks and a complete ban of assault-style weapons and military grade weapons. The public should not have access to this, especially if they don't have adequate training or a criminal background. Mental health should also be taken into account and there should be tests and backgrounds scanned to ensure gun purchasers are mentally healthy, but we should address this problem as a separate issue from gun safety.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the second amendment needs to be reconsidered. The shooting in Parkland, Florida was only one of many incredibly tragic shootings. I understand that making a change cannot happen within seconds, but how long will it take for congress to take action? How many more incidents have to occur in order for them to realize how serious the situation is? Access to guns is way too easy than it should be & I believe that gun laws should be much stricter. Though in some situations guns have been used to protect/self-defense, their use to kill extremely outweighs that. 64% of homicides in the US are gun-related (2016) . Other countries like Australia have changed their gun laws & it has shown to be an extremely effective move on their part, lowering gun-related homicides by a staggering amount. If change doesn't happen soon, it'll only keep happening & people will continue to live in fear.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing, I'm very on the fence about this issue in terms of what exactly I think should be done. I didn't participate in the walkout, but looking back I greatly regret not doing so, as the more time I've spent thinking about it, the more pressing the issue has become to me. I genuinely mean it when I say I don't know why I didn't participate, but ultimately I feel somewhat cowardly for not doing so under the circumstances that I was in. Maybe I'm just very politically confused. That being said, what I think this all ultimately boils down to is that we as a country have a problem, and we all want to fix it in some way or another, it's just that we all have very different ways of doing so. We seem to be in a constant cycle whenever these tragedies occur. There'll be a shooting, we give our condolences, we pray, we hang our flags at half mast, and the once that's all said and done we'll yell at each other about how we should fix the problem, and by the end of it nothing will have been done to actually fix anything, and the process repeats. And I hate saying this, but I've become desensitized to these type of occurrences, and I think that to a certain extent we all have. This doesn't need to be how it is, and I don't think we should let a several hundred year old statement decide that. The document itself may be very important, but it's not perfect. Speaking out against those who oppress you is a right, being able to defend yourself in court is a right, living in a country where you're free to believe whatever you want is a right, but owning a weapon that can end the life of another human being with the movement of a finger should not be a right, it should be a privilege. I don't think we should ban guns completely, despite what I've said so far I genuinely don't, but clearly there needs to be a higher level of control around the distribution. Something needs to change in this country, and in my opinion actively addressing gun control is the first step in doing so.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely time to rethink the second amendment. These amendments were established a long time ago, and times have changed since then. I chose to participate in the walk because of personal reasons. In my school in Los Angeles, there would be shootings in my neighborhood (and that was just casual). Enough is enough. Too many shootings have been happening, and I blame the government for it. It is their responsibility to assure families that their children will come back home to them. it is time for change. I also chose to participate because it's hard to think about the possibility of one of these shootings happening at YOUR school.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who strongly supports gun laws that need to implemented, I joined the walkout in support of that and to commemorate those in Florida who were victims of yet another school shooting. It is definitely time to rethink the second amendment; since amendments were ratified in 1791, times have changed and we live in a world where we no longer need guns in our homes for the same reasons people back then had. Guns seem to be such a crucial part of America, one we do not need. The safety of students is being threatened everyday simply because people out there are more concerned with owning a firearm themselves than protect students/children, who are constantly becoming the victims of this ever so important second amendment. Regardless of political status, protecting our generation and many more to come should be so important the government should be taking any necessary steps in order to see it happen. In other countries, such as Japan and Australia, strict gun laws prove to be successful. After a deadly mass shooting in 1996, which resulted in 33 deaths, Australia imposed gun laws that banned guns across the country. Since then, there has not been a single mass shooting in Australia while I have been alive to witness more than 30, 2 of which took place a deadliest mass shooting in America. These statistics should be more than enough to convince lawmakers, but our safety seems to be less of a priority to them than keeping their semi-automatic rifles. While they may claim that it is the fault of the perpetrator, who is constantly a loner or bullied, it is with their gun they are able to commit such horrendous crimes. Being bullied does not give the right to shoot up schools and take away the idea that school isa place to be safe and learn. Students go to school to better their futures, not end them.
ReplyDeleteI chose to participate, because without participation, we cannot change things. If twenty students had showed up, the message wouldn't have been nearly as powerful. It is heartbreaking to see students, kids my age go to school, and never return because they become victims of such tragic shootings. While the presence of Aragon's student body on the football field cannot directly change things, out school was one of many many schools across the nation, and by doing this, we draw attention to the things that matter. Change begins with the individual, and that being said, I definitely think it is time that lawmakers re evaluate the process, restriction, and control of guns. The problem with guns is that there is no clear solution, as there are many nuances and loopholes that need to be thought of. While I don't believe the complete eradication of the right to bear arms is the definite solution, there needs to be a crackdown on the purchase of such weapons. Universal background checks are a great start to the process of gun control and safety, and a truly small price to pay for the safety of our own. Although there may be no "good" way to approach gun control, students are speaking up and taking steps in the right direction. By bringing light to the things we want to change, we become much closer to changing them.
ReplyDeleteI did participate in the walk out at school because I believe in the message it sent. Students across the nation are fed up with the government and the way they've been handling tragedies like this. I think a 17 minute walk out didn't take up to much class time, and sent a message to government officials pressuring them to start some change. As a community I feel that Aragon was able to come together on an issue that almost everyone agrees on.
ReplyDeleteI chose to participate in the walkout because I truly believe that gun safety measures need to be put into place. The tragic incident that occured in Parkland, Florida has touched the hearts of many and I think that we need to stop future incidents from occurring. Joining the walkout allowed me to be a part of a community who had the same values in mind and together, with all the other schools in the country, we are able to send a message across to the government. I definitely think that it is time to rethink the 2nd amendment because of the many risks that come with it. Government should start working to do more background checks on the people who buy guns, raising the age which you can buy a gun, etc. I do think that in general most people shouldn’t be allowed to have a gun, only police should, because allowing anyone to buy a gun is what instigates the risk of them shooting someone. If no one had guns, then people wouldn’t have to buy them to protect themselves. When doing background checks, the government should also take into consideration the mental background of the user because according to the Los Angeles Times, “research has shown that individuals with major mental disorders are more likely to commit violent acts.” We need to help politicians understand that if we don’t change now, we never will and we will only see a huge increase in the number of deaths caused by gun violence.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Neel in that the second amendment needs to be seriously reconsidered and reformed, if not abolished entirely. Historically, the second amendment was not, as we view it today, seen as an advocation for gun rights. We are unable to see into the minds of the founding fathers to discover why they wrote it, but it never explicitly states many of the things the NRA claims it does. The second amentment, in it's entirety, is as follows: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." For the greater part of our history, the latter section of the second amendment was ignored, and the statement was only thought of as a reaffirmation of the people's right to have a militia. This all changed in October 15, 1966, when the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was formed. At the time, there was rampant racially motivated crime on the African American population from the police. The second amendment was used as a legal defense for observing the police lawfully with weapons carried openly. The legislature (bipartisanly) responded by implementing harsh and detailed gun control, for at least partially racial motivations. This was all undone by the NRA. At the time a mere hunting organization, the NRA was revolutionized by the sudden flurry of gun control. They made their case to the Supreme court, using a disenfranchised gun owner from Washington D.C. as a plantiff to make their case - and won, successfully rolling back all that gun control. Thusly, the NRA and the second amendment became what they are today: the staunchest defenders of utterly unrestricted weapons to ever exist. But their origin story is the best proof for why we should be able to do away with the second amendment, or at least put incredibly thorough restrictions on its power. We never utilized the second amendment before it was changed in 1966, it was only used in a court of law twice before the NRA took notice of it. If we were able to get along so well without it, we should be able to go back. Lawmakers need to get out from under the NRA's thumb and push for real change. Our lives hang in the balance.
ReplyDeleteI chose to participate in the walkout because it seems ridiculous to me that action has not already been taken. So many people have died as a result of easy access to guns, and this issue has not been taken seriously by some people in government. Many kids are stepping up to change the second amendment because lawmakers are not doing it for them. The second amendment needs to be changed because although some people view it as ground rules for society, the laws are old and, like we are seeing today, not being used in the same circumstances as before. When the laws were written people needed guns to protect themselves and to provide for their families, but today many people are not using guns for these purposes at all. The ability to purchase a gun with little to no background checks is absurd, as these objects are weapons that are made to kill living things. The second amendment needs to be changed for the safety of everyone in the world, because a person's life is more important than a law made hundreds of years ago.
ReplyDeleteI chose to participate in the walkout because while we may be too young to vote, we are not too young to make our voices heard. It is time for this to change. If the government won't do anything about it, our generation will. I am tired of seeing the news informing people of yet another school shooting that took place. I am tired of hearing children who say they fear their school may be next. Our lives are more important than someone's hobby. Our constitution was written at a time where guns could shoot 3 rounds a minute. Times have changed. A typical A-15 assault rifle now a days can shoot 45 rounds per minute. Times have changed. Guns have changed, so why shouldn't the laws around guns change, too? I chose to walkout because enough is enough; we should protect kids, not guns.
ReplyDeleteI close to participate in the walkout because I am a supporter of gun safety. It has only been three months into 2018 and there has already been more than 17 shootings in US alone with at least seven of them has been school shootings. Safety of students and people should be number one priority right now. Gun violence and gone out of control and actions must be taken now. I truly believe it is time to reconsider the second amendment. This law had not been altered since a hundreds of years ago. Therefore, the law should really be revised. Now, kids are telling their parents that they are scared of going to school. School should be a safe and educational place for kids to learn and have fun. Now it's a fear for them. This is not an individuals job but as a whole community to help and spread awareness.
ReplyDeleteI chose to participate in the walkout because it was a protest against something that should be banned or restricted. Guns are dangerous weapons that can easily kill someone and the fact that it is so easy to buy one in America is very disturbing. Seeing that there has already been 17 shootings in the US in the year 2018 is scary and there needs to be a stop. The walkout was a great way to express my feelings during school and would've never missed it. Our government needs to take action and responsibility for what is happening. These past shootings are encouraging other people to do it as well and the only way to prevent these shootings is to prevent their access to guns. Our schools are in danger and it needs to stop. That's why i participated in the walkout
ReplyDeleteI did not participate in the walkout. I felt like it was not enough to create a motive to change in the government, and also conflicted between the two sides. There needs to be a larger amount of time missing from the daily jobs in the country, bring the country to a standstill until a step in the right direction is taken. Government officials seeing schools and offices abandoned for weeks should get them to do something, because that would stop economic growth which is a large priority for countries. People are fed up with the killings, I am too, so why not go all out, not just 17 short minutes during one day, skip school and jobs for weeks. But, there is always two sides to an argument, and there are some good reasons that people say we should keep guns. We can change the second amendment, but that will get people angry and I do not think it will last long. We need to enforce stricter conditions to buy guns, and interview extensively on the person's mental stability.
ReplyDeleteI think that this movement is really a start of "getting things done." Something our generation will do, especially tackling the controversial issue of gun control. I really believe in this movement but, I did not go to the walk out, and I regret it now. One reason was just because I'd rather do my homework and another one which after thinking about it wasn't so smart is the fact that at the walk out a lot of people there were fighting for the cause and on the other hand there were people who just wanted to skip class and be on their phones. And I sort of saw that as being disrespectful to the victims and not even caring about the cause. But, now after thinking about it I realized that even though some people were there just to skip class and didn't believe in the cause, I should have gone for what I believed and not let any other factor influence my decisions.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t participate in the walkout, because it isn’t going to change anything, and that it goes against my political beliefs. I wholeheartedly believe we should stop school shootings, I just have a different way of going about it than others. I am a strong believer in the second amendment and believe it is an inalienable right, so you are able to protect yourself and other who are in trouble. So what I’m getting at is that we shouldn’t ban guns and instead focus on mental problems that people have, and doing more careful examinations of people before they even become adults. And if someone comes up positive on one of these checks we can help them deal with the problem before it become too serious of a problem or something terrible happens.
ReplyDelete