It’s been more than a month now since the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and it is important to see where the gun control conversation is at this point. Thus far, we have seen Florida change its laws to prohibit any person under the age of 21 to purchase a firearm, certainly a strong step in the right direction. This would have prevented the 19-year-old gunman from the shooting from purchasing a weapon. We have also seen Walmart change its gun purchasing restrictions, changing the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21 years-old, as well as stopping the sale of weapons that look similar to assault rifles, including air guns. Dicks followed suit by prohibiting the sale of assault-style rifles, high capacity magazines and disallow anyone under the age of 21 to buy a gun.
These are all great steps towards a country without nearly as much gun violence. But they are just steps. Compared to the immediate days and weeks following the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, the national conversation on gun control and gun violence has drastically quieted. After the National School Walkout on March 14th, in which thousands of students across the country skipped classes to stand outside of their school to protest current gun laws and what is being done to change them, not much has been spoken about gun control.
Protests have begun to slow and disappear. Conversations have died down about the gravity of these laws. The 24-hour news cycle has taken another victim and gun control is beginning to fade into the background yet again until another mass shooting occurs.
Those against gun control, for some reason, waited for someone else to take action. And after waiting and waiting, shooting after shooting, the younger generation stood up against the current laws. The generation that is constantly told their attention span is now just above a goldfish’s, told they are on their phones too often, told that they are missing out on the world around them because they are constantly looking at their phone. Now, after the world around them killed their classmates, their passionate protesting has fallen into the background like all the others. Those in power who spoke words of support are quiet again and not much has changed.
Hopefully, the few effects these students made will bring about fewer shootings. However, guns are still most accessibly bought at gun shows, where, in 49 states, you only have to be 18 to buy a gun. Perhaps the conversation on mental illness, whatever that may mean, has improved and people will notice the signs of a killer. Or, at least, they will notice the signs of a depressed friend.
Again, I encourage everyone to take action at the local polls in November because those in power probably aren’t going to change any gun laws if they have not this far.
