On February 14th, 2018, 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland Florida. A majority of those killed were high school freshmen. This isn’t the first mass shooting to occur on U.S. soil, and unfortunately it trails behind tragedies like Sandy Hook and Columbine. However, the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas relit the heated topic of gun control in the United States. People, particularly students, are fed up with school shootings and frustrated that the government keeps overlooking the issue. Mass shootings are committed most often with automatic assault rifles. These weapons are easily attainable, and legal in the United States.
Since the February 14th shooting, the survivors in Parkland have loudly called for gun reform This movement includes students all across the country who are tired of living in fear of mass shootings in their schools. In light of this, March for Our Lives was organized. March for Our Lives is a march in D.C. that will be held on March 24th. Students will gather to protest the distribution of automatic assault rifles, and try to encourage congress to pass stricter gun control laws.
Schools in Goshen are planning to travel to D.C. to join this march. There are sign ups for the March on bulletin boards across Bethany. I encourage those of you who are able to sign up (with parents permission of course). A charter bus will leave Bethany Friday evening of the 23rd and go to D.C. to participate in the March. If you are unable to travel that distance, there are sister marches in Goshen and in Indianapolis. If you have further questions about the March, talk to Elizabeth Eby (12th grade) or visit the March’s website https://marchforourlives.com/.
It is time that a stand is taken. Enough is enough. Many students have been killed due lackluster gun laws. It is my hope and prayer that Parkland is the last mass school shooting and that students in the United States are able to wake up the government and see a change in United States gun laws.