Tomorrow, Saturday, the March for Our Lives is taking place all over the country. As such, The Guardian has invited student journalists from Parkland, Florida’s high school newspaper, The Eagle Eye, to direct our coverage of the March for Our Lives gun violence protest. Throughout the weekend you’ll find exclusive features, interviews and live reports from the ground.
In their first editorial, the students introduce themselves and lay out the changes they would like to see enacted.
As a student publication, the Eagle Eye works to tell the stories of those who do not have a voice. Today, we are the ones who feel our voice must be elevated.
In the wake of the tragedy that occurred at our school on 14 February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, our lives have changed beyond what we ever imagined. We, along with our publication, have been transformed. We will remain so for the rest of our lives.
Ban semi-automatic weapons that fire high-velocity rounds
Civilians shouldn’t have access to the same weapons that soldiers do. That’s a gross misuse of the second amendment.Ban accessories that simulate automatic weapons
High-capacity magazines played a huge role in the shooting at our school. In only 10 minutes, 17 people were killed, and 17 others were injured. This is unacceptable.Establish a database of gun sales and universal background checks
We believe that there should be a database recording which guns are sold in the United States, to whom, and of what caliber and capacity they are.Change privacy laws to allow mental healthcare providers to communicate with law enforcement
As seen in the tragedy at our school, poor communication between mental healthcare providers and law enforcement may have contributed to a disturbed person with murderous tendencies and intentions entering a school and gunning down 17 people in cold blood.Close gun show and secondhand sales loopholes
Thanks to loopholes, people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to buy firearms are able to purchase them at gun shows and secondhand sales. The existence of these loopholes reflects the ineptitude of state and federal legislators.Allow the CDC to make recommendations for gun reform
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be allowed to conduct research on the dangers of gun violence. The fact that they are currently prohibited from doing so undermines the first amendment. It also violates the rights of the American people.Raise the firearm purchase age to 21
In a few months from now, many of us will be turning 18. We will not be able to drink; we will not be able to rent a car. Most of us will still be living with our parents. We will not be able to purchase a handgun. And yet, we will be able to purchase an AR-15.Dedicate more funds to mental health research and professionals
Federal and state government should earmark more funds specifically for mental health services. Those with mental health issues, especially those who express aggressive, violent, suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts should have the opportunity to receive the help they need regardless of their economic status.Increase funding for school security
We believe that schools should be given sufficient funds for school security and resource officers to protect and secure the entire campus. As a school of over 3,000 students, teachers and faculty, Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school was only supplied funds to hire one on-campus armed resource officer by the state.
Are you participating in the March tomorrow? What do you think about the changes the students have listed? As always, please sound off in the comments.
There was a terrific turnout in Boston for the March for Our Lives including a large contingent from Newton. There are some great pictures of those marching in Bostin, Washington DC and internationally.
Today in the “Commonwealth Magazine’s” the “Upload,” guest author Carol Rose, the executive director of ACLU of MA, wrote about how defending Free Speech is critical to being able to hold protests about gun control. Uhttps://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/why-free-speech-must-be-defended/
This is a great article by the Parland high school students about yesterday’s marches in 50 states and the ways they’re not going away.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/25/marjory-stoneman-douglas-high-school-parkland-students
This was the NRA’s reaction to Saturday’s March:
On Facebook Saturday morning, the NRA posted a short membership-drive video along with a brief message.
“Stand and Fight for our Kids’ Safety by Joining NRA,” it said. “Today’s protests aren’t spontaneous. Gun-hating billionaires and Hollywood elites are manipulating and exploiting children as part of their plan to DESTROY the Second Amendment and strip us of our right to defend ourselves and our loved ones.”
On Thursday evening, NRA TV posted a clip on its YouTube channel entitled “A march for their lies” where the host addressed the Parkland students and said that if their friends hadn’t died, “no one would know your names.”
“To all the kids from Parkland getting ready to use your First Amendment to attack everyone else’s Second Amendment at your march on Saturday, I wish a hero like Blaine had been at Marjory Douglas High School last month,” Colion Noir said. “Because your classmates would still be alive and no one would know your names. And because the media would have completely and utterly ignored your story the way they ignored his.”
He was referring to Blaine Gaskill, the school resource officer who was instrumental in bringing a school shooting to a quick end at Great Mills High School in Maryland on Tuesday.
I’m so grateful that Joanne and I decided, at the last minute, to go to the rally. This was an emotional and almost overpowering event. I’m encouraged because they are putting front and center the link between the way we fund political campaigns and the senseless carnage from guns. And they also seem to recognize that many other unresolved and festering problems we have are caused by the absurd way we finance political campaigns. Yesterday, I began to sense that we may be on the brink of a Twenty First Century Progressive movement that might even be stronger and deeper than the Progressive Movement at the beginning of the last century. Let’s hope.