In America, we like to think that our opinions and our public outcries matter. It makes us feel good to tell ourselves that we live in a land that celebrates freedom of speech where the everyday man/woman can have an impact (no matter how small). The harsh reality is that, often, despite the noise that is made in the wake of unspeakable tragedy, public outcry and demonstration have little impact on policy.
The subject of gun violence is at the forefront of Twitter, Facebook, and virtually every social network. In the aftermath of the Pulse, Parkland, Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, Virginia Tech,, Sutherland and other senseless mass shootings, there have been pleas and demands from many Americans. We have asked to raise the age required to get a gun. We have demanded the edict that AR-15s be designated as an illegal weapon.
Making noise with no intentionality or hope to affect change isn’t anything other than noise. While it was nice that many Hamilton students and faculty wore black to pro- test gun violence, I don’t know that it had any impact. No one on this cam- pus (I hope) had their eyes opened to gun violence as a result of this movement.
While it was a nice sign of solidarity, did it do anything other than make us feel good for “bravely standing up against gun violence?” Perhaps the walk out scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 1 will be on a bigger scale and send more of a message. After all, it is a joint walk out inspired by Connecticut College and will likely receive some attention in the media.
Our own small protest did not and would not because (however harsh this may sound) no one cares. We live in a political and cultural system where we are categorized even before we speak.
As denizens of a liberal arts college, any statement or action is archetypal, expected, and almost immediately dismissed. We are called “snowflakes” and “liberal cucks” because we agree with basic social and common-law norms surrounding the rights for equality, expression, and public safety. Making noise or pro- tests will not do anything other than validate the claims that our generation champions social issues with no actual backbone made by those who attest they’re “defending the Second Amendment.”
Objectively speaking, they’re not wrong — to a certain extent. How can we expect to be taken seriously as a generation if our idea of political activism is wearing black or walking out of class at 1:30 PM? Does anyone seriously think that this will send a message to the National Rifle Association (NRA) or Marco Rubio?
As a quick caveat to you Second Amendment folks, I have one point to make. The Second Amendment was written as a provision so that the average man could arm himself and defend against the government. In 2018, if you’re a threat to the government, all the guns in the world won’t save you; they’ve got drones and rockets and people who can take you out from a different zip code. If your AR-15 and your shooting is more important to you than the lives of innocent school children, then shame on you.
There is one argument and one argument only for gun ownership in this day and age: “Screw off, I like guns and the Constitution says I can have them.” Also to those who say you can’t change the Second Amendment consider that it’s an amendment and can absolutely be changed.
Before I become too distracted, consider that after the Port Arthur massacre in Australia, the Australian people communicated to their government their disgust, outrage, and need for change. In the 18 years before Port Arthur, Australia witnessed 13 mass shootings and in the 21 years since the government acted there has not been a single mass shooting.
Momentarily put- ting aside my soap- box, when it comes to actual activism rather than showy sensationalism, a bigger step — and one closer to affecting actual change — is writing letters to Parkland survivors and to local representatives.
Even this is only so effective.
True change is coming from some of the Parkland survivors. These teens are putting their lives on hold to campaign, spread awareness, and actually make a difference.
David Hogg, Emma González, Sarah Chadick, Adam Ashanti, and Jaclyn Corin are the real activists and genuine heroes making real differences. I credit you for Dick’s Sporting Goods’ statement and for all the good that you have done.
Already, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas have traveled to Tallahassee, FL, and Washington, D.C. to make their case for stricter gun laws. This is real travel and real commitment. And guess what? Real results follow.
The students have organized protests and marches and rallies that, thanks to social media, have spawned similar efforts. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are precisely the type of self-confident, socially aware teens poised to change gun-control debates across the nation. They have raised $3.7 million for future events, according to
The Atlantic
.
I don’t mean to make a defeatist argument and posit that as active students we can’t make a meaningful difference. Rather, I’m suggesting we temper our pride in our activism and ourselves until we do something that actually matters.
