Another school, another tragic shooting. The heartbreak and horror remain the same but, this time, there is new hope
As someone who lived through the Dunblane tragedy, I have watched the reaction to the Florida school shooting with a mix of horror, disbelief – and hope.
I say hope because of the way so many of America’s young people have reacted to this awful incident in which 17 students and staff members were murdered.
It has galvanised them. The youth activist movement that has emerged so swiftly in the tragedy’s aftermath is demanding stricter background checks for gun buyers, and a national school walkout is planned for March 14.
There have been so many mass shootings, so many lives lost.
America’s youth are saying enough is enough.
The impressive and moving speech by 18-year-old pupil Emma Gonzalez really caught my attention.
She was there. She knew the killer. She hid from the gunfire. She lost friends. Her message is that it is only young people who can change gun laws. The parents have failed, the politicians have either developed gun law rigor mortis or are joined at the hip to the National Rifle Association, which gave $11m to Donald Trump’s Presidential campaign coffers.
It’s great to see teenagers pull together like this. They are the future. They want their voices heard. And they want action.
It is as impressive as it is ridiculous, though. Teenagers are out in front. Adults are nowhere to be seen. Aren’t we supposed to show our kids the way?
The gun culture in America is so alien to us. I remember watching TV with Andy when we were in the States and there were adverts for gun shops, like we have ads for supermarkets. I was gobsmacked that a 19-year-old who can’t vote or buy a beer can buy an AR-15.
It makes zero sense to me.
Donald Trump has announced that he has signed an order to ban bump-stock devices. These enable a rifle to shoot hundreds of rounds a minute. A trifling concession.
He is also talking about arming teachers. It beggars belief.
None of us will ever forget the Dunblane tragedy.
Again, it was a lone person with a grudge who had hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
It should never have happened. The gun laws and checks of the time were not stringent enough. Because of that, so much heartbreak and tragedy occurred.
The difference is that the we in the UK took measures to change the law and make sure similar tragedy and heartbreak could never happen again.
So, Mr President. Surely it’s time to start listening to your nation’s youth?