In lieu of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in which 19-year old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 of his former classmates with an AK-47, gun control has become a hot-button topic. After the shooting, survivors took a stand. High school students became the face of the movement for tighter gun control. They organized a march on the capitol, dubbed the March For Our Lives, held on March 24, 2018, and hundreds of thousands of protesters participated. Although the march was held in Washington D.C., some OSSM students participated in a sister march at the Oklahoma Capitol. Here’s what OSSM students have to say about this issue.
What do you think, if anything, should be done to prevent school shootings?
“I don't think the schools themselves can do anything more without being seen as unreasonable. However, I think the federal government should do more for gun reform. Closing loopholes and instating mental health tests and training for gun owners would do a long way.”
“I think first off we should have universal background checks and ban bump stocks and personally I think we should ban semi-automatic weapons but that's a little controversial.”
“I think the negative impacts of gun possession should be made more evident. Many schools already have metal detectors, and while functional gun control remains a concept, more schools should take precautions of this nature.”
“At this point in time it is very hard to limit the weapons people already own. For this reason, I feel the best possible scenario to protect students is to include bullet proof safe rooms in each classroom. Unfortunately, this is not very cost effective, but it seems like a possible means for student and faculty protection.”
“Universal background checks.”
2. Do you think there should be more focus on gun control?
“Right now, I'd say the media has been pretty good at covering the matter. I think legislators are purposely turning their heads, hoping it'll blow over. As long as the issue continues to make headlines, hopefully there will continue to be progress.”
“I don’t really know how to prevent school shootings, but I do know that guns should be controlled.”
“Of course, I'm tired of people getting killed.”
“I think gun control needs better enforcement and at least stricter limitations on the type of gun a civilian can own. There is no need for bump stocks or assault rifles in anyone’s home.”
“Yes, definitely! The problem is we can limit who guns are sold to, but this does not solve the problem of bad people getting guns from another source, as there are always loopholes.”
“There is a strong focus on gun control today, but since there are so many conflicting opinions, little can be done to change the situation. I think more focus should be placed upon gun education and proper use in order to prevent more shootings.”
3. Have you had any encounters with people who disagree with your beliefs? How do you react in these situations?
“Concerning gun control, I know people who do disagree. I know I will not be able to change their minds. Therefore, I don't talk to them about gun control. If it does become a topic, I'll entertain the issue until tensions get too high.”
“People have disagreed with me and I just shrug it off because I'm not confrontational at all”
“Yes, if they're calm about it then I listen to their opinion on it and explain why I feel the way I do but if they're being racist and angry then #blocked.”
“I have had plenty of encounters with people who disagree, especially since I have lived in Oklahoma my whole life. I think the fact is that those who think gun control is bad think that supporters of reform want to take guns completely away. While many do, I always try to argue that maybe a small step in the right direction can convince everyone that gun reform is needed. Gun lobbyists argue that people kill people, however this is not entirely as easy as when a person has a gun in their hands. Everyone can agree on common sense gun reform and that is the perspective I try to discuss with those who disagree.”
“All the time! Coming from Choctaw, many people believe it is their second amendment right to bear arms. But as times have changed, I believe the Constitution needs to adapt to these changing times. If I disagree with someone on this, I will state what I believe, but at the end of the day people have their own beliefs and I respect those beliefs, whether right or wrong.”
“I rarely encounter people who disagree with me completely on the issue of gun control, but we may disagree on how we think the situation can be best dealt with. When this occurs, I make sure to openly listen to their ideas and understand why they have the opinion that they do. If I agree, I may modify my own ideas, but if I disagree, I will politely tell them my opinion and why I think that way in the hopes that we may both understand each other and come to a compromise.”
4. Did you attend the march for our lives on March 24? why or why not?
“Unfortunately not, I was sick.”
“I was planning on attending the march but my transportation fell ill.”
“I did attend the march. I took part in it because I felt that I needed to do something to show where I stand on the matter. Too many people have lost their lives for no valid reason. There is no circumstance in which this should be allowed to happen again. I want my friends and family to be able to feel safe at school, and I think this can only happen if students like us gather and show the legislatures what we want.”
“No, honestly I forgot.”
“Yes I attended because we've had enough.”
“Although I had hoped to attend the March for Our Lives on the 24th, I was unable to attend in the end due to prior plans.”