Signs declaring, “We Call BS” and “#enough;” students and teachers alike looking silently at the ground; 17 empty chairs, one for each victim—these were just a few of the scenes from the Mar. 14 walkout honoring the lives of the Parkland shooting victims and demanding stricter gun laws.
In support of the Never Again gun control movement started by survivors after the shooting, Warriors and students across the nation walked out of their classes to peacefully protest Congress’ inaction on gun violence in schools.
The movement already seems promising. According to a poll done by CNN, the percentage of Americans who support stricter gun control increased from 52 percent following the Las Vegas shooting in October to 69 percent after the Parkland shooting. While the walkout is a good start for gun control reform, major change—such as a ban on hand guns or assault rifles—may not happen overnight or even after several months. If effort is sustained, however, the movement may be able to prompt an increase in gun control to improve school safety.
The most daunting obstacle the Never Again movement faces is convincing the Republican party to reform their long-held beliefs about guns, which is no easy task. Change may be especially difficult given the political influence of the National Rifle Association, which opposes the expansion of gun control legislation. Even if Congress does pass new gun control legislation, the historically pro-gun Supreme Court may pose another threat. Just a decade ago, for instance, the Supreme Court ruled Washington DC’s handgun ban unconstitutional.
Another hurdle for the movement is maintaining momentum despite the powerful tide of the news cycle. Of course, the Parkland shooting has garnered more attention than mass shootings typically do, perhaps due to the survivors’ youth and experience with social media. But what will happen when the media inevitably loses interest and moves on to the next natural disaster, celebrity scandal or latest development in Trump’s foreign policy? The #NeverAgain movement should maintain persistent effort to prevent the movement from succumbing to the quick pace of the media.
One way to increase the movement’s longevity could be establishing better organization. Currently, the Never Again campaign lacks a clear-cut representative group aside from the Parkland students who have taken the media spotlight. This could potentially limit the movement’s impact by making it difficult for students nationwide to make a lasting contribution.
Though the student demands for gun control may bring hope, the movement evidently has a long way to go. This does not mean protesters should give up—on the contrary, they should fight even harder. The Never Again movement’s promising capacity for change should not be wasted. Warriors, do not settle for a single walkout if you desire lasting reform. The walkout may have been the first step towards progress, but it is not the last.