School shootings and other public massacre shootings have been happening so much in the last few years that they don't have the same impact anymore. Sure, the standouts still draw memories, like Columbine. Columbine happened 11 months and change after a high school shooting one metro area south of mine. I was a junior when Thurston High School students experienced their shooting, a senior when Columbine happened. 1998, 1999. Predominately white schools. Changes were promised. Time went by, more shootings.
Lobbying against gun control reform (*cough* NRA et al) on both the state and federal levels had an effective impact until #Sandhook and the horrific tragedy there. 2012, 20 first grade children killed, 28 total deaths. Many on both sides of the gun control debate thought that was it. The deaths of those little kids had be the turning point. Nope. Not really. Some state level legislation passed, but the push for federal level reform stalled. Then the whispers began: if not for those 6 and 7 year olds, then it must be impossible.
Flash forward 6 some years and 116 school shootings (includes colleges, as well as incidents without deaths) and #Parkland happens at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 17 killed, 17 injured. 6 months and change later and there is still some media attention to the survivors. Some theorize that the fact some survivors are crossing into adulthood is why they have been able to maintain media coverage in comparison to the faded coverage that happened with Sandyhook. These are 17 and 18 year olds who just graduated and are focused on gun control reform. From Emma Gonzalez to David Hogg, interviews, news briefs, and featured pieces still give these newly minted activists exposure. With exposure comes lessons.
With lessons comes perspective and the seeds of what will grow into wisdom. I truly hope these dedicated young adults remain open to learning more, about gun control, about legislation, about the key players. I even more truly hope that they, with our help, finally succeed where society has failed for decades.
*Primary source for school shooting data was https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States
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