Encouraging Youth Participation in Politics is Crucial
In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, which claimed 17 lives and set a record as the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history, young people have taken a stand against gun violence and advocated for change. One quote encapsulates this sentiment: "It is our civic duty to remind the government to be afraid of us."
Since the tragic event, there have been numerous school shootings, including a recent one in 2025 at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee. While the exact number of school shootings since 2018 is not definitive, it is clear that the problem persists and remains a significant concern.
In response, various preventive measures have been taken. For instance, Florida enacted legislation aimed at improving school safety, despite opposition from the National Rifle Association. Texas introduced "Alyssa’s Law," requiring silent panic alert buttons in all classrooms to improve emergency response times.
Advocacy groups like March For Our Lives, founded by survivors of the Parkland shooting, have been instrumental in lobbying for stricter gun laws and supporting candidates favouring gun regulation. Their efforts have led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, as well as numerous state-level gun control laws.
School safety equipment, such as "stop bleed" kits and increased security measures like metal detectors and potentially armed personnel, have also been implemented or considered to enhance safety. However, gun control remains a contentious issue in the United States, complicated by constitutional protections and high gun ownership rates.
Meanwhile, the administration's immigration policies have also been a source of contention. Reports suggest that the administration has deported a two-year-old U.S. citizen without due process and is ignoring a Supreme Court order to return a wrongly deported man. The dismantling of the Unaccompanied Children Program, which once provided undocumented children with legal representation in court, has further complicated matters for these children, potentially leaving them without legal representation and facing deportation to a country their family likely fled from.
Despite these challenges, young people continue to take action. Some Holy Cross students, despite their privileged status, are reminded of the struggles faced by others and are inspired to act. Survivors of the Parkland shooting, despite having lived through the worst time of their lives, have shown courage by taking action against gun violence.
The quote encourages young people to take action, suggesting that idle hands are not building history. It emphasizes the importance of young people taking action to influence the government. However, it does not mention any new developments regarding the administration's policies on immigration or gun control.
In conclusion, since 2018, the response to school shootings and immigration issues has included a combination of legislative changes, technological safety measures, and grassroots advocacy aimed at preventing future tragedies. Young people, inspired by past movements for change, continue to take a leading role in driving this change.
- The student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting have taken a leading role in advocating for stricter gun laws, inspiring other young people to take action against gun violence.
- The community, both young and old, have been encouraged to remind the government of their civic duty to address gun violence and bring about change in education-and-self-development and personal-growth.
- Florida and Texas have enacted legislation aimed at improving school safety, as well as introducing measures like silent panic alert buttons, to mitigate the consequences of war-and-conflicts like school shootings.
- The administration's immigration policies have generated controversy, with reports of citizens being wrongly deported and programs for undocumented children being dismantled, potentially leaving them without legal representation.
- Advocacy groups, like March For Our Lives, have lobbied for policy-and-legislation changes, resulting in the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and numerous state-level gun control laws.
- Crimes related to immigration and injustices in its implementation have been documented, highlighting the need for fair and proper policy-and-legislation.
- In the face of adversity, young people continue to show courage and resilience, striving for general-news issues like school safety, immigration reform, and gun control as part of their goal-setting and commitment to their communities.
