The calls for gun reform that America can’t ignore

EVERY time there’s a mass shooting in the US there are thoughts and prayers, then nothing. But there’s a chance this time might be different, writes Cheryl Critchley. Here’s why.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez was overcome with emotion during her speech at a rally for gun control. (Pic: Rhona Wise)

THIS time it feels different.

Each time the US has a deadly mass shooting, too many politicians offer “thoughts and prayers” while doing nothing to address their horrendous gun violence problem.

After Nikolas Cruz gunned down 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland on Valentine’s Day, it was set to be more of the same.

But when President Donald Trump disingenuously offered the usual meaningless platitudes — followed by a tweet which seemed to blame the victims for not doing enough to stop the shooter — the young people of Parkland hit back. Hard.

So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2018

No doubt the President — whose campaign received more than $US11 million from the National Rifle Association — thought it would all go away, as it always does, until the next tragedy. But he did not count on the tenacity of the school’s students, who refuse to be ignored.

This time, it really does feel different.

Parkland’s young people are mad as hell and they’re not taking it any more. Unlike the tiny victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting — always cited as the tragedy which demonstrates there is no atrocity which would separate Americans from their guns — they are of an age which allows them to be passionate, articulate, social media savvy and on a mission. Not to mention, poised to vote.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez was overcome with emotion during her speech at a rally for gun control. (Pic: Rhona Wise)

They’ve had enough of politicians allowing them to die in the name of an archaic Second Amendment, while their parents and teachers are powerless to protect them.

A fiery Emma Gonzalez, 18, spoke for a generation when she publicly put President Trump on notice days after experiencing every student’s worst nightmare.

Gonzalez and her courageous classmates no longer want to risk their lives to attend school. “We are going to be the kids you read about in textbooks,” she told the crowd outside a local courthouse.

“Not because we’re going to be another statistic about mass shooting in America … we are going to be the last mass shooting.”

Marjory Stoneman Douglas students have already started the March for Our Lives movement to demand gun control. It has organised protests in Washington D.C. and nationally for March 24.

A National School Walkout is planned for April 20 — the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting — and more than 55,000 have signed a Change.org petition.

It’s a movement that could and should gain momentum, forcing politicians who have defended the indefensible for far too long to act. It won’t be easy but it may already have forced President Trump to make a concession in the form of a planned listening session with high school students and teachers.

And the White House has indicated he might be open to legislation which improves background checks for gun buyers.

It’s a significant departure from his earlier response, which included fleeting 15 minute visit to a Florida hospital where survivors were being treated, and a tweet blaming the FBI for missing the “many signals” sent out by the shooter because it was distracted by its Russia investigation.

Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign - there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

There’s good reason to expect after this mass shooting it will be business as usual for politicians who enjoy donations from the NRA.

After all, there’s was little meaningful reform after Adam Lanza killed 20 young children and six teachers at Sandy Hook in 2012.

But this time is different. Those affected are older and know how to harness social media. Some are old enough to vote. Many have made eloquent appearances on national TV.

And they have the support of millions globally who are horrified by the senseless loss of life. Many Australians, who know that gun reform can work, are behind the Parkland students.

After Martin Bryant killed 35 people at Port Arthur in 1996, tightened gun laws virtually wiped out mass shootings in Australia.

We can only hope that March for Our Lives forces US politicians to at least try do the same.

With amazing advocates like Parkland’s Cameron Kasky, who spoke at a rally and wrote for CNN, there may be some hope. “I’m asking — no, demanding — we take action now,” Kasky said.

“Why? Because at the end of the day, the students at my school felt one shared experience — our politicians abandoned us by failing to keep guns out of schools.”

Cheryl Critchley is a freelance journalist.