Gun Violence Case Study

Many students all over Texas have protested school gun violence after a shooting in Parkland, Florida. Texas students explain that Parkland survivors’ responses have been setting the example for Texas student protesters (Dugyala).
Aiden Smith, at the age of 18 years old, realizes that that could have been him after the 17 lives were lost in the school shooting (Dugyala). Since the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, there have been a total of 239 shootings in schools all over the country (Dugyala). After the Parkland shooting, survivors Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg became vocal about the harmful use of guns in school environments by protesting on social media. Smith became inspired, and him along with 670 other students from McKinney

On the day of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, more than 100 people gathered outside the White House. After the death of 20 first graders and 6 teachers, members organized anti gun violence groups. The rally demanded for better gun laws and take action. Andy Pelosi, the rally organizer, told the president that politics shouldn’t be this difficult and how anti gun violence in schools should be a priority (Green). He also explained how students, staff, and teachers shouldn’t be concerned about bringing their children to school each day (Green). Pelosi, with the Gun Free Kids organization, were at a training session focusing on gun violence prevention. Pelosi explains how he wants Obama to sit down with members of Congress and talk about how to improve laws preventing gun violence (Green). Many rally members express how they highly doubt the president was going to address the issue (Green). Toby Hoover, director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence organization, expressed how there was nothing worse than a survivor hearing how they’ll discuss gun violence in schools another day (Green). Hoover, who lost her husband to a robbery, says she relates to the family members who lost someone they loved (Green). She expresses that inaction will not solve anything and risking another kindergartener’s life isn’t worth it

Michael McBride, a pastor from California, expressed in prayer, compassion, and action (Green). With candles provided, rally organizers came together to sing hymns and chanting “Today is the Day”. Jill Raney, a protestor at the rally, explains how gun violence in schools had already happened four other times that year (Green). She expresses that if action wasn’t going to be taken now, nothing would improve or change (Green). Protesters continue to fight against gun violence in schools because they are determined to take action. Hoover expresses how people learn to live with the heartache, but it never leaves (Green). She says that they may as well attempt to make the world a better place