A Staples High School student writes:
“You’re just a kid, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Except I do. I’m taught well and I follow the news. People, children, are dying because we have access to assault rifles.
When you want to make a point about how something is wrong, you say “think of the children.” But now the children are speaking out and all you can say is “you’re just kids.”
We are just kids, but even kids have opinions. Our opinion is that we shouldn’t fear being shot while we’re at school. You want us in school so we can gain knowledge and make our nation better.
You have the power to make our nation better right now by making it safer. In a population of 326 million, 73 million people are under 18. That’s around 8.5 times the population of New York City.
The founders of our nation believed in fighting for what you believe in. You’ll say those were different times. If those were different times, then why do you insist on committing to the 2nd Amendment? It was written in 1787.
Sophisticated assault weapons, when the 2nd Amendment was passed.
This is 2018. We’re a more advanced society now, and we need more advanced laws to fit. After 9/11, we said never again. We changed laws to make society safer. How many kids have to die at school before we change the laws to prevent those deaths? We are the future, and you’re letting us die.
I wrote that 2 days ago. Yesterday my school was evacuated because of a potential shooter threat. It’s a new feeling.
Whenever there is a shooting far away, I’m sad for everyone there. Whenever it’s nearby, I’m scared that it was so close.
This feeling was different. I was so utterly terrified of what could’ve happened. I shouldn’t have to text my family to let them know I’m safe, because I should be safe at school.
I shouldn’t be getting concerned messages from my family all over the world. I shouldn’t be scared at school.
This has to stop. We need to be safe. You’re letting us die because you want to keep your precious guns. Guns should not have more rights than the children of our nation. We need to stand up and fight back before we’re all gone.
Artwork by Elizabeth DeVoll, exhibited recently at the Westport Arts Center.