#Enough

Student Survivors Leading the Charge

#Enough #Never Again

President Trump’s responses to the pleas from the student survivors of Florida’s most recent mass school shooting for quick action on gun control were inconsistent and nonsensical.

Arming teachers who, for the most part, have no interest in shooting people who enter schools is a non-starter. We are told there is no money for smaller class sizes, supplies for students, teacher salary increases or social workers. Where will the money for the guns and training come from? No one knows.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) had the guts to attend a town hall in Florida after the latest shooting and told student survivors he will gladly continue to take money from the NRA because they support his agenda of more guns everywhere. He did allow that maybe there was some sense in raising the age at which one can purchase a mass-shooting weapon from 18 to 21, but added that it required more study.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) wants more information before considering gun violence reform. This rings hollow after he helped pass legislation that actually prevents the nation’s Center for Disease Prevention and Control from studying the causes of gun violence. The Washington Post just published clear studies showing that mass-shootings declined when the assault weapons ban was passed and went back up after it was allowed to expire.

Wayne La Pierre, the head of the National Rifle Association, spoke Thursday to a conservative political convention, claiming there was an evil in the land leading the fight to take away individual liberties along with our guns. He wants “hardened schools” with armed security guards to prevent intruders. He made no mention of the right to attend school without having to worry about weapons whose sole purpose is to kill as many as possible.

If the Florida high school mass shooting has any bright side, it is found in the cries and pleas of the student survivors. “Enough” and “Never Again.” They are marching to the halls of power demanding an end to the carnage from AR-15s in their schools. Similar marches and protests are being planned across the country. They just want to be safe at school so they can learn.

The student survivors recognize that we adults have lost the fire and the ability to bring about the changes needed keep them safe in their schools. They recognize what the problem is and whose responsibility it is to find the solution. In the words of Emma Gonzales, a Parkland student leader, “we call BS” to all the excuses and artful dodging. Their messages are clear.

It is time to end the sale of military style people killing weapons with their large magazines.

It is time for intensive universal background checks on all weapon sales.

It is time to put the safety of our future generations ahead of any right to own firearms.

It is time for our political leaders to stop taking money from the NRA.

Every political movement for social justice and peace in my life time has been lead by young people who see the problem, know the answer and “call BS” on those who stand in the way.

President Trump, the GOP leaders in Congress and those here in Wisconsin act at their political peril if they continue to ignore the student voices demanding common sense gun control reform. While they may not be able to vote this year or next, their time is coming.

Don’t try half-measures or platitudes. The Internet trolls won’t work either. The student survivors and those who don’t want to see the carnage first hand will continue to speak truth to power until change happens.

Those of us who rose up in earlier political movements have their backs and will lend a hand. I could not be more proud of the lawyers around the state offering free legal help to students disciplined by their schools for engaging in gun violence reform protests.

Change is coming on gun violence. Join in to help make it happen or get out of the way.

Waring Fincke is a retired attorney and serves as a guardian for the elderly and disabled with a Sheboygan county non-profit agency.