You can buy an AR-15 in five minutes with an expired license. A weapon with the capacity to shoot thirty rounds can be in your possession as fast as ordering at a drive-thru. Since Sandy Hook, more than 400 lives have been taken by a gun on school property. Though a great deal of pain has been accumulated from all the previous tragedies, these attacks and the victim’s names seem to be forgotten. There’s been no development in the gun laws that are implemented in the United States since. The Parkland shooting will not suffer that same fate. We not only want change; we demand it. Here is how we are going to do it.Â
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What is it?
The survivors of the Parkland shooting are demanding action for gun control and so could you.  Children should not be afraid to go to school thinking that it may be their last. No more. It is time to stand up and not allow one more needless death. On March 24th, there is a nationwide march to demonstrate our frustration with the current status of gun control in our country. Many politicians have expressed that now is not the time to discuss change, so the March for Our Lives will be that time. According to the official March for Our Lives website, their mission is “to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues.” The main march with take place in Washington D.C. as thousands of supporters will march to protest for gun control. Cameron Kasky, a survivor, states that they are “going to be marching together as students begging for [their] lives.” There will be a demonstration in every major city. Thousands will march for safety, will you?  Change is possible. We are the hope for the future. We need to be the catalysts for a safer tomorrow. Â
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Why You Should March Too
No more. School was once seen as a safe haven for children, but it’s transformed into a place that has taken hundreds of innocent lives. In 1999, 15 lives were taken at Columbine High School. In 2007, 33 lives were taken at Virginia Tech.  In 2012, 28 lives were taken at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In 2018, 17 lives were taken at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school. The victims included teachers, teenagers, college students, and children. There is no pattern within these shootings except for the weapon that they lost their lives to. This proves that time alone will not help the issue. Without enacting stricter gun control laws, I am worried that there will only be more added to this list. There are steps that Congress can take to enforce these laws, but us as people of the movement need to demand change to prevent future detrimental circumstances. We can not let this tragedy be just another shooting in a list, but rather it should be a turning point. Change may not be easy, but it is necessary. Â
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Where is it?Â
All the marches will be on Saturday, March 24th. The main march will be in Washington D.C. starting at 10 am. Sister marches will be happening in major cities across the country and overseas in London. The marches closest to Santa Barbara will be taking place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, San Jose, San Diego and many more. New marches are being added every day so be sure to check the March for Our Lives official site for updates. If you believe that your city should also have a demonstration, be sure to contact March for Our Lives so they can help get the word out. There are corresponding Facebook pages that you can be a part of for more information that I have hyperlinked for you. Today we grieve, but March 24th we will march to save millions of people for generations to come.Â
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