“We call BS!”

“#NeverAgain!”

“Enough is Enough!”

These have become familiar phrases in the last few weeks due to activism by survivors of the Parkland, Florida, shooting.

It’s time that students across the country join in the activism. Legislators will only take action that they should have decades ago to end gun violence if our generation acts now. As Emma Gonzalez, a student at Parkland High School said at a rally the day after the shooting that left 17 dead and 14 injured: “They say no laws could have been able to prevent the hundreds of senseless tragedies that have occurred. We call BS!”

Since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, there have been 1,607 mass shootings in the U.S., but even with all of these tragedies, there still has not been much action from state legislatures or the national government.

Only when teenagers — the victims of these shootings — started speaking up, did lawmakers actually start doing something. Two potential bills are finally circulating in the U.S Senate — one that would tighten background checks and another that would increase the age someone could buy a rifle. Also, Donald Trump proposed a ban on bump stocks, which increase a gun’s rate of fire.

What can you do to keep the momentum going?

INFORM YOURSELF:

Read news articles and watch videos to learn about what’s going on. Learn about how Congress is not doing anything about gun control, learn about what big companies, such as Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, are doing to prevent gun violence, learn about the upcoming marches and walkouts, and learn about how other companies are boycotting the National Rifle Association (NRA). Keep up with the news and stay informed.

INFORM OTHERS:

Tell others about Congress’ inaction and the NRA boycott. Inform others who are able to vote in the November midterm election. Tell others about the marches and walkouts, and how they can get involved. Talk in person and spread the word on social media about the news or upcoming events.

GET INVOLVED:

One of the biggest events planned is on March 24th. Survivors of the shooting are organizing the “March For Our Lives” in Washington D.C., where students will be called to stand up and take action.

Also, Women’s March organizers are planning several school walkouts on March 14th and April 20th. With the upcoming marches and walkouts, be involved and participate if you can. Remember the dates and encourage others to join you.

As Emma Gonzalez said in a Bazaar article, “We are speaking up for those who don’t have anyone listening to them, for those who can’t talk about is just yet, and for those who will never speak again. We are grieving, we are furious, and we are using our words fiercely and desperately because that’s the only thing standing between us and this happening again.”