Question

How have young people used activism to push for stronger gun laws?

Answer 1

Young people have crucially influenced the debate on stronger gun laws through social media mastery, organizing large-scale protests, and engaging in e-petitioning. They have leveraged their online networks to drive public discourse and demand legislative changes, utilizing contemporary forms of activism to push for gun control.

Step-by-step explanation:

Young people have utilized activism as a powerful tool in advocating for stronger gun laws. Following the tragic event at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students turned to social media platforms, displaying a sophisticated command over these channels to amass large public support for gun control reforms. They organized massive demonstrations, such as the March for Our Lives event, which took place in Washington DC and other 880 locations worldwide, emphasizing the urgent need for change. E-petitioning has also been a significant strategy where online petitions have mobilized communities and influenced policymakers, as observed after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

Additionally, advocates like the Brady: United Against Gun Violence target lawmakers amenable to gun control to introduce and sponsor legislations. In the backdrop of numerous school shootings and calls by figures such as President Obama to make gun control a voting issue, young people have been at the forefront, pushing through both traditional and digital means for legislative changes to prevent gun violence. This involvement reflects a shift towards networked young citizenship, where political identity and engagement are increasingly shaped through online interactions and community building.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

No one thinks it will be easy. Gun violence in America is one of those problems that can feel truly hopeless. The U.S. has only 4.4% of the world’s population, yet it accounts for roughly 42% of the world’s guns, according to the comprehensive 2007 Small Arms Survey. And roughly 31% of the world’s mass shooters are American, according to a University of Alabama study. Even as mass-shooting deaths mount, our Second Amendment has made gun rights a third-rail issue: roughly 90% of Americans agree on “common-sense” solutions like universal background checks, yet absolutists stand in the way of any meaningful action.