Wednesday, March 14. 

This was the day thousands of students across our nation joined together to peacefully protest for the 17 lives lost in Parkland, Florida.

We marched with hopes that our government bans automatic weapons, so no more lives can be lost from this matter. 

As someone who has been paying close attention to the events happening about this issue of gun rights, I find that many people have the wrong interpretation of why students are protesting.

We as students are not protesting for anti-gun.

We are protesting for all the lives lost.

We are protesting for our lost family members. Our peers.

We want automatic weapons banned.

Not all guns.

It is our right to peacefully protest on this matter.

You can agree or disagree, but that still does not take away our rights.

You’re either with us or you’re not.

Just know that it will not stop until something is done.

The founding fathers did not create the second amendment for the use of automatic weapons that shoot 600 bullets per minute. They created our right to bear arms for guns that shoot only a few bullets per minute. Their intentions were for self-safety. 

I’m not saying all guns should be banned. However, I do think automatic weapons should be banned from public use. These weapons should really only be used in the army, military, etc. 

Why do we need automatic weapons available to us?

I see no logical reason for it.

Hand held guns are just fine.

For instance, look at the population of gun owners in Texas. It is commonly known that most people in Texas own a gun or carry one on them. 

With the majority of citizens who own a gun in that state, I am baffled as to why it seems safer to live there with guns rather than any other place in our country. 

My point is, why is there less mass shootings happening there when just about everyone has a gun, yet mass shootings with automatic weapons often take place in many other parts of our country?

It needs to stop.

What do I think should be done?

First, there should be an age restriction for people to obtain weapons. That age should be 21, just like the legal drinking age.

There is no reason why an 18 year old needs to have a gun.

Why do they need one?

If they don’t like it, then they can blame the people who ruined it for others.

Blame the people who ruined it for everyone else by taking away innocent lives.

Do not blame the people who are trying to prevent lives from being lost.

I would also like to add that there has been a lot of controversy with people who have mental illnesses and their right to own guns. 

Not all people who have mental illnesses are insane.

I feel as if people are assuming just because someone has a mental illness, that means that they want to inflict harm upon others.

That is not always the case.

People who have a mental illness should be rated on a test or axis level by a medical professional if they seek to own a weapon. 

If they are seen as mentally stable, they should be able to own a gun. 

If they are not seen fit, they should NOT be able to own a gun.

Last thing I’d like to add is the idea that guns don’t kill people, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.

Take away guns and someone will still find a way to harm others. 

This sadly cannot be prevented in today’s society. 

However, with the ban of automatic weapons, it will decrease the risk of these innocent lives being lost, for automatic weapons are one of the top reasons why people in our country are dying. 

I want to live in a place where I can raise my children without fear, unlike the society I grew up in. 

Please. As a member of our society. As a child.

Allow me to feel safe.