It has been more than 1,000 days since the mass shooting at Douglas High School, with Valentine’s day being the fourth anniversary. School shootings are always followed by the same questions such as, how did this happen? Why did this happen? Where did these children get guns? These questions are even more urgent due to the recent tragedy in Michigan at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021, which adds up to the 222 other school shootings and is at an all-time high, The Conversation says. There are many alarming similarities between these two stories. Nikolas Cruz was surrounded by various weapons his whole life and was able to illegally purchase the automatic weapon he used. Just 4 days before the Oxford shooting, Ethan Crumbley’s father was seen buying the handgun that was used. Not only were both students repeatedly reported for concerning behavior, but they also posted on social media their plans and weapons. Both of these stories are so similar, and over 20 students were killed because of the ignorance of adults around them. In 1996, Australia had one mass shooting, resulting in the deaths of 35 people. Days later, they tightened their gun laws, and there has not been a single mass shooting in 25 years. The US has had 657 mass shootings this year alone. Why can’t we do the same?

    However, after the Parkland shooting, something unexpected happened. State legislators, inspired by a movement led by student survivors, started passing legislation that restricted gun accessibility. 2018 was a year that triumphed in gun laws compared to former years in the United States. All across the country, including 14 states with Republican governors, passed 50 new laws, making it much more difficult to access guns. “Legislators are starting to realize that mass shootings can happen in their state anytime,” says Allison Anderman, an attorney, and gun control activist. Students from a very young age are taught to hide in case they’re ever in danger, therefore it’s no surprise why so many kids don’t feel safe at school. But when thousands of people started to protest for March for our Lives, and the words “enough is enough” rang out from students across the country, legislators were forced to listen. 

    There’s finally a change coming for the protection of students and gun control laws. The students and survivors of Parkland have been able to score victories for countless students. Not only have they educated millions of students and children, but they have changed the minds of many politicians.