On Valentine's Day, February 14th, a former student opened fire at a high school in Florida, USA, killing 15 high school students and two teachers. On March 24th, the high school students who survived led the March For Our Lives, which calls for stricter gun control, and was held simultaneously around the world. A total of tens of thousands of people took part in the march.
"Let's get it over with" "How many more children will have to die to change the situation?" "Adults haven't done anything since the Columbine high school incident" "Tighter gun control" "Thoughts and prayers alone won't solve the problem. Show it in action." This movement, which was made up of high school students who united as role models, is a movement in which all Americans "can't help" gun violence. It was very meaningful just to show the world that I didn't accept that and that I didn't think it was okay to let guns go unchecked.
"Guns don't kill people, people kill people." The slogan of the NRA (=National Rifle Association), which opposes gun control on the grounds of "the right to possess and carry", is "March For Our Lives] is one of the next goals.In addition, there have been activities to demand stricter gun control at various levels, and it seems that the movement has become one this time. For example, in 2012, 20 first graders and six staff members were shot dead in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, USA. The group [Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America] (https://momsdemandaction.org/) is also active, and this group also participates in [March For Our Lives].
At first, I didn't know what the sound was. If you live in America, not everyone can instantly recognize the sound of a gun firing.
Even for me, who lives in the United States, I haven't spent the last 20 years living in fear of being shot at at this very moment, and I've heard gunshots and seen guns. Every time an incident like this happens, I feel gloomy, thinking, "It can happen anytime, anywhere."
On the day of the incident in Florida, I received an email from the district chief of my son's elementary school. It states that student safety is a top priority, that schools are provided with safety and policing training, and that all schools in the district have resources to support security and access control functions. was It doesn't say "Trained to simulate a mass shooting by an intruder," but that's probably what it means.
However, this country is still unable to enact a law that raises the age at which guns can be purchased from 18 to 21 all at once. Raising the age to 21 won't solve the problem, but in the end, each state and company will have to deal with it.
After the incident in Florida, DICK'S Sporting Goods, which sells sporting goods, first said, ``All stores will stop selling lethal rifles and raise the minimum age for purchases to 21.'' The announcement was picked up as big news. In a statement to the media, the company's chairman and CEO called for common sense gun control, banning the sale of lethal firearms, requiring comprehensive background checks (including mental status information), and private gun sales. It is asking politicians to close loopholes at firearms exhibitions and firearms exhibitions. http://pressroom.dicks.com/press-information/media-statements.aspx
"We hope you will join us in our efforts to tell our children that we take their wishes seriously. Yet some say we cannot guarantee that a tragedy like Parkland will never happen again." They may be right, but if common sense reform is done and even one life is saved, it's worth it.The most precious treasures in this country are our children. It's our future. We have to keep them safe."
On the other hand, the president of the United States suggested, "Let teachers have guns," and generated pros and cons. The first to raise their voices were the teachers in the field, who said, ``That's not why I became a teacher,'' ``I don't want to carry a gun,'' and ``Even if I start training now, I won't be able to handle such a situation. I don't think I can handle a gun," was circulated on social media, and then an argument using the hashtag #ArmMeWith, which means "armed with …" spread.
If you search for #ArmMeWith, you'll see many tweets from teachers with pictures of their opinions such as "#ArmMeWith Books", "#ArmMeWith support", "#ArmMeWith funding", and "#ArmMeWith smaller class sizes". can. If you read them, you will understand that the field is having a hard time due to a shortage of educational budgets, and that sufficient education is not being provided to the children who will lead the future. With all of this underscored, how can we have the budget to buy guns, train people, and protect schools?
One of the good things about America is that this kind of movement occurs in response to the president's remarks, and that each and every teacher can assert their opinions and appear on social media, but unfortunately, Despite calls for gun control at various levels, the Washington state legislature, which closed after deliberations this month, said raising the age at which guns can be purchased from 18 to 21 would not be an option. No mandatory background checks were passed.
The Seattle Times reports that while voters passed gun control bills in 2014 and 2016, Washington, which is considered liberal, failed to win the support of local Democrats who were not active in gun control. has published an article stating that stricter gun control has yet to materialize. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/why-new-gun-restrictions-failed-this-year-in-the-washington-legislature/
I want Japan to be a country that children can be proud of and where they can live safely and happily. I think every parent thinks so, but the day will come when the gap between those who go in the direction of arming themselves with guns to protect themselves and those who don't will someday be closed. Uka
| Takumi Ohno After graduating from university and graduate school in the United States and gaining experience in OEM sales in the bicycle industry, I started a business to convey the good points of Seattle to Japanese people. She runs Seattle's first Japanese information site, "Junglecity.com", coordinating interviews, conducting research, and building websites. My family consists of my husband and my son who was born in 2010. |
