ElderChicks

Now retired, I taught in a public high school for thirty five years including during Columbine in 1999. Students then did not have cell phones, social media and the voice they apparently do now. When Columbine occurred I think they believed it was one of a kind massacre, that adults would protect them and others from gun violence in the future. Young people today know that did not happen and share the frustration we, who have always been for more reasonable gun control laws, have. With others in my NORC, I shared our views yet again with senator Toomey’s staff (both of whom were too young to experience Columbine personally.) It seems to me that the youth of today must ally themselves with us, and we with them, to make authentic gun control a reality in this country. We know how to organize, we vote, we have some funds to contribute and most of all, we have time to listen to their concerns. We have invited a number of urban and suburban students to our building to tell us their views and in return, we will offer our help. The gun control effort is not new, but will fail again if we expect the youth to go it alone. This nation has a better chance for safety if we sincerely unify around this issue and keep it alive. I hope we do not sit passively and watch the news to see what happens, but proactively support the students and anyone in our circle who wants to talk, and need to register to vote. Thanks for this forum to get our juices flowing and muster the energy to continue to work for a better country. Now is NOT the time to relax.