Survivors from Parkland School Propose Comprehensive Gun Control Plan

Student activists and survivors of the 2018 shootout in Parkland, Florida, are proposing bold measures to halve gun violence over the next decade. The initiative led by March for Our Lives – the group of Parkland alumni who have turned to promoting weapons reform as a result of the mass shootings – called Peace Plan for a safer America. Its goal is to address the root causes of gun violence and to open a dialogue on the use of firearms in America, where nearly 40,000 people die each year from firearms. .

The plan not only makes recommendations to end shootingsbut also outlines the measures to be taken to combat the daily violence of firearms that strikes communities across the country. It comes shortly after two deadly shootings over a past weekend in El Paso, Texas, and in Dayton, Ohio.

"For too long, we have been asking elected officials to resolve the crisis of gun violence with America, they have been under pressure from NRA donations and the status quo, and their inability to do their job has had fatal consequences. said David Hogg, co-founder of March For Our Lives, in a statement on Tuesday.

"It is clear that the time for thoughts and prayers is over.There is now time for a real change and a real action," he added.

Among the proposals, students call for legislative action in Washington to create a national system of licenses and registries; a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines; policies like a law "red flag" disarm owners of firearms that pose a risk to themselves or others; and a national gun repurchase program.

They are also targeting the country's largest firearms lobby by urging the Federal Election Commission and the IRS to continue their investigations. the NRA and repeal the Law on the Protection of the Legal Trade in Arms. In recent days, several The members of the NRA Board of Directors resigned in the turmoil caused by leaked documents showing the group's leader, Wayne LaPierre, might have abuse of membership dues. The Attorney General of New York and Washington, DC, is currently reviewing the group's tax-exempt status.

The March for Our Lives also advocates automatic voter registration at age 18 to revive the next generation of politically engaged citizens.

"Younger generations are disproportionately affected by armed violence and should have a say in how their country resolves this epidemic," the group said.

This proposal follows new calls for action on gun control after years of congestion on Capitol Hill. The student plan has already benefited from the support of Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, one of the leading advocates of gun reform.

"I hope this proposal will spark a major debate on how Congress can take major steps to protect our communities from gun violence and save lives," said Democrat Murphy.

The plan also benefits from the support of a 2020 presidential candidate, former Texas Congressman, Beto O. Rourke.

"We will end this epidemic by following the example of the students who are walking for their lives and for all of us – I support their Peace Plan for a Safer America – and I call all other participants to do the same, "Rourke tweeted.

For now, the Judiciary Committee of the House plans to return at the beginning of the August break to consider three bills that deal directly with gun violence, but they do not go as far as some of the March proposals. of our life.