The aftermath of the massacre at my school should not have been politicized, but it was. Only a few days after the shooting occurred, my peers and I were immediately bussed off to lobby the State Capitol; many saw an opportunity to capitalize on the immediate emotional reaction that follows a school shooting for legislative change. Students and the media horde descended on Florida’s capital to demand not only ineffective but also harmful, reactionary “common sense gun control,” as our only option. Legislators, especially conservatives, were given an ugly ultimatum: either agree to pass unconstitutional laws that would likely lead to the deaths of more innocent people or be labeled complicit with murderers with “blood on their hands.”
Since Parkland, I have noticed a pattern emerge. The Second Amendment is under attack by policies nefariously billed as attempts to protect our youth. As a counterbalance to those who would seek to undermine the Constitution and make our schools more vulnerable, I knew I had a unique opportunity to let my voice be heard. I took media appearances and meetings with government officials, but I knew I had to do more. I needed to energize thousands more to fight for the liberties perpetually under attack as well as the foundational beliefs on which this great nation was fortified. In this mindset, I agreed to be Director of High School Outreach for Turning Point USA.
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