(DailyAnswer.org) – Hundreds of students from Madison High School took to the streets on Friday, heading for the Wisconsin state Capitol to demand action on gun control. Their focus? A ban on “assault weapons” in the wake of the December 16, 2024, shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, where a handgun was used in the attack.
Chanting slogans like “Books, not bullets” and “Graduations, not funerals,” the students called for stricter laws, including enhanced background checks and an outright ban on certain types of firearms. The demonstration, covered by The Cap Times and the Wisconsin Examiner, reflected growing frustration among young people about gun violence in their communities.
However, the conversation around the shooting itself raises important questions. The 15-year-old alleged shooter didn’t use an “assault weapon” but instead a handgun. Furthermore, the firearm wasn’t purchased from a retailer, meaning background checks at the point of sale wouldn’t have prevented this tragedy.
One Madison High student, Z Bart, explained why she joined the march: “People in my family have been killed with guns. I didn’t know them personally, but I think of them and think that could be me one day.” Her story reflects the personal toll gun violence takes, even on those not directly involved.
State Senator Kelda Roys (D) addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of gun safety laws. “We know that states with laws like background checks and red flag policies see gun deaths go down. We can do that here in Wisconsin, too,” she said.
But critics of such measures often point to California as a counterexample. The state has had some of the toughest gun laws in the country for decades, including universal background checks, an “assault weapons” ban, red flag laws, and even ammunition control. Despite these restrictions, California led the nation in “active shooter incidents” in both 2021 and 2023.
The debate over gun control continues to divide the nation. For the students who marched, the goal is clear: fewer guns and more safety. But as this tragic event shows, the solutions may not be as simple as they seem.
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