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The student poll section of the Beacon, “The Nutshell,” is back! Each week, we’ll ask you, the student body, a question, ranging from hot-topic news to Bethel-related trivia, and each week, we’ll publish your responses.
On March 24, 2018, students nationwide participated in the March for Our Lives, a nationwide protest calling for change in gun laws. This week, we posed this question to Bethel students:
“What kind of difference do you think the March for Our Lives will make in influencing gun laws?”
D.C. Bolling: "The difference that the March for Our Lives make in influencing gun laws is showing that people truly care about the safety of other people and it must be the right time to finally do something about it. We should be seeing more background checks and banning specific weapons so these kinds of attacks won't happen anywhere, including schools. The Parkland shooting should've been the last straw, for these shootings shouldn't be happening on a daily basis and go through the same process over and over again." Arianna Smith, junior: “Well, it got attention, so that's all they really wanted anyways. The more it's brought up, the more people can think about it and so then, that can affect gun laws, by just getting people to think about it more.” John Haas, associate professor of history: “What the March can do is it can get people excited, it can get them enthusiastic. During the March people are signing up and they're registering to vote, they're getting on email lists, mailing lists of various kinds and so that can keep the awareness going. So, it all depends on what happens next. The March itself doesn't do much, and marches—again, to reiterate—they usually do not affect the opinions of politicians. Politicians care about how you vote.” Hannah Cave, junior: “To be honest, just by virtue of what other marches have done unless it's stuck with, nothing. Unless it keeps happening, then maybe it'll do something. May get different opinions in legislative branch. It's not doing anything with one march.” Cara Frazee, junior: “I don't know, I guess that's what I'd have to say. I don't know what...it just [depends] on people's responses. I don't know how they're going to take it.” Shanelle Geer, junior: "I don’t think it’s productive. Especially during the school day. My husband is actually a high school teacher and they just had the walk-out last week on Wednesday and one of the things that came up about it was that teachers and administrators were saying, “We’re already wasting time with the state testing and we can waste time doing this too. It’s not a big deal.” It seems like that kind of stuff should be done during after school hours. Also, the kids who didn’t march are made to feel like they’re not supportive or wrong. I don’t think it’s helpful in a school context…it shouldn’t be imposed upon high schoolers. Their brains aren’t even fully developed yet. If we have to schedule their day, they’re not responsible enough to make that kind of decision. If they really have a problem with it, they should try to contact someone who is in congress or work up that ladder to get there…They did [the march] but nothing happened. It happened and the world moved on. Brandon Slabaugh, freshman: "It’s not going to help because you’re always going to have your warlords or gun guys who are going to make that on their own and they’re going to give them to the criminals. Then, civilians won’t have anything to defend themselves with." Thanks for reading. Ready for next week’s question?“What would be your dream senior gift for your senior class?”
Have a great response? Or do you have a question you’d like asked on The Nutshell? Email the Beacon at beacon@bethelcollege.edu. See you next week on The Nutshell!
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