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Arlington-32 (Click here for photo gallery)-- Our Lax Gun Laws Must Change, Alexandria Times, July 29, 2007 The following is a speech by Emma P., organizer of the Arlington-32. Hi, I’m Emma P. First of all I would like to thank everyone for coming. This issue is so important and it takes great initiative to come here especially on a holiday. I think it’s essential to have youth involvement in gun control legislation. When I went to the Falls Church-32 I saw so many mothers being involved and I had to think “what about their children? Where are they?”
Emma P., 16 years old For more information, write to info@protesteasyguns.com.
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NRA’s response to this tragedy was to promote the right to have
guns in colleges. I know I want college to be a safe-haven, a place
to focus on education and independence, not worry about who has a gun
on campus or whether I’ll get shot. Youth in America and especially
in the D.C. area have many opportunities to become involved but don’t.
We all are so busy with “what college will I get into” or
“who am I going to prom with” that we forget about being
involved in political issues. We forget that as American citizens we
have the right to voice our opinions. For this reason I am so happy
to see students here today, willing to be involved. I know that they’re
having another protest up in New York soon that will be comprised of
students. I hope that with time more and more youth will be involved
and know that they can change the world despite what a small voice they
think they have.