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Students March on Wisconsin Capitol, Demand Action on Gun Violence

On December 20, 2024, more than 100 high school students from Madison marched to the Wisconsin State Capitol to demand action on gun violence. Their voices rose in unison, filling the marble halls with chants of “No more silence! End gun violence!” This rally came just days after a tragic shooting at a local school left three dead, including a 14-year-old student and a teacher.

As the students gathered, the Capitol rotunda, adorned for the holidays, became a stark contrast to the weight of their message. Amid the festive atmosphere, their cries for change drowned out the carolers, as teens held signs with poignant slogans like “Graduations, not funerals.” The rally wasn’t just a protest; it was a call to the adults in power to act. The Madison teens were channeling their grief, anger, and frustration into a powerful demand: When will adults step up and protect them from gun violence?

The Heartbreaking Context: A State and Nation in Crisis

This shooting was just another tragic chapter in a year already marked by over 300 school shootings in the U.S. According to the Gun Violence Archive, this event in Madison became the 323rd school shooting of 2024 alone. It underscored a grim reality: Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among American children and teens.

The situation in Wisconsin reflects a disturbing trend nationwide. Data from the Giffords Law Center shows that gun deaths in the state rose by 45% between 2013 and 2022, a rate higher than the national average. Yet, despite mounting evidence and public outcry, gun legislation continues to stall in state legislatures and Washington, D.C.

Wisconsin students march Capitol gun violence

At the rally, the pain of loss and the frustration of inaction were palpable. Many students, including Danny Johnson from Madison West High School, expressed their disillusionment. “We shouldn’t have to be here,” Johnson said, holding a sign that read, “Thoughts and prayers until it’s your own child.” His words echoed a sentiment shared by countless others: the constant trauma of living in a country where gun violence remains unchecked.

Gun Violence in America: A Global Outlier

It’s hard to imagine a world where such tragedies are accepted as a sad part of life. Yet, in the U.S., gun violence is shockingly normalized. A report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington highlights how the U.S. stands out on the global stage. Firearm homicides in the U.S. are 33 times higher than in Australia and 77 times higher than in Germany. These numbers reflect not just the scale of gun violence in the U.S., but also the easy access to firearms that fuels it.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking example of this complacency is the aftermath of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, where 20 children and six adults were killed. In the years following, despite the outcry, there were no significant changes to the nation’s gun laws. Instead, lawmakers offered “thoughts and prayers,” a phrase now seen as a hollow gesture by those pushing for real change.

“After Sandy Hook, my parents thought that would be the turning point,” said Ian Malash, a senior at Vel Phillips Memorial High School. “But nothing changed.” His words are a harsh reminder of how political inertia continues to leave children vulnerable.

The Political Divide: Inaction at the Capitol

Back in Madison, political leaders have failed to act. Since 2018, Governor Tony Evers and Democratic lawmakers have attempted to pass bills that would introduce stricter background checks for gun purchases and implement “red flag” laws to prevent gun violence. Yet these efforts have repeatedly been blocked by Republican legislators.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a key figure in the Wisconsin legislature, offered thoughts and prayers following this week’s tragedy, but failed to commit to any real action. “My thoughts and prayers are with the students, parents, and faculty,” he said. “But no, we’re not changing anything.” His response to the shooting has been met with outrage from the students who gathered at the Capitol.

“These thoughts and prayers are a joke,” said Malash. “It’s 2024, and we’re still seeing mass shootings. When is it going to stop?”

The Youth Take a Stand: A Movement Grows

The Capitol rally was not just a protest; it was part of a growing movement led by the youth demanding accountability from their elected officials. For these teens, gun violence is not just an abstract concept—it’s a daily fear they live with. From the Sandy Hook tragedy to the recent events in Madison, they have watched their peers lose their lives to senseless violence.

The students marching on December 20th came with one message: enough is enough. They held their ground in the Capitol rotunda, demanding that lawmakers listen. Many have vowed to continue their fight until they see change. “We won’t stop until something is done,” said Johnson. “We can’t keep living like this.”

For these young people, the call for action is not just a plea for policy change; it is a fight for their very lives. Their message to adults is clear: they deserve to feel safe in their schools, and they won’t back down until they do.

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