Where Do You Stand?

The school walk out, held on the fourteenth of March, was in protest of loose gun control laws. Several people showed up with signs encouraging stricter laws regarding the sale and maintenance of a gun-carrying license. But how effective was the walk out? I have heard many people say that it was useless because adults that do not already support gun-control would not listen to the protesters anyways and that we as minors have no real control over the laws,no matter what we do. I have also, however, heard that it is better to do something than nothing.

The walk out at Barstow High was very unorganized according to most that attended. Several people were under the impression that it was supposed to be a quiet remembrance of the lives lost at Parkland and were shocked, and some may say outraged, that it was so loud and rowdy. Compared to the walkouts at other schools across the country, Barstow’s was almost humiliatingly disorganized. Several people only left class because they wanted to get out of class for those few extra minutes, as not everyone had second lunch.

I have heard some teachers say that the students that feel the need should get together and stage another walkout, one more organized and planned.This would possibly be beneficial to those students’ cause, as it would show more maturity, which may help to gain respect from adults.

Still, I have heard teachers saying that the walkout was pointless, as it did not send the message that it was supposed to send. If the walk out, to you as an individual, was meant to show that teenagers can be responsible and intelligent, it might not have succeeded, unfortunately. If the walkout was meant to encourage gun control laws to be stricter, then we will see how that plays out.

For now, however, the best advice that we can give is to stand up for what you believe in as long as what you believe in doesn’t hurt anyone else.

As a reminder, the newspaper accepts and encourages the students of Barstow High School to type up their opinions, whether political or sports-related, or about prom or even school lunches, and submit them to see your own writing and thoughts published. The way to do this is going to out "Contact" page and sending Ms. Mora an email, which you can also do separately if you prefer.