Students Protest Nashville Shooting

Shootings have become increasingly prevalent in today’s society. On Monday, March 27, there was a school shooting in Nashville. Audrey Hale, a 28 year old, killed six people at the Covenant School, a Christian elementary school. The victims included three children and three adults: Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9;  Hallie Scruggs, 9; William Kinney, 9; Katherine Koonce, 60; Mike Hill, 61; and Cynthia Peak, 60.

Frustrated by the continuous gun violence, many people joined together to protest for gun reform at the state Capitol. The Metro Nashville Public Schools’ parents led this effort alongside many other organizations to call attention to the shooting. A hefty number of photographs and videos illustrate them saying phrases, like “Is your AR-15 worth their lives?” People have been inspired locally too, as seen with Vivian Carlson, a high school senior in downtown Nashville, who organized a school walkout to argue for better gun regulation. Three Democratic governors protested as well on the chamber floor of the state legislature, but they were reprimanded for this action and at risk for expulsion. This is exactly what happened to two out of three of the representatives, Jones and Pearson, while Johnson was not voted out of the legislature. This decision has been heavily criticized since the two voted out were Black, while Johnson, a white woman, didn’t suffer the same consequences.

Three years ago, Tennessee's governor and a Republican legislature loosened gun laws, and almost directly after the shooting, a judge decreased the minimum age to publicly carry unpermitted hand guns from 21 to 18, a decision that has especially been criticized now. However, in response to the most recent protests, Governor Bill Lee’s stance has changed. He announced several proposals for laws: $140 million towards security guards placed at all public schools, $30 million for Homeland Security to collaborate with all schools, and $27 million to improve overall security. And notably, on April 11, he signed an executive order this past Tuesday to improve background checks, including inserting mental health and criminal history information as well as having the government review current gun purchase regulations. 

By Hasita Yalamanchili