In recent times, a distressing pattern has emerged: a moment of optimism arises, igniting hope for change. For a fleeting day or two, we dare to breathe a sigh of relief. And then, without fail, a barrage of online trolls emerges to shatter our fleeting sense of goodness.
These individuals are real, and their threats are chilling. We won’t direct you to their page, as it doesn’t need more attention than it already receives. With over 800,000 followers, the rhetoric shared is alarming.
They openly make statements like:
- “Kid, you better get an armed detachment of men soon, just saying!”
- “Hunting season might come a bit early this year…”
- “Ok, I’m just gonna say it, too bad this piece of trash wasn’t number 18.” (Referring to the 17 students tragically murdered in Parkland, Florida.)
Who speaks about children in this manner? How is this acceptable? Even more disturbing is that they are not acting alone.
They label these brave young survivors as crisis actors, and their followers buy into these lies. They claim these students are undermining the Constitution, and their supporters spread this misinformation. They accuse these kids of being communists, and again, the falsehoods proliferate.
And with this, threats of violence emerge. I want to dismiss them, but I can’t, because these individuals possess firearms. They have the means to act on their threats.
I didn’t want to be outraged. I didn’t want to pen this piece. I didn’t want these people to divert me from my mission. The mission is not to eliminate all guns but rather to implement commonsense legislation aimed at curbing gun violence. At Moms for Responsible Action, I collaborate with countless others in my community in Florida. I can confidently say that none of us seeks to abolish the Second Amendment. Not once have I heard anyone express a desire to remove all firearms from society. Yet, this is the narrative persistently pushed by the NRA.
The NRA’s statement on social media following the march read:
“Today’s protests aren’t spontaneous. Wealthy anti-gun activists and Hollywood elites are manipulating and exploiting children as part of their scheme to DESTROY the Second Amendment and strip us of our right to defend ourselves and our families.”
Like many young advocates who spoke passionately at the March For Our Lives, I call complete nonsense on this. Of course, the protests weren’t spontaneous—no protest is. They require planning and organization. These students began organizing the march shortly after the tragic events of Valentine’s Day when so many of their peers lost their lives to a weapon that should never have been in the hands of its owner.
They witnessed their friends perish. They feared for their own lives. They are forever scarred by gun violence and are determined to prevent these tragedies from repeating. These teens are rising, despite their trauma, to take action for their peers and their country. They are heroes deserving of admiration and respect. No one should speak ill of them. Yet, there are adults—many of whom likely have children of their own—who wish them harm? It’s appalling. It’s terrifying. It’s unacceptable.
No one aims to “DESTROY the Second Amendment.” This falsehood, spun by the NRA and echoed by right-wing media, that we are manipulating these kids with an agenda to confiscate everyone’s guns is utter nonsense.
So, yes, I am enraged. I am furious.
I strive for diplomacy. I aim to remain calm and avoid inflammatory language to build a persuasive argument. But I am enraged by the deceit, the threats, and the apathy that allows this to persist.
Responsible gun owners, where are you? Step forward and address your community.
I personally know individuals who propagate these lies—not out of malice, but out of ignorance. The truth can be obscured in a deluge of misinformation. When you see a video of a young activist tearing up the Constitution, if you’re not informed, it can seem real, infuriating, and share-worthy.
The spread of misinformation must cease. If you encounter a false news story, remember to report it: click the three dots in the upper right corner of a post, select “Give feedback on this post,” and choose to report it as fake news. Keep doing this every time you come across harmful propaganda.
Furthermore, if you are unsure about the reliability of a post, refrain from sharing it. If you notice someone else sharing incorrect information, gently point it out and encourage them to remove it. It’s critical to refute and report falsehoods.
When threats of violence against children arise, they must be reported immediately. This should be a given.
What infuriates me most is the awareness that these threats likely come from individuals who own guns. Do you feel secure knowing that someone who would threaten a child possesses firearms? I don’t! This should concern us all. The reality of people making threats against children is unacceptable—there are not two sides to this issue.
If you wish to support the movement for reducing gun violence in America, text READY to 64433.
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In summary, the violent threats against Parkland survivors underscore the urgent need for commonsense gun legislation. The bravery of these young advocates should inspire respect and action, not hostility. It is crucial to confront misinformation and protect our youth from harm.