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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2018)
26 Wednesday, March 21, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Commentary... Sisters students walk out for change By Hana Schultz and Mia Burton Correspondents Since Sandy Hook, when 20 children and six adults were gunned down by an adult using an AR-15-style rifle, 7,000 more young people have been killed by gunfire. 7,000 empty shoes filled the grounds outside of the Capitol building last Tuesday, and activists every- where demanded action to honor the lives lost to gun violence. That morning, to show support for the families of the survivors and victims of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School last month, a national school walkout took place. The walkout generated conflict between pro-gun and gun reform activists, including individuals on the middle ground of the protest. In Sisters, the student demonstration was no less controversial. So why did we choose to walk out? To honor the lives lost to gun violence with action, not silence. If there is anything we students and individuals can do to prevent something like this from happening again, we have an obligation to take action. It’s not going to be by send- ing thoughts and prayers or accepting donations from the NRA. We walked out saying we’ve had enough, to add our voices to the millions of youth who demand that gun violence in schools end. We walked out not to call for a total banning of guns, but to demand tighter gun control and limited access to assault weapons and assault-style rifles: like the ones school shooters have too easily obtained. There is a process of regulation when it comes to people getting things for which they must be respon- sible: a gun should be one of those things. That means mandatory training, safety tests, licensing, background checks and mental-health screenings for semi-auto- matic gun buyers. If people want to purchase some- thing that can continuously shoot 45 rounds per minute or a weapon used by the military (which you have access to in several states), the current process is not working and needs to be augmented. It’s absolutely true that gun reform would affect law-abiding citizens by thor- oughly clarifying that they are eligible, trained, and responsible; but this is an honorable sacrifice to make. In Florida, a handgun buyer must wait three days, but there is no waiting period to buy an AR-15. Under exist- ing gun laws, the Parkland shooter lawfully walked in and walked out with the weapon used to claim so many lives without pause. Not once has the thought crossed my mind to ban all arms, but rather to imple- ment responsibility along- side the rights. This is something we can do, and it would make a difference. Young people like Malala and Emma Gonzalez were caught in events in which they must choose life or death. The Parkland students explicitly pursued change, and as a result chose life. As the adage goes, “those who do what they have always done will get what they have always gotten.” We are choosing life. Some have been saying that kids should keep their noses out of politics. We have been told since birth to be afraid, to be quiet, and to shelter in place. But we cannot just do that, we must respond to the world we are inheriting from you. We won’t be kids forever, and soon we will have the vote. Now, more than ever, we deserve a more equal opportunity for creating a way toward change, not just for us, but for future gen- erations. Our lives depend upon it. And that is why we walked out. Hana Schultz and Mia Burton are students at Sisters High School. BLUES FEST: Event is set at two venues in August Continued from page 11 and a variety of regional craft breweries, will be a selec- tion of carefully curated food offerings. “We have about seven years of direct festival expe- rience all around Oregon and are inviting our favorite food vendors,” said Jennifer. Early-bird ticket pric- ing and more information can be found at www.sisters rhythmandbrews.com. August 3, 5 p.m. to midnight; and Saturday, August 4, noon to midnight. Sisters residents Jennifer and Joe Rambo are excited about adding another event to the summer sea- son that showcases Sisters and helps to stimulate the local economy. In addi- tion, they will be working closely with Sisters Habitat for Humanity and the Heart of Oregon Youthbuild to help demonstrate their positive impact upon our commu- nity. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to these two organizations. According to Jennifer, “ticket- holders will have the unique ability to catch all 10 main acts, as each act will be playing one set PHOTO BY DAVID GOMEZ both nights.” Coupled with Legendary bluesman John Mayall is coming to two days of music Sisters this summer. Hair 911? Who ya gonna call ? The Hair Caché ! 152 E. Main Ave. • 541-549-8771 Jeff • Theresa • Ann • Jamie • Shiela • Terri • Shanntyl • Brittany into G N I SPR ON ACTI Call Sweeney Plumbing for all your plumbing emergencies! PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK Sisters High School students participated in a walkout on Wednesday, March 14, to “honor the lives lost to gun violence with action, not silence.” The Sweetest Gift of All…A Beautiful Smile! Call now to schedule your complimentary consultation $300 discount for the month of March when you start a comprehensive treatment program. New patients only. Flexible fi nancing. 541 549 4349 LOCAL. RELIABLE. PROFESSIONAL. 260 N. Pine St., Sisters Licensed / Bonded / Insured / CCB#87587 “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25 Holy Th ursday, March 29: Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:00 p.m. Good Friday, March 30: Stations of the Cross, 3:00 p.m. Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 7:00 p.m. Holy Saturday, March 31: Easter Vigil, 8:30 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 1: Mass 10:00 a.m. Smile by Chloee & The Brace Place! 541-382-0410 410 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters CentralOregonBracePlace.com Saint Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church 123 Trinity Way, Sisters | 541-549-9391 | www.stedwardsisters.org
