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osewalrusInteresting to note that not only isn't the Parkland shooting not fading from the national debate, but, as this article from FiveThirtyEight shows, we have seen expansion of gun rights sidelined and some actual (albeit fairly weak) gun control limits.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/gun-policy-is-already-changing-in-the-wake-of-parkland/
The usual liberal default of "whiteness" (i.e., things change when bad stuff that usually happens to POC happens to white people) doesn't apply. Most school shooting incidents have involved white kids. But here are a few random thoughts.
1. Obama is no longer President.
I really wish this weren't a factor. But the fact is that we have a bunch of people who were just Goddamn whack-a-doodle on anything Obama supported. And not all of them were loud-mouthed raving bigots or gun nuts. I suspect a lot of people who simply tuned out anything Obama supported suddenly -- for no reason they can articulate -- feel much more like taking a position.
2. The ask is smaller.
After Newton, Obama and allies tried to reinstitute the Brady Act ban on assault weapons. It failed. The initial asks here are much lower, which makes it easier for people who generally like guns but think that things are way out of hand to go along. It also makes the hardcore position of the NRA look even more ridiculous.
3. The Parkland School kids are making the difference.
There are a lot of reasons why the atmosphere in the country is different, but the remarkable cohesion of the Parkland students, their firm and articulate arguments, and their grace under fire by raving loons is certainly a major driver. While not acting alone (no one changing the world ever does), these kids have done a lot to keep the issue in the public eye and avoid efforts to derail the train.
4. Trump is President.
We have seen a huge uptick in political engagement since Trump became President. It seems to have finally shocked a whole bunch of folks out of complacency. Broader cultural context is a significant factor for supporting protest and engagement.
5. At some point, you hit critical mass.
Lots of times people look at a specific incident and think "why did this incident lead to a backlash when nothing before it did." Often times it's simply a question of hitting a critical mass of people deciding it's just enough. We're seeing that to some degree with Facebook. Sure, there were a bunch of things about Cambridge Analytics that upset people. but it also happened at a time when people are already upset and anxious about social media platforms for a lot of other reasons. At some point, the spark catches -- not because there was anything particular about the spark but because there was finally enough tinder to catch fire.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/gun-policy-is-already-changing-in-the-wake-of-parkland/
The usual liberal default of "whiteness" (i.e., things change when bad stuff that usually happens to POC happens to white people) doesn't apply. Most school shooting incidents have involved white kids. But here are a few random thoughts.
1. Obama is no longer President.
I really wish this weren't a factor. But the fact is that we have a bunch of people who were just Goddamn whack-a-doodle on anything Obama supported. And not all of them were loud-mouthed raving bigots or gun nuts. I suspect a lot of people who simply tuned out anything Obama supported suddenly -- for no reason they can articulate -- feel much more like taking a position.
2. The ask is smaller.
After Newton, Obama and allies tried to reinstitute the Brady Act ban on assault weapons. It failed. The initial asks here are much lower, which makes it easier for people who generally like guns but think that things are way out of hand to go along. It also makes the hardcore position of the NRA look even more ridiculous.
3. The Parkland School kids are making the difference.
There are a lot of reasons why the atmosphere in the country is different, but the remarkable cohesion of the Parkland students, their firm and articulate arguments, and their grace under fire by raving loons is certainly a major driver. While not acting alone (no one changing the world ever does), these kids have done a lot to keep the issue in the public eye and avoid efforts to derail the train.
4. Trump is President.
We have seen a huge uptick in political engagement since Trump became President. It seems to have finally shocked a whole bunch of folks out of complacency. Broader cultural context is a significant factor for supporting protest and engagement.
5. At some point, you hit critical mass.
Lots of times people look at a specific incident and think "why did this incident lead to a backlash when nothing before it did." Often times it's simply a question of hitting a critical mass of people deciding it's just enough. We're seeing that to some degree with Facebook. Sure, there were a bunch of things about Cambridge Analytics that upset people. but it also happened at a time when people are already upset and anxious about social media platforms for a lot of other reasons. At some point, the spark catches -- not because there was anything particular about the spark but because there was finally enough tinder to catch fire.
