Uncompromising NRA members may want to think a little deeper. History is filled with successful examples of young people fueling dramatic social and political movements. College students informed and helped shape Vietnam's vigorous mid-'60s and early-'70s war debate.
Today's school kids have kindled passions on gun issues throughout the country. They may be younger than those of the Vietnam movement, but can we deny they are maturing quickly with escalating stresses, especially regarding safety in their classrooms?
We should review recent Supreme Court rulings to see how thinly the 2nd Amendment supports NRA hardliners' never-compromise positions on reasonable gun controls. The latest landmark 2nd Amendment decisions (2008 and 2010) made clear the Constitution protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, but, like most rights, the 2nd Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose. The 2008 decision also made clear that laws may impose conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.
Although a majority of American gun owners agree to more controls, they have seemed to be less passionate than those opposing more regulations. When more gun-control advocates see this as a critical voting issue, the NRA headlock on Congress will be broken.
This is why these kids are so important — and why the NRA may regret its dismissive Trump-style name-calling.
Jerry Kimball
Duluth
