Responding to the cries of the Parkland shooting survivors, Dick’s Sporting Goods released a statement promising the following (this information can be found on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website and social media):

1. “We will no longer sell assault-style rifles, also referred to as modern sporting rifles.”

2. “We will no longer sell firearms to anyone under 21 years of age.”

3. “We will no longer sell high capacity magazines.”

4. “We never have and never will sell bump stocks that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire more rapidly.”

Much to my own surprise, Dick’s Sporting Goods also made the following statement: “Following all of the rules and laws, we sold a shotgun to the Parkland shooter in November of 2017. It was not the gun, nor type of gun, he used in the shooting. But it could have been.”

I am unaware if that was public knowledge or not, but I had no idea that the Parkland shooter had purchased a gun from that establishment; however, the acknowledgement from this large of a corporation verbalizing that waiting for new legislation, thoughts and prayers are not enough to solve the current mass shooting epidemic is something that gives me hope.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is not responsible for the shooting. In fact, I do not believe any establishment that sells guns is solely responsible for any of the tragedies, but Dick’s is doing what they can to make sure it does not happen again.

For once in my lifetime, I see kids younger than I taking a stand against some really scary people, and their movement is gaining traction. Legislation might not have changed yet, but an entire company has listened and has made a public statement standing in solidarity with survivors. That is no small feat. Additionally, this is a company that has nothing to gain from changing what they will and will not sell to eager consumers, other than some of the public’s respect. Theirs, like others, is an example to follow.

One of the strongest pillars of activism is acknowledging privilege, bias and association. Dick’s was not responsible for the shooting, but just as they said, they could have been. I can only hope, and strongly urge, that more people will follow this example, if only until we figure out how to keep more children from dying. After all, if the corporate manifestation of physical and brute displays of masculinity can do it, anyone can.

The second amendment, as it is, protects anyone’s right to own a firearm (almost any firearm, really), but it is time that our country realizes that the “right” to own a gun is not as valuable as a life, especially the life of a child.

Abigail Carlin is junior English language arts major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or alcarlin@eiu.edu.