“…let’s talk CHANGE.”
After the shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas, student Zach Divin called for increased school security to help prevent others from experiencing the same tragedy.
Immediately following the shooting, Divin tweeted his “thoughts and prayers” to the victims and their families.
“I can’t believe it could have been any of us at the school, we need to make [a] change now,” he added.
Divin advocated for every student to have a “platform” because they’re bonded by the tragedy forever and for politics to not get in the way of a change.
“Republican, democrat, whatever you are, remember we are all wanting to make the world better but focus on being ONE not separate that’s when we become weak,” he tweeted Sunday.
In contrast to many of the students who experienced the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Divin dismissed the idea of organizing a walkout to inspire change.
We DO NOT need a walk out,it fixes nothing we just need to handle this like adults.
— Zach Divin (@DivinZach) May 21,2018
In the week following the shooting, Divin clarified his stance on the changes he hopes to see made, including the issue of gun control .
He tweeted that it was time to “get this out of the way” and stated that the shooting could not have been prevented by a gun ban or reform because the suspect “was carrying an illegal firearm and illegal explosives.”
“This is a parenting issue and a mental issue, stop talking guns and let’s talk CHANGE,” he tweeted.
Remember at the end of the day we are all human and all want change, being here gave me so much more encouragement to keep living for my fellow classmates and push for a better future . #togethermovement #SantaFeStrong pic.twitter.com/n1iHTYAk76
— Zach Divin (@DivinZach) May 22,2018
The high school student also rejected the idea that Santa Fe High School will only be remembered for the shooting .
“We will be the school that actually pushes for school safety and be remembered for fixing it,” he stated.
Dimitrios Pagourtzis, the suspected shooter, reportedly used two firearms, neither of which were obtained by him legally but were owned by his father and not properly safeguarded.
Eight students and two teachers were killed in the shooting, which was reportedly carried out against people Pagourtzis felt mistreated him.
While some students have expressed the belief that this isn’t a “gun problem,” Everytown recently sponsored a full-page ad, signed by students, in a Texas newspaper dedicated to calling for increased gun control.
Following the shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) vocalized his support for improving background checks while at an event at a local church.
Jenni Fink, Senior Writer. She joined IJR in 2016 as a writer and covers primarily politics and stories about inspiring human beings. She graduated fr… more
