IF, for many observers, the scandal-laden Trump administration represents an existential crisis for American democracy, then the gun-control march in Washington offers a hopeful counterpoint of how its youth might save it. For a group of students to turn their personal grief into a national political movement is inspiring — in both its size and its intersection with recent movements highlighting racial and gender marginalisation. But it also represents the colossal failure of the government in ensuring their safety. From Martin Luther King Jr’s daughter articulating her dream for a better tomorrow, to the student journalists of Parkland high school spotlighting their agenda in the Guardian, these socially conscious youth have been forced out of desperation to place themselves at the epicentre of the hotly debated but seldom reformed issue of gun control. Since the Columbine massacre 19 years ago, US legislators have been unable and unwilling to address the unending tragedy of mass shootings. Already this year, the number of school shootings has reached double digits. That American children are so psychologically resilient despite this is a testament to the optimism of youth.

While there are signs of shifting public opinion as major companies divest their ties with the National Rifle Association, counteracting the immense pressure and deep pockets of the gun lobby, increasingly militarised police forces, and a culture that valorises gun ownership and violence will take sustained political commitment to voting out those office bearers who have a material stake in perpetuating the status quo. Neither is it productive to add fuel to the fire in the form of knee-jerk responses such as President Trump’s prescription of arming teachers — a recommendation that was strongly criticised in Pakistan following the APS massacre in 2014. Such tactics derail the effort to dismantle structural violence through a combined process of deweaponisation and supplementary reforms such as additional funding for mental health and school security resources. For the next generation, the choices of today might make the difference between life and death tomorrow.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2018