Teens On Guns in America | NPR

Summary

The video script explores America's complex relationship with guns through diverse perspectives, including youth activism, cultural ties to firearms, and the impact of mass shootings. It highlights the views of young people affected by gun violence, their advocacy for change, and the generational divide on gun control. The script also touches on the emotional connections people have with guns, debates on Second Amendment rights, and the influence of media. Ultimately, it reflects a generation poised to challenge norms, aiming to create meaningful change in gun policy and safety.

Takeaways

• 🔫 Guns are deeply ingrained in American culture, with differing perspectives on gun ownership and control.
• 🔒 The term 'lockdown generation' reflects the unique fear and anxiety that today's youth experience due to school shootings.
• 🎯 Both gun control advocates and Second Amendment supporters express strong views, underscoring the polarized nature of the debate.
• 😭 The Parkland school shooting is a central event, with students and families grappling with grief and the desire to prevent future tragedies.
• 📢 Youth-led activism, such as the March For Our Lives, is highlighted as a key response to gun violence, showcasing the power of student voices.
• 🛡️ Some people, particularly responsible gun owners, feel defensive about gun control efforts, emphasizing their role in safe gun practices.
• 🎓 Many young people express hope for change, seeing themselves as the generation that can influence gun laws and the future of America.
• 🌍 The discussion includes the broader context of gun violence in communities of color, where shootings are a daily reality, often ignored by mainstream media.
• 💔 Personal stories of loss, like the death of a twin brother or family members affected by gun violence, add emotional weight to the advocacy for change.
• 💪 The script underscores that this generation is determined to have a voice in shaping the country, whether through activism, voting, or leadership roles.

Q & A

What is the overall theme of the transcript?

The transcript focuses on America's complex relationship with guns, exploring various perspectives from young Americans on gun culture, gun control, and the impact of gun violence, especially school shootings.

Why do some individuals feel defensive about owning guns?

Some individuals feel defensive about owning guns because they feel that responsible gun owners are being unfairly blamed for gun violence, and they want to emphasize that they are not part of the problem.

What is meant by the term 'lockdown generation' as mentioned in the transcript?

The term 'lockdown generation' refers to the current generation of students who have grown up experiencing school lockdowns due to the threat of mass shootings, something no previous generation has faced to the same extent.

What inspired some students to become activists against gun violence?

Many students, particularly after the Parkland shooting, were inspired to become activists against gun violence. The high visibility of survivors speaking out, such as Emma Gonzalez, motivated others to take action, believing that they could drive change.

What do gun control advocates believe should be done to address gun violence?

Gun control advocates in the transcript believe that stronger gun laws and more responsible legislation are necessary to reduce gun violence. They argue that inaction leads to more deaths and that reform is needed to prevent future tragedies.

Why do some people oppose stricter gun control laws?

Some people oppose stricter gun control laws because they feel that it infringes on their Second Amendment rights. They also believe that guns are necessary for self-defense and that responsible gun ownership should not be penalized.

How did the media portray youth activism after the Parkland shooting, according to the transcript?

The media largely portrayed youth activism after the Parkland shooting as being overwhelmingly in favor of gun control, although not all young people share this stance. Some youths felt their pro-Second Amendment views were underrepresented.

What role do guns play in American culture, as described in the transcript?

Guns are depicted as deeply ingrained in American culture, symbolizing power, tradition, and self-defense. For some, guns are passed down through generations and are tied to activities like hunting, while for others, they represent protection and personal freedom.

How has gun violence affected communities of color, according to some voices in the transcript?

Gun violence has disproportionately affected communities of color, where shootings are a daily occurrence. Some people feel that gun violence in these areas has been ignored by the media and policymakers until affluent or predominantly white communities are impacted.

What motivates some young people to continue advocating for change related to gun violence?

Many young people are motivated by a desire for change, the hope that their activism will lead to safer schools and communities, and a sense of responsibility to honor the lives lost to gun violence. They believe their generation has the power to push for meaningful reforms.

Outlines

00:00

🔫 The Complex Relationship with Guns in America

This paragraph explores the deep and often conflicting relationship Americans have with guns. It starts by highlighting how guns are embedded in American culture, shaping perceptions of power and identity. The youth perspective is central, with references to the 'lockdown generation' and the emotional impact of school shootings, particularly the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The paragraph conveys a spectrum of opinions, from gun owners defending their rights to activists calling for change, illustrating the polarizing nature of the gun control debate in America. The dialogue reflects a mix of frustration, grief, and a desire for responsible action from the next generation.

05:01

🌲 Guns, Heritage, and Personal Connections

This paragraph delves into the personal and familial connections individuals have with guns. It describes how guns can represent heritage and bonding, as seen through stories of hunting and shooting with family members. Guns are portrayed as symbols of tradition, passed down from one generation to the next, and associated with peaceful, reflective moments in nature. The narrative shifts to cultural differences, particularly the perspective of a first-generation American with Chinese parents, and touches on the enjoyment of the technical aspects of guns. Despite acknowledging the issue of mass shootings, the paragraph emphasizes that many gun owners view firearms as a positive part of their lives, often overlooked by the media's focus on violence.

10:02

🏙️ Living with Gun Violence in Inner Cities

This paragraph highlights the stark reality of gun violence in urban, predominantly African-American communities. It shares the experiences of individuals who have lost family members to gun violence and the daily fear of being shot. The narrative emphasizes that gun violence is a constant, lived experience in these neighborhoods, with shootings being so frequent that people have become desensitized. Programs like Teens on Target are mentioned as efforts to steer young people away from violence, showing the grassroots work being done to prevent gun-related tragedies in marginalized communities. The paragraph underscores the lack of media attention on everyday gun violence compared to high-profile school shootings.

15:05

💔 Personal Loss and the Fight for Change

This paragraph is a personal story of loss, recounting how the narrator's twin brother was tragically killed by a gun in a robbery. The deep emotional pain of losing a sibling is vividly portrayed, with the narrator expressing how their perspective on gun violence changed after seeing the activism of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas. This loss serves as a catalyst for the narrator to become more involved in the fight against gun violence. The paragraph also touches on the broader issue of how gun violence in poor and minority communities is often overlooked by the media, contrasting with the attention given to school shootings in wealthier areas. Despite the grief, there is a sense of hope in the activism of the younger generation.

Keywords

💡Gun Culture

Gun culture refers to the deep-rooted relationship many Americans have with firearms, both for protection and as a symbol of freedom. The script shows various perspectives on this, from a sense of empowerment and self-defense to the controversial connection between guns and societal violence, highlighting how this cultural element is unique to America.

💡Second Amendment

The Second Amendment is a key part of the U.S. Constitution that protects the right to bear arms. Throughout the script, individuals advocate for its importance, especially as a means of protection, showing how it remains a central pillar in the debate on gun ownership and control in America.

💡Lockdown Generation

The term 'Lockdown Generation' refers to the generation of students growing up in an era where school shootings and lockdown drills have become commonplace. This phrase captures the fear and trauma that young people face as they navigate a world where gun violence, particularly in schools, feels ever-present.

💡Mass Shootings

Mass shootings are tragic, large-scale acts of gun violence that have become increasingly frequent in the U.S. The video script references multiple incidents, such as the Parkland and Texas school shootings, underscoring the profound emotional and societal impact these events have on the nation, especially its youth.

💡Gun Control

Gun control refers to laws and policies aimed at regulating the ownership, sale, and use of firearms. The script highlights the divide in American opinions on gun control, with some advocating for stricter measures to prevent shootings, while others stress the importance of protecting Second Amendment rights.

💡Activism

Activism in the context of the video refers to young people, particularly students, advocating for changes in gun laws to prevent violence. Groups like 'March For Our Lives' represent this movement, as youth take to the streets and organize protests in response to shootings like Parkland, demanding action from lawmakers.

💡Survivalism

Survivalism is the practice of preparing for emergencies, including learning self-defense and tactical skills. In the script, some individuals emphasize survivalism as a reason for gun ownership, showing a mindset focused on readiness for worst-case scenarios, including natural disasters or societal breakdown.

💡Trauma

Trauma, particularly in the context of gun violence, is a recurring theme throughout the script. Many of the characters describe the lasting emotional and psychological scars left by experiences with shootings, whether at school or in their communities. This trauma influences their perspectives on gun ownership and control.

💡Community Violence

Community violence refers to the pervasive gun violence experienced in some neighborhoods, particularly in urban areas like Chicago. The script points out how gun violence is not limited to mass shootings, as some communities have long dealt with daily shootings and the associated fear and loss of life.

💡Hope

Hope, especially among the younger generation, is a key theme in the video. Despite the recurring gun violence, many young people remain hopeful that they can effect change through activism, voting, and advocacy. This sense of hope drives their efforts to reform gun laws and address the root causes of violence.

Highlights

Guns are deeply ingrained in American culture and are seen by some as a symbol of power and freedom.

The term 'lockdown generation' was coined by a young person to describe the generation that has grown up with the fear of school shootings.

After the Parkland shooting, many students became vocal advocates for gun control, leading marches and movements for reform.

Some young people are frustrated with the media portrayal that all youth support gun control, emphasizing the importance of responsible gun ownership.

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was a pivotal event that galvanized youth activism around gun violence prevention.

The voices of young people who have experienced gun violence, including those from minority communities, have started to gain more attention since Parkland.

There is a clear divide in opinions between those advocating for gun control and those defending Second Amendment rights, but both sides agree on the need for change.

Young activists are making efforts to bridge the divide by acknowledging the cultural importance of guns while also advocating for stronger safety measures.

Several students spoke about the emotional and psychological trauma of losing friends and family members to gun violence.

Survivalism and self-defense, particularly for women, is a theme among young gun owners who see firearms as essential for protection.

The youth-led activism following school shootings has brought about a sense of empowerment and unity among young people from various backgrounds.

Some students with military or law enforcement backgrounds advocate for gun ownership as a means of self-protection and preparation for emergencies.

Students from marginalized communities, particularly African Americans, feel that their struggles with gun violence are often ignored until mass shootings happen in more affluent areas.

The influence of social media has amplified the voices of young people who might not have had a platform to share their experiences with gun violence.

There is a strong sense among this generation that they will play a key role in shaping future gun policies and addressing gun violence in America.

Transcripts

Guns are a big part of our culture in America.

Fire!

Hands up! Don't shoot! Hands up!

I feel like America is infatuated with guns.

Go ahead. Make my day.

I would describe our relationship with guns as one that's

unlike any other in any other country around the world.

People feel like guns give them power

to give them some type of higher up.

A girl in our group coined the term “lockdown generation.”

No other generation has had this fear.

We've dealt with it our whole lives.

I feel sort of defensive about it, that I own guns.

I'm like, ‘Hey, like I'm not doing this stuff.’

What about, like, the responsible,

like, middle-of-the-road people?

We're the next generation that's gonna kind of

take over everything. Like, to listen to, like, what we think

should happen next is important because

that's the only way for us all to grow as, like, a country.

Attention all units in district 15: possible shots fired at

5901 Pine Island Road

at Stoneman Douglas High School.

We begin our program with broken hearts in

yet another American town.

Reports of a shooting with multiple injuries

at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School...

There's no words to describe how I feel right now...

I lost eight friends.

I want this to be the last mass shooting.

...another very sad day in America...

So what do everyday Americans think?

Gun laws do not make themselves...

...failure of epic proportions...

When I saw it on TV it really scared me,

that I would just move on my with my life

after something that tragic happened.

Like, 17 people's lives were taken, and then two days

later I turned on the TV again

and I saw Emma Gonzalez.

...and in this case if you actively do nothing,

people continually end up dead.

So it's time to start doing something.

So my sister and I were like,

‘We're gonna do something about it this time.’

We started a group called

Helena Youth Against Gun Violence.

And so we planned a school walkout,

a March For Our Lives on March 24, and

we've continued to be pretty active

in the community since then.

After the Parkland shooting, the media, they made it

seem like every youth in this country, you know, was

in support of gun control.

Enough is enough.

It's not just about Stoneman Douglas.

It's about every school...

And that's just kind of where I stepped up

and kind of just said, ‘You know, no.’

We have a voice.

Let's remember why we are here today.

We are here to advocate for the Second Amendment

and the millions of responsible gun owners

in the United States.

In the next couple weeks I plan on getting

my concealed carry permit.

You know, if you had asked me a year ago

if I was gonna be a, you know, a pro-gun advocate,

I would have said you know, no.

I want to maybe, you know, run for like a local office

here in the state.

It feels good, you know, to be a part of something.

I was just shot at my school.

I'm sorry?

I was just shot at my school.

This is an NBC News special report.

...high school on lockdown

after yet another school shooting...

The two students have been hit...

...potential mass shooting was halted when

an armed school resource officer...

...potentially saved a great number of lives.

Four days before the national March For Our Lives...

We are not trying to take your guns...

...anti-gun, anti-freedom narrative...

...conspiracy content...

...crisis actor...

...right wing conspiracy theories...

All the adults are like, ‘Well there's no point

in you doing this. Like, this is dumb.

Like, you don't have a say.’

It's not to prove people wrong — it's for change.

My cousin who's really close to me

a while ago was in a school shooting and she just,

she still has medical problems from what happened.

It's just really important for me today to, like, do things

that she can't and speak for the people who can't.

I'm dedicating my energy and my youth and my future

to be an activist for gun violence because I don't want

anyone to experience what I had to go through.

Sadly I'm going to be scarred

and, you know, I still wake up to gunshots and

screaming, and it's going to be a process.

This is the start of an evolution, a

start of change, because we're the generation of change.

I feel sort of defensive about it, that I own guns.

I'm like hey, like, I'm not doing this stuff.

What about, like, the responsible, like,

middle-of-the-road people?

if you get there before the woods are awake,

like all the mist and the fog and everything

and the birds just start chirping and stuff.

I don't know. There's just a peace.

Like that's one way I see God the most,

is when I'm out in the woods like that.

Granddaddy Jimmy, he's an awesome — an awesome

guy to me, so just knowing that he's done stuff with

this gun and he's hunted deer with this gun before.

We weren't really, like, as close as we are now.

Once I started, like, hunting and shooting and stuff,

that's something that he liked to do, so he was like,

‘I want to pass this down to him.’

He's kind of the old man I want to be.

My ideal life would be wear buckskin,

just hunt everything I need,

live with the land,

but I don't think that's gonna happen, so.

Go start a real life, get a job and everything, and

then keep hunting is my own little —

that's my, that's my place.

My parents are from China, and the only people there

who have guns there are the government.

We'd be watching action movies.

I'd be saying, Oh, well that's a, that's a cool gun.’

And my dad would just, like, mention to me,

he was like, ‘Oh, well you can own guns in this country.’

You know, I like shooting guns. I think it's fun.

It's a very, like, delicate, intricate system, but

at the same time it has to stand up to all these, like,

crazy high tolerances, and I think it's really cool

to see, like, that machining in action.

Every time there is a mass shooting in this country,

it's on the news for, you know, weeks and months.

What's happened is, you know, we have, like,

social media and all this stuff, and that's given voice to a

lot of teenagers that wouldn't necessarily

have had that voice in the past, and I'm not trying to, like,

make light of this or anything, but I am —

mass shootings statistically are fairly rare,

but there's sort of like an obligation to comment on it,

because, you know, the Internet's there and

you're supposed to comment on everything, right?

Guns are a big part of our culture.

I do think there needs to be some forms of gun control

and I need — I realize — there's a problem,

and it needs to be, it needs to be fixed somehow,

but there's so much focus in the media on, like, just the

negative aspects of it that people

never really see the good parts of it.

I don't think we have good enough gun safety classes

in America, because we were never allowed to, like,

use Nerf guns or anything

because we had real guns in the house,

so I've never really had the mindset of, like,

shooting people or shooting, um, anything but birds

and clay targets.

I don't — it sounds weird when I say it, but I do kind of

have this connection to my shotgun and I think

it's really cool and it's kind of my baby.

I named it Priscilla.

There's nothing better than, like, the smell of a

shotgun, except maybe like jam,

but, um, I don't know. It just smells like home.

I don't know. I'm still, like, a girly girl.

I have my pink and I load shotgun shells with glitter, like,

in with the shot, so when you shoot, like,

glitter kind of comes out and it's really —

it looks really cool.

And breaking news out of Antioch, Tenn....

...deadly shooting spree at a restaurant...

More people could have died had a hero not stepped in.

The hero did not have a gun...

...if he had a gun and could have...

...took this opportunity to bring up gun control...

...politicizing this event...

...comprehensive gun reform...

The left comes up with legitimately the stupidest...

We need to do something...

These things have been happening every day in poor

communities and communities of color

that are — that are disproportionately affected by this,

and now that it's a bunch of rich white kids that have

been shot, it's like, ‘Oh my god we have to end this.’

And I think it's important that we use the spotlight

that the media gives us to shine that on different

communities and let them speak for what

has been going on there for way longer.

Chicago has been facing gun violence for a long time,

and every time we tried to talk about it, it —

act like it was never heard.

I've been shot at more times than I can count.

If I'm not really getting a ride, I don't want to go outside

because there's a high chance that I might get shot.

Every other house on my block has a gun.

It's to the point where we can walk outside

and hear shots and continue walking.

Chicago alone got some of the strictest gun laws ever,

but what does that mean when you can go to Indiana

and get a gun in less than 30 minutes?

When people ask me do I feel safe at school or at home,

I can't answer.

I don't feel safe no type of way.

Teens on Target is a program that helps mentor young

kids to stop picking up guns.

We don't want them to be in violent situations

so we go around talking to kids and young adults

about the violence in your own backyard.

Like, I like guns. I'm not —

I'm not finna lie. I'm not finna sugarcoat it,

but if I have a gun, it's just for my protection.

My uncle was shot by a gun.

My cousin was shot by a gun.

I had multiple family members killed by weapons,

but it's still not gonna change my perspective,

because if you got a gun, I'm gonna want a gun too,

because I'm not finna let you take my life.

I wish people would understand what I go through,

what my friends go through.

Something happens every single day.

You can never have a perfect day.

Because I know that, like, I can get shot

and because I've been shot at multiple times, um,

I don't really go outside a lot.

Walking these streets, these the same streets

that my family members passed or my friends

passed away in. It's horrible that I have to live that

over and over again.

It gets emotional a lot, and

depressing, definitely depressing.

Us being heard definitely changed after Parkland,

because it's not just like African-Americans

or people of color.

It's, like, white students as well.

I feel this kind of empowerment and unity in it.

The youth leading things to bring about change is

this amazing thing because we see now how

passionate young people can be.

It has happened again...

...another school shooting...

...multiple fatalities...

Clear out this way.

We've done this way too many times.

...steeped in a culture of violence...

...politicization of the Texas school shooting...

We need armed teachers...

Children should not be able to have guns.

How many kids in this country are we gonna

let get murdered?

I've always kind of felt like eventually

it was going to happen here too.

I kind of want to live this honorable life

of serving others.

My mom, she deployed about three times, um,

I believe Iraq and Afghanistan.

She was out there, um, kind of risking her life,

trying to serve her country in the best way possible.

I wanted to kind of live in that legacy.

When I go to school, I don't —

I don't generally think about

you know, the school shootings too much.

It's very tragic to have these students pass away,

but I try to be a little bit more, I guess, um, open minded.

Our founding fathers put the Second Amendment

in the Bill of Rights for a reason,

and it was to protect ourselves

if anything, you know, went down south.

Weapons should stay, you know, with the citizens.

I personally haven't had many negative experiences

with firearms, so understandably,

my outlook would be different than someone

who's been involved in a school shooting.

I'm sure that's a very traumatic experience.

A lot of my friends know about firearms because that's

just part of the general culture of this area.

There's firearms in nearly every house.

However, they aren't trained and as well-versed as

I would say Jasmine and I are.

Today my grandfather took us through a

military tactical training route.

He was a Green Beret, special forces in the Army.

I grew up with a survivalism mentality.

Especially in Florida, say there's a tornado and you

just need to leave, it'll get chaotic very quickly.

It's good to have that preparation, that skill set there.

I think that everyone should know how to

defend themselves if the time came to it,

especially girls. I mean, we're targets all the time.

Knowing how to take care of yourself,

that's what survivalism is for me, staying alive.

It is like a little badass I guess, to be able to be like,

‘Yeah I'm a girl and I can shoot. Like, don't test me.’

I definitely think for self-defense as a woman,

guns are important.

I live in Seneca Falls, which is the birthplace

of women's rights.

When we had, like, the women's marches back when

Trump was inaugurated, um, it was super cool

to be able to march in my own town and know that we

have the right to vote, we have all these things, but

there's still room for improvement.

Part of the problem why this is such, like, a hard topic

to address is because it is so, like, polar opposite

opinions. I think it is a very unique position for

me to be in, to have handled guns but also to be like,

well, we could make some changes.

I kind of feel like if you don't have direct experience

with guns, you shouldn't have such, like, a big

opinion about it because you've never actually, like,

experienced what it's like to, like, handle a gun.

My brother was, like, the shiny one,

the person that people, like, sort of gravitated towards.

He was a team captain on the track team.

He was a youth council member.

He was running for student president.

Everywhere I went, he went.

Like, if he wasn't with me, someone would ask me,

like, ‘Where's your twin?’

On September 20, at about 8 o'clock,

Zaire was walking home. Thirty minutes later he

wasn't responding. I texted Lauren, his girlfriend,

and I asked, ‘Where's Zaire?’

She was like, ‘Well his location says that

he's, like, a couple feet from your house.’

I immediately ran upstairs, looked out the window

to see if he was there.

I saw just, like, a bunch of red and blue flashing lights.

I didn't know what was going on.

I don't know what happened,

but, um, a man with an ankle monitor

obtained a gun illegally and he attempted to rob Zaire

and, um, shot him.

That night I just felt like —

I don't know.

It was just, like, the worst feeling you can ever get.

It's like having —

like having your heart broken, but like times 10.

I think the first thing I said was like,

‘But, like, he's my twin. We're supposed to be twins for life.’

And my mom was like —

I don't know. I don't know how to describe it.

I didn't really want to speak to media,

share my story or anything for a long time,

until I saw the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas

speaking out and, um, demanding change.

That really just, like, inspired me.

School shootings are, like, covered a lot and, like,

shootings everyday aren't really covered a lot because

people start to think, ‘Oh they're used to it.’

'That's just a bad neighborhood.’

We're not used to it, and the person wasn't in the

wrong place at the wrong time.

My brother was walking home

from an academic mentoring program.

Our generation, we're just sick of it.

We've seen too many shootings. We've seen too many

deaths and too many of our classmates dying.

A lot of my peers and other

student activists all out there

because they aren't giving up fighting and they —

they have hope.

For them to have hope, that makes me have hope.

For graduation, I'm really not that excited.

The only reason why I'm looking forward to graduation

is because my brother isn't there,

and I want to accept his diploma.

I am so excited. I've been ready to graduate for so long.

It's amazing to me. I am so happy.

I can't wait to change stuff in the world.

My generation is all kind of feisty, and we're, like,

ready to get things rolling.

I get a fresh start. I got a new life.

I'm going to Vegas.

I want to see more and I want to do better and

I want my family out of Oakland, to be honest.

Maybe I don't totally agree with the stigma

set around guns, but I think it's really cool that students

are being able to make change.

I truly believe that what I'm doing

and what all of us are doing, um, really has changed the

rhetoric of the country, and I believe we can change

the laws of our country.

Oh, I definitely feel like my vote is gonna get counted, and

I'm really excited to be able to vote.

We do have a say, because this is our world

and we're gonna be living in it.

You know, I don't want, you know, these shootings

to keep happening.

I just really don't know

what the resolution is gonna be, you know.

I present to you the graduating class of 2018.

It is my great pleasure to recognize

this graduating class of 2018.

...officially present the class of 2018.

...you may now move your tassels from right to left.

From one alum to another, congratulations.

All it takes is that one person,

so with Parkland and those kids actually

getting up and talking about it,

people were listening, and now we got everybody else

standing up. I got something to say.

Now I got something to say.

This generation is the generation that did that,

just got up and ‘Hey, I have something to

talk about, if you're willing to listen.’