The United States is plagued with a gun violence epidemic. Violence and gun ownership are fundamental parts of American culture, spanning from the country’s genocide of Native Americans and slave patrols to Confederate militarism and racism. Since the Sandy Hook shooting, there have been more than 1,600 mass shootings. However, gun control legislation efforts at the federal level remains stagnant.
On February 14, 2018, 17 people were killed and 17 more were wounded at a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was the deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook shooting. Since the tragedy, several states have passed new gun legislation.
Parkland students immediately organized themselves in the wake of their tragedy to advocate for gun control reform. They pressured politicians to stop accepting donations from the NRA and called on advertisers to boycott thought leaders who opposed their mission.
On the morning of the March for Our Lives, the NRA released a membership-drive video that said, "Today's protests aren't spontaneous. Gun-hating billionaires and Hollywood elites are manipulating and exploiting children as part of their plan to DESTROY the Second Amendment and strip us of our right to defend ourselves and our loved ones." The NRA continues to fund political campaigns of candidates who are opposed to gun law reform.
Since the March for Our Lives, retailers, banks, and state legislatures have implemented stricter gun control measures. Many more policy changes have been proposed.