Back on April 1st, I got to attend an amazing event hosted by David Hogg. David Hogg is a survivor of one of the largest school shootings in American history, the Parkland Shooting. From that point on, Hogg has dedicated his life towards the world of activism, pleading with to “get over politics and get something done” regardless of party affiliation. Throughout Hogg’s event, he brushed upon his entire timeline ever since that terrible day, where he started with advocating, what problems he faced, and where he plans on going in the future. Hogg’s story is eye opening to what some Americans have faced now that school shootings are becoming more and more common each year.
Hogg began his story at the beginning of what soon become the rest of his life, the Parkland shooting. Here, Hogg talked about every minute of the tragedy, from when he heard the first shots ring around the school, to the panic the followed, and the hours waiting for his classroom to be cleared by the police. Throughout the entire story, you could understand from each word that came out of Hogg’s mouth how terrified he was throughout the entire time, from only being able to know his sister was safe through text message, and only being able to see his family after multiple long hours of horrific waiting.
Following the massacre, Hogg was faced with one of the most difficult decisions, what now? Although dealing with an immense amount of trauma, Hogg had decided to push through and begin to talk to the community about how they should move forward, starting with adding additional gun laws through the county. Through having difficult conversations with the community, furious debates, and sheer motivation, Hogg and his fellow classmates were able to enact on his county and state laws that would make it more difficult for gun owners who have a violent history to purchase a weapon.
At this point, Hogg began to realize that this movement he was helping to create was bigger than him. Hogg decided to go straight to DC and starting pleading with extremely high government officials to make any type of change towards gun laws that would help reduce the possibility of Parkland from ever happening again. Even though Hogg had been given death threats by active gun supporters, he still continued to talk face to face with the gun advocates and explain to them that he was not trying to take all the guns away from the American people, he just wanted to make it restricted to those with violent backgrounds or have a high possibility of committing a violent act. Through patients and continuous work, Hogg was able to change the minds of thousands and inform millions, all across the United States.
David Hogg’s journey from survivor to activist illuminates the profound impact of tragedy and the resilience of the human spirit. Through tragic recollections of the Parkland shooting, he invited us into the harrowing moments. His determination to transcend trauma and initiate change underscores the power of individual spirit in the face of adversity. From advocacy to lobbying in Washington, Hogg’s unwavering commitment to gun reform exemplifies courageous leadership. Despite facing hostility and threats, he persevered, engaging in debate and mobilizing communities towards meaningful legislative action. Hogg’s story serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in our darkest hours, collective action can ignite progress and safeguard the future.