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Santa Fe High School Shooting Survivors Call for an End to Gun Violence 'Inaction'

Following a deadly shooting at Texas’ Santa Fe High School that left eight students and two teachers dead, survivors organized a press conference in west Houston on Friday to call for stricter gun laws and tougher gun violence prevention strategies across the country.

Students specifically spoke out against politicians who “think that doing nothing is acceptable.” The emotionally charged event received support from March For Our Lives organizers, who also came together earlier this year after a student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, killing 17 people and sparking national outrage. The incident at Santa Fe High School has put their efforts back in the news as students and advocates again ask for more than thoughts and prayers.

“The truth is that whatever we are doing as a society—or not doing—is not working,” Megan McGuire, a junior at Santa Fe High School, said. “Inaction is not an option. We must do something, and we must get it right. School safety is a complex issue.”

Celebrities have taken up call for action as well: On Sunday at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, Kelly Clarkson decided to swap a moment of silence remembering the victims of the shooting for what she called a “moment of acton.”

“I’m so sick of moments of silence. It’s not working. Like, obviously,” she said. “So why don’t we not do a moment of silence? Why don’t we do a moment of action? Why don’t we do a moment of change? Why don’t we change what’s happening? Because it’s horrible.”

According to ABC News, the survivors of the Santa Fe High School shooting made it clear that they were not looking to remove guns from their owners.

McGuire explained that her dad and grandparents are gun owners: “I don’t want to take away their guns, or your guns for that matter. What I mean by gun safety is common-sense solutions to keep those who wish to harm themselves or others from obtaining guns.”

But the most resounding message at Friday’s press conference was targeted at politicians who refuse to act.

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“I want to thank everyone for all of their thoughts and prayers; they are very needed and appreciated. But I do have something for elected officials who think that doing nothing is acceptable,” McGuire said. “My thought is that if you do not do something, you do not have a prayer of being elected. My generation will see to that.”

Read Florida Shooting Survivor Emma Gonzalez’s Powerful Speech Demanding Gun Control Reform

No, President Trump, It’s Not ‘Too Soon’ to Talk About Gun Control

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Kelly Clarkson Calls for a 'Moment of Action' for Santa Fe Shooting Victims at Billboard Music Awards

Host Kelly Clarkson kicked off Sunday night’s 2018 Billboard Music Awards on an extremely emotional note. Instead of diving right into the night’s celebration of music and musicians, the singer first called attention to the tragedy of Friday’s school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, asking the audience and viewers to take action against gun violence instead of simply sending “thoughts and prayers.”

“There’s something I’d like to say about the tragedy Friday at Santa Fe High School,” Kelly said, apologizing for tearing up. “I’m a Texas girl, and my home state has had so much heartbreak over this past year. And once again, y’all, we’re grieving for more kids that have died for just absolutely no reason at all. Tonight, they wanted me to say that, obviously, we want to pray for all the victims and pray for their families. But they also wanted me to do a moment of silence.”

But that’s not enough, Kelly said. “I’m so sick of moments of silence. It’s not working. Like, obviously,” she said. “So why don’t we not do a moment of silence? Why don’t we do a moment of action? Why don’t we do a moment of change? Why don’t we change what’s happening? Because it’s horrible.” She continued, “Mamas and daddies should be able to send their kids to school, to church, to movie theaters, to clubs. You should be able to live your life without that kind of fear.”

“We need to do better,” she continued. “As people, we are failing our children, we’re failing our communities, we’re failing their families. I can’t imagine—I have four children. I cannot imagine getting that phone call or that knock on the door. So instead of a moment of silence, I want to respect them and honor them tonight, y’all. In your community where you live, your friends, everybody, let’s have a moment of action. Let’s have a moment of change.”

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On Friday morning, a student opened fire at Santa Fe High School. Nine students and one teacher were killed, and 10 more people were injured in the gunfire. If you want to support the victims and survivors of the shooting, check out a guide to taking action here.

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