Following the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, a settlement was just reached between the families and gun maker Remington. Remington was the gun manufacturer who made the weapon used in the shooting, and they finally reached this settlement almost ten years after they first sued the company for wrongful death. They have gained access to many internal documents and evidence of their wrongdoing, and the bankrupt company has come to an agreement. The families of the victims emphasized how these weaponry companies are given immunity against wrongful deaths but must face the consequences of their actions. Nicole Hockley, a mother of one of the victims, expressed how “this landmark, historic victory sends a forceful and compelling message to manufacturers…you will be held accountable.” Parents of another victim stated the grief that they have felt has been enormous, how “their loss is irreversible, and in that sense, this outcome is neither redemptive nor restorative.” Despite the fact that they will never get their son back, “…the resolution does provide a measure of accountability in an industry that has thus far operated with impunity.”

This devastating conclusion came right around the fourth anniversary of the Parkland shooting, when 17 lives were lost at Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day of 2018. The grieving parents shared messages, survivors emphasizing the importance of the “Never Again” movement to end these tragedies in American schools. Fred Guttenberg, one of these parents, shared a thread on Twitter on what his life has been like since the tragic afternoon, “…asking ‘what if’ every minute of every day. What if you were sick that morning and we never sent you to school? What would your day have been like then?” Manuel Oliver sent a bold message when he walked up a crane in Washington D.C. to show his advocacy for gun control after his son Joaquin’s passing. A group shared their belief that “…President Biden must live up to his campaign promises, prioritize gun violence prevention, and take immediate action to build safer communities across the nation.” With the ongoing devastation in our country, it’s time to reflect and figure out how to keep children safe in school, without the threat of a martial weapon.