Alwin Chen, an 18 year old student at Clarksburg High School, was arrested for bringing a loaded 9mm handgun and knife to school on February 15, 2018. Montgomery County police are looking into a possible motive, and Chen faces charges such as possession of a firearm by a person under 21 and possession of a firearm on school property.
This arrest occurred just a day after Nikolas Cruz, a former student of a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida shot and killed 17 people. While Chen did not use an AR-15 rifle and shoot at students like Cruz, both events aroused discussion about the severe threat that guns pose to schools.
In response to the lack of stricter gun control, many MCPS students walked out on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 to protest. Many Floridian students did the same, chanting “We don’t want your prayers and condolences – we want stricter gun control!”
“I believe that gun violence is becoming an epidemic in the U.S. The government is not doing nearly as much as they should to help prevent these crimes from happening,” said Quince Orchard freshman Sophie Oristian. “It’s a difficult and controversial situation, but you really have to think of what is more important: you being able to own a gun, or saving human lives?”
When asked about the recent MCPS walkout, Oristian responded, “I was not able to walk out on Wednesday unfortunately. It seemed like a very powerful protest. I’m not completely sure if I will be walking out on April 20th, but I do want to.”
It is becoming increasingly important to take action and try to prevent future school shootings from happening in the future, and the value of students voices being heard is immeasurable. Their attempts to facilitate change that will impact students across the nation is needed now more than ever.
Police have asked anyone with information about the Clarksburg High School incident to call 240-773-6400.
Article by Moco Student staff writer Matthew Minton of Quince Orchard High School