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It is February 14, 2018. At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, three thousand students trudge into the building. They believe it will be just like any other day. It isn’t.
At 2:19 p.m., Nikolas Cruz, carrying a rifle case, is dropped off by an Uber driver in front of the school. At 2:22 p.m., gunshots are fired. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, better known as the Parkland massacre, becomes the deadliest high school shooting in United States history.
In the midst of this tragedy, the students rose up. The March for Our Lives, to demand more gun control, became one of the most attended protests in the country, attracting over two million people. Yet despite these students, as well as millions of others, believing guns were the problem, another group took an opposing stand. Kyle Kashuv, a student who survived the very same shooting, is an advocate for gun rights, alongside the NRA and most of the Republican Party. How is it that a fairly homogeneous group of teenagers, experiencing the same tragic event, can have such different perspectives?
The answer, in large measure, lies in the First Amendment, which safeguards freedom of speech for all US constituents. In the 21st century, with the advent of the Internet and social networking sites such as Twitter and Instagram, freedom of speech reaches all corners of the globe. On every issue imaginable, users present their ideas, attitudes, and values as if they are the absolute truth. It is precisely this abundance of information from various perspectives that serves as a double-edged sword: to raise awareness in favor of, or against, movements and groups.
Although freedom of speech allowed the Parkland groups to speak their minds and continue the discourse about gun control in America, it also gave their critics a voice. Headlines such as ‘The Problem with March For Our Lives’ along with denunciation from television hosts like Laura Ingraham and reporters such as Eric Erickson peppered the media for months, drawing support and retaliation alike. However, despite the furor from all sides, the First Amendment empowered the students to keep speaking out.
The First Amendment provides constitutional protection for almost every form of expression. This protection enables the unfettered spread of information without fear of being arrested, executed, or otherwise punished by the government. For the average American, it facilitates the development of opinions on various matters. However, developing one’s own opinions on political, social, or economic affairs often requires more than reading those of others. The First Amendment supports this effort as well, by legalizing discussion of issues between people in any setting, strengthening and authenticating the power of debate. On high school and college campuses, where the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow, the free flow of information is especially important. Young people like Jeremy can interact with individuals from different backgrounds and ethnic groups, such as peers, teachers, speakers, supervisors, and others. This encourages everyone involved to have a conversation about topics that affect them.
In the words of former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, “Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate”. Debate pushes the limits of every doctrine, dogma, and ideology, and in doing so, encourages the development of attitudes, values, and morals. This, similarly, translates to individuals. Debate allows people to form views and then discuss them with others, modifying and augmenting them as they continue to defend their position. Therefore, freedom of speech and the ability to debate usher in change, develop viewpoints, and promote understanding. It was through debate that our Constitution was written, and our country based on democratic principles was founded. The Founding Fathers recognized this and sought to enshrine our natural, unalienable right to freedom of speech in the First Amendment.
High school and college students are not an exception to these rights, as shown in Tinker v. Des Moines, in which the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate”. As high schools and colleges are microcosms of the real world, the opinions of students on campus mirror the thoughts and behaviors of young adults, the future of our country. Therefore, freedom of speech is vital on school and university campuses. Additionally, educational institutions are fundamentally a place to learn and grow personally and professionally. However, when opinions are censored or suppressed, education becomes biased, undermining the formation of opinions because students are not exposed to all aspects of the matter. Consequently, the First Amendment, which protects free speech, is essential.
When Jeremy understands that he will not be “arrested, executed, or otherwise punished” for any of his views and that because of the First Amendment, he has the right to say as much or as little as he wants; he is then free to develop at his own pace, in a direction of his choosing. Thus, the First Amendment allows Jeremy to freely shape his thoughts and opinions by not restricting him.
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