Across the pond: what’s happening with American gun laws?

Following a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, there has been a huge call for reform of American gun legislation, with many survivors of the shooting taking to social media to protest the ease with which Americans can obtain firearms. The shooter at Douglas High School was 19 years old, meaning he was able to purchase the firearm he used legally.

After the shooting on 14 February, which killed 17 staff and students, President Donald Trump proposed some tentative changes to gun legislation, including a higher age limit, and a ban of bump stocks - an accessory that allows semi-automatic rifles to shoot hundreds of rounds a minute. He also controversially suggested that arming teachers would help to curb the threat of school shootings.

While Trump’s suggestions come nowhere close to the demands of anti-gun activists - including students from Douglas High School - the National Rifle Association has still opposed the prospect of any change at all. Speaking on ABC, NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch said: “The NRA doesn’t back any ban”.

Meanwhile, a number of businesses and organisations are falling under scrutiny due to their involvement with the NRA - including Trump himself, who received support from the NRA in his 2016 election campaign. Activists are calling for boycotts of delivery company FedEx, as well as Amazon, which continues to host NRA TV.

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