This past weekend’s March for Our Lives has the potential to develop into a major force in U.S. politics.
In the wake of anti-gun violence demonstrations around the US, including in Oconee County and in Athens, where hundreds turned out, a UGA professor says that the "March for our Lives" is a big step forward towards creating lasting political change on guns legislation, but the real test will come in November’s elections. Dr. Charles Bullock is the Richard B. Russell professor of Political Science at UGA.
"Our system moves very very slowly. And that's why it will require persistence on the parts of those who are trying to bring about change in regards to gun laws," said Bullock. "One big march isn't going to do it. But a big march involving more activities, particularly activities involving voting could bring about change."
Bullock says that the challenge for anti-gun violence advocates is to make their issue a major campaign issue in this year’s midterm elections.
"If it continues, particularly if it becomes manifest in elections, so that candidates run against incumbents, on the issue of the incumbent has done nothing to respond to the calls for change from these marchers, and if those challengers then win, that's the kind of 2x4 that cracks an incumbent over the head, and makes the incumbent say "Wow, I better make some changes," said Bullock.
A number of Athens-area candidates have made gun violence an issue in their campaigns, including congressional candidate Chalis Montgomery, and Marisue Hilliard, an organizer for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, who is challenging State Senator Bill Cowsert.
Hundreds of marchers turned out for demonstrations in Athens and Oconee Counties, with hundreds of thousands attending the main demonstration in Washington D.C.
