Forget partisanship and forget polarization — this upcoming governor’s race is about our rights as students to study, explore and achieve without the fear of being gunned down in our classrooms. As a student at UNC last year, I will never forget the eerie, heart-wrenching sound of the lockdown sirens and the mass panic as we scrambled to hide, fearing for our classmates and lives.
Given our experience, we must do everything in our power to ensure that this devastation does not happen again. This November, that means taking a hard look at the candidates we want representing our values, especially North Carolina’s next governor.
It’s important to remember how gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson first gained fame: fighting against gun control at a Greensboro City Council meeting, less than a week after the Parkland school shooting. For years, Robinson has mocked school shooting survivors, calling victims of gun violence, “sassy,” “spoiled little bastards” and “angry, know it all CHILDREN.”
He even posted a photo of Parkland school shooting activists, captioned, "when you let the devil give you a ride on a river of blood to '15 Minutes of Fameville.'" A person who lacks empathy and demonizes child victims of gun violence has no place in our Governor’s Mansion.
Mark Robinson has been clear about his stance against any form of gun control, as a proud owner of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. At the NRA’s annual convention, only days after the Uvalde school shooting, he claimed to be “heartbroken” by the tragedy but swore that he would fight against gun control.
Furthermore, in 2020, Mark Robinson received the maximum possible monetary contribution from the NRA for his campaign for lieutenant governor. Clearly, his interests have been guided by the money-lending hand of gun corporations, and our students’ safety is out of range.
Calling for gun control, whether through universal background checks and red flag laws, isn’t a hot take, or a revolutionary idea — it is simply common sense. In contrast to Robinson, gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein champions these policies and has already demonstrated his willingness to protect young people and students.
He has submitted amicus briefs that advocate for basic regulations on buying guns, including restricting access for felons and those with a history of domestic violence. He has also supported efforts to address the “ghost gun” and “3D firearm blueprint” loopholes which involve guns made from unserialized parts that are impossible to trace and regulate.
With the number of school shootings rising every year, we need a governor like Josh Stein who cares about every North Carolinian and wants to prevent acts of senseless violence. This election cycle, look past party lines and prioritize the policies that will directly impact your safety as a student and your future beyond Carolina. Head to the polls and vote for your next governor.
