Recently most of America has been on edge about the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School. On March 14 students across the nation participated in a protest to show support to the lives lost a month prior in the shooting. During the protest more than a thousand students walked out of class to stand up for their rights against gun violence.
Many students, teachers, and parents believe that to put a stop to mass school shootings something major has to be done. The thought of taking away the second amendment is believed to be the first step in solving this problem. The second amendment allows citizens in the United States a right to bear arms without being infringed for it. Why is it so hard to pass laws that regulate gun control to keep kids safe in school? I think many students and the parents would like to know that their child is safe when coming to school to learn. On the other hand as hard as it is to pass laws about gun control it is more threatening to have laws that control the practice of hair braiding in America.
You would think that at a time like this the focus would be on the betterment of the citizens that live here in the U.S, instead of racial profiling. In 23 states hair braiders are not licensed for their practice. But, according to the Institute for Justice 14 states across America including Washington D.C have passed laws that prohibit braiders to braid hair without a license for it. Braiders are said to have over 600 hours of coursework before they can obtain a license. It is apparent that this goes against our Constitution. The constitution allows any individual the right to earn a living. By forcing many of these African American women to hold a license for something as simple as braiding hair really puts them in a predicament of losing their jobs. These women have to take up to two thousand hours of training not to mention going to cosmetology school that requires money for tuition.
I find it compelling as to why it is so hard to pass a law about gun control in the United States more than it is to pass a law about being a licensed braider in America. Lawmakers focus are completely on the wrong thing. Instead of finding ways to set back the black community we need to find ways that protect our rights as individuals. It makes no sense as to why an unlicensed hair braider is more dangerous than someone who comes into a common workplace to shoot up students. Enough is enough, it is time to take action and actually fight for what we want as citizens in the U.S. These tragedies should not be overlooked as something minute and rare because apparently there have been more mass shooting than there have ever been in previous generations. When will laws be passed that really focus on the equality and lives that live here rather than laws that focus on attacking a race.