Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida set forth a predictable pattern of mass public outrage and concentrated political apathy. Yes, the NRA really is that powerful. This time, however, the level of activism that has emerged feels more potent. That includes many forceful rejoinders from the high-school survivors of the massacre, which are more difficult sources for gun control advocates to inoculate against.

Today, I made a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety. The organization was founded by Michael Bloomberg to be an advocate for action on gun control. Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed by a firearm than citizens of other developed countries. That’s just crazy. Bloomberg is still involved and tweeted this last Fall — let’s hope his offer is still valid.

To be sure, the massacre of 20 kids and six adults in Newtown, Conn., back in 2012 sparked some activism that eventually fizzled out. (Everytown was founded in 2014.) The Las Vegas shooting last year left 58 dead and hundreds injured, and led to exactly nothing. So I’m realistic about the odds for change.

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