Activism In Me: Erie's Students Walkout: Erin Fleming

Maitham Basha-Agha

Erin Fleming, 16, Collegiate Academy

Maitham Basha-Agha: Why did you participate in the walkout?
Erin Fleming: I choose to participate in the walkout because I never want anyone else to have their lives
threatened by a school shooter. I never want anyone to experience what Parkland and countless
other schools have gone through.

MB: What are you hoping to achieve? 
EF: Through the walkout I am hoping to educate my peers on the severity of gun violence as most
are desensitized to it because of the normalization of school shootings.

MB: What would you like the legislators to do? 
EF: I am worried about gun laws. You don't need a permit to purchase shotguns, rifles, or handguns.
You don't need to have a license to own shotguns, rifles, or handguns. You don't need to register
shotguns, rifles, or handguns. You don't need a permit to carry rifles or shotguns. We are living
in a time where weapons that can take someone's life, are easier to get than health care. I want
my representatives to reform gun laws so that anyone who wishes to purchase a gun for
recreational purposes has a permit to purchase, a license, registers their gun, and has a permit to
carry. This is not an unreasonable request. This is a very reasonable request that will help to
ensure that no student will ever have their lives threatened by a gun.
Here is where my information is from. https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state- gun- laws/pennsylvania/

MB: Activism has increased especially among the young generation.. Do your family, teachers,
friends, etc.. support your activism? 
EF: My family, most of my teachers, and most of my friends support my activism. I am very
privileged to live in an environment where so many people support me.

MB: Any information you would like to add?
EF: Most people think this movement is about completely banning guns and it's not. It's about safe,
sensible, gun ownership and the safety of children in schools. Its not about taking all the guns
away, it's about making sure someone can't walk into a school and take innocent lives.