Scott Thompson: Gun control protests will continue, because so will the shooting

Thousands of students from across the United States walked out of class on Wednesday in protest of lax gun laws that leave them vulnerable.

The protest was 17 minutes long, a minute for every person lost, 14 students and 3 staff, on Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla.

Many have said nothing will change. What they don’t realize is, it already has.

It has been a month since that shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and Americans are still talking about it, March 24 there is a march in Washington.

Some are comparing the growing movement to that of the Vietnam War era, which was also fueled by the young on campuses nationwide.

Yes, these are high school kids, and not college aged adults. But it won’t be long before these kids are adults who can speak with their votes.

1:41 U.S. students leave class in mass walkouts across country to protest gun violence

WATCH ABOVE: U.S. students leave class in mass walkouts across country to protest gun violence

I’m supersized that politicians (or the NRA) don’t see that coming and aren’t working out a compromise, rather than taking the all-or-nothing attitude that needlessly divides the country.

Many were hopeful, and perhaps naive, to think U.S. President Donald Trump was serious when he said, in front of politicians of all stripes, don’t be “scared” of the NRA, and that some gun controls are needed, only to cave after a meeting with them.

Don’t underestimate the power of youth to enact change. Remember how quickly time flies.

There hasn’t been much in recent decades to draw young voters into the election process. This could be the issue that does.

Scott Thompson hosts The Scott Thompson Show on Global News Radio 900 CHML.