Often times people are afraid to speak up about sensitive issues. Don’t talk about politics or religion at the dinner table.

On Feb. 14 in Parkland, Florida, the country experienced one of the deadliest school shootings. Immediately the gun control debate took center stage. It’s a touchy subject, no matter what side of the fence you’re on.

Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the shooting took place, started organizing marches and speaking up to their lawmakers.

The tragedy these students have witnessed made them take a stand. No child should have to go through something like what happened in Florida. It makes you grow up too fast.

Lawmakers are going to have to listen to these kids. They witnessed a tragedy that no child or adult should ever have to experience. It makes you grow up fast. But discounting the opinions of these kids isn’t going to work. Soon they will be of voting age. For now, they are finding their voices and taking a stand in the best way they know how, and deserve to be respected.

We’re proud of these kids for not being silent victims and standing up for themselves.