In the four years since American gun control activist David Hogg, 22, and his friends in Parkland, Fla., launched the March for Our Lives movement, there have been at least 611 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. Firearm-related deaths have overtaken auto accidents as the leading cause of death for children in the United States.
“I’m sick and tired of us giving ourselves pats on the back for trying,” Hogg said on the morning of June 9, two days before the March for Our Lives movement held rallies around the country on June 11. That may finally change, now that 20 U.S. Senators have announced a modest bipartisan framework to address issues.
“If we pass this right now as it’s described, it’s been more than has ever been done in my lifetime on the federal level,” he says. “And that’s progress.”
Hogg knows he has one key political advantage as an activist. Studying the history of conservative movements has taught him the power of endurance as a compounding political force. “We have the most valuable thing in politics besides a boatload of money, which is time,” Hogg says. “We’re going to outlive almost everyone else in this building.”
Photo Editor: Eli Cohen Correspondent: Charlotte Alter
American gun control activist and survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, David Hogg, 22, stands for a portrait inside the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg and his fellow activists meet with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg speaks during a meeting with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg closes his eyes for a short break as he listens to his press secretary and brand strategist, Noah Lumbantobing, before meeting U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg and his press secretary and brand strategist, Noah Lumbantobing (R), read The Boston Globe before meeting U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg and his press secretary and brand strategist, Noah Lumbantobing (L), talks about a photo of U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and former President Barack Obama at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) takes a self portrait with David Hogg and his fellow activists at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg rubs his eyes as he lobbies for gun control at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg contemplates during his lunch break from a day of lobbying on Congress in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg takes group photos with his fellow survivors and activists as they lobby to push for Congress to enact tougher gun control measures at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
American gun control activist and survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, David Hogg, 22, travels with security guards as he lobbies for gun control in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
American gun control activist and survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, David Hogg, 22, stands for a portrait inside the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg and his fellow activists meet with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg speaks during a meeting with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg closes his eyes for a short break as he listens to his press secretary and brand strategist, Noah Lumbantobing, before meeting U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg and his press secretary and brand strategist, Noah Lumbantobing (R), read The Boston Globe before meeting U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg and his press secretary and brand strategist, Noah Lumbantobing (L), talks about a photo of U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and former President Barack Obama at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) takes a self portrait with David Hogg and his fellow activists at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg rubs his eyes as he lobbies for gun control at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg contemplates during his lunch break from a day of lobbying on Congress in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
David Hogg takes group photos with his fellow survivors and activists as they lobby to push for Congress to enact tougher gun control measures at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
American gun control activist and survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, David Hogg, 22, travels with security guards as he lobbies for gun control in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 9, 2022.
Shuran Huang | Photographer
Shuran Huang (she/her) is a photographer based in Washington, D.C.