Each year, schools around the nation are affected by gun violence, and each year thoughts are prayers are given. President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Paul Ryan and many more echo the phrase through hashtags on Twitter. While sincere at first glance, the phrase soon became cynical.

Students in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting were given lots of thoughts and prayers and little legislation; however, the legislation that is brought up is often funded by the National Rifle Association.

In data compiled by the NRA in 2017, governors since 2013 have enacted 382 “pro-gun” bills — many widely expanding access to firearms. Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas and Texas, all had governors sign bills that would allow people with concealed carry licenses to bring guns onto college campuses, joining seven other states with similar laws.

There have also been 210 “gun safety laws” enacted in 45 states, according to the Giffords Law Center.

Now, a year after the shooting of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in FLA., commonly referred to as the Parkland Shooting, there has been a lasting effect on the American population. Since the 2018 shooting, where 17 students were murdered at the hands of guns, parents and students have been struggling to find solutions to end the gun violence in America.

Shortly after the shooting, students across the nation held school walkouts and the March For Our Lives rally, supporting stronger gun violence prevention measures and needing more than “thoughts and prayers” given by the politicians of America.

The Florida legislature took part in the change; three weeks after the shooting, the legislature passed a bill that included raising the legal age to buy guns from 18 to 21, banning bump stocks – a device enabling semi-automatic rifles to fire hundreds of rounds a minute – and introducing a three-day waiting period on all gun purchases.

Florida was the only red state to pass any legislation in support of gun violence prevention. States like Tennessee, Oklahoma and Nebraska had actually relaxed gun-related laws, as research by Associated Press.

Months passed without much being done in regards to gun control and more shootings occurred, such as the one at Santa Fe High School in Texas, a state notorious for being anti-gun control.

In December of 2018, a commission set up by President Trump to assess gun violence in schools published a report which rejected many things students had hoped for like raising the minimum age at which you could buy guns, while suggesting – controversially – arming teachers.

However, the Trump administration did ban the use of bump stocks. The final date to destroy or turn in the devices is Mar. 21.