What is FID18?
FID18 is a student-led project that focuses on adding a clause to a state bill in the making or a local by-law that raises the age of application for a Firearms Identification Card (FID) from 14 to 18 years or older. Currently, a commonwealth resident can apply for permission to own an FID card at 14 years old and legally receive one at 15 years old. With an FID card, minors can possess a non-large capacity gun, such as a shotgun or a non-automatic rifle.
About Me
My name is Anisa Tapper-Torres, and I am a Holliston High School Junior in the graduating class of 2026. I have always had a passion for the politics in history, specifically how each plays into one another. In 2018, I was spending time with a friend when I heard about a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. I remember questioning how the government, the people who I thought existed to protect citizens, could allow this to happen. That was the first time I heard of gun violence in my country, and since then, my passion towards politics has only grown, pushing me to learn the foundations of politics and law to positively impact my community.
Community Partner
I have been partnering with Officer Alex Keefe, the Holliston High resource officer. He has been helping me understand complicated gun laws in Massachusetts and keeping me up to date on any changes. When in the building, he is always willing to offer a helping hand, whether that be setting up an interview between me and the Police Chief, or being a part of my PSA and project. Not only has he called the State House to put me in contact with legislative authority, but he has also given me ideas that have evolved my goals in ways I would never have thought of. He has been a huge help in the development of my project, and it definitely wouldn't have gotten as far as it has without him.
Me at the State House with Representative Arena DeRosa
Project goals
My most realistic project goal is to introduce my ideas to the local Holliston representative, James Arena DeRosa, to make him aware of the public's concerns. The primary reason I created FID18 was to raise the age limit to get an FID card from 15 to 18, however the way I originally planned to achieve this goal has changed. I had planned to work with Rep. DeRosa to address my concerns about the age limit. After no luck with the State House, I moved on to working with the town of Holliston to pass a by-law. While a by-law only affects one town, there's a chance that other towns would take inspiration and pass a similar law, and maybe even get attention from the State House.
Community Need for FID18
By now, nearly everyone has heard stories of a kid bringing a gun to school, or a teenager harming themselves or others over a trivial issue. Even though these tragedies were entirely preventable, you hear these stories in the news at least once a week. Gun violence continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the US, and there is no time better than the present to stand up for the safety of everyone. No kid should go to school thinking they have a chance of getting fatally shot. Now, more than ever, the people need to understand that they have the power to make a difference. That they can communicate with local politicians and advocate for the rights and general wellbeing of themselves and their community.
I had the honor of presenting to Mr. Conant's 8th grade civics class about working with local and state government. I talked about the differences between the 3 levels of law and described what I was trying to do with FID18. I also helped the students understand the process of getting a bill passed in all three levels. This was the educational portion of my project and while my presentations weren't perfect, I'm still happy that I was able to teach kids about our government!
How can you help?
If you want to help me with my fight against gun violence, feel free to follow my Instagram and Facebook pages (linked down below). If you don't want to help with this project, but have another concern or idea of how to make the community better, email your local rep. Though it might seem scary at first, emailing your local representative is the best way to get your concern heard. It's important to remember that YOU elected them, and they're a public servant to YOU. If you want to talk to them in person, reps. often have office hours where the public can go and talk to them.
My Movie 1.MOVGun Control PSA
