More than 100 Parkland, Fla., students went to lobby Florida lawmakers today (and we’ll be reporting on the student-led effort to stop school shootings in our next issue). US history suggests that after a spasm of grief and anger, political inertia returns. But there are hints that the response to this shooting may be different.

For American gun owners, including Scott Pappalardo of Scotchtown, N.Y., this has been a week of soul-searching.

Mr. Pappalardo, who is a proud bearer of a Second Amendment tattoo, posted a video this weekend that has more than 19 million views. Cradling his cherished AR-15, Pappalardo takes a few minutes to explain why he can no longer keep it. Then, he asks: “Is the right to own this weapon more important than someone’s life? I don’t think so.” He turns and cuts the rifle in half with a chop saw.

“This was a personal choice,” he adds, explaining that he “can’t live knowing” that if he sold his gun, someone might use it in a mass shooting. “I’m not saying this is for everyone and this is the answer to solve all the problems....”

Democracy is based on individual choices. Progress is born out of an openness to reexamine old positions, and ask oneself, What can I do to be a part of the solution?

Now to our five stories for today, selected to illustrate possible paths to progress when it comes to trusting the FBI, finding hope in Tunisia, and helping absentee students get back to the classroom.