About 100 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students marched to the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee today where they demanded for assault weapons to be outlawed and called for gun reform. This comes one week after 17 students were shot dead in what is being regarded as one of the deadliest mass school shootings ever.
“We want common sense gun laws. We want stronger mental health checks and background checks to work in conjunction. We want a better age limit,” said Delaney Tarr, a 17-year-old senior. “We want privatized selling to be completely reformed so you can’t just walk into a building with $130 and walk out with an AR-15.”
Hundreds of gun reform supporters met the kids outside of the Capitol and then followed them inside as they all chanted, “You work for us” and “Vote them out” as in got out the Republicans who blocked certain gun reform bills from getting a hearing. In fact, the House was in session and Democrats came out to greet protesters while Republicans took alternate exits.
This rubbed a lot of the children the wrong way and they expressed their disappointment with their legislatures.
“Coming here today … was very disappointing,” said Tarr. “We’ve been too many rooms, we’ve spoken to only a few legislators and try as they might, the most we’ve gotten out of them is, ‘We’ll keep you in our thoughts. You’re so strong. You’re so powerful.’ We’ve heard enough of that. … That is not why we’re here today. We’re not here to be patted on the back.”
16-year-old Alfonso Calderon said that he was discouraged after protesting today and that he wasn’t sure if he could “have faith” in his local government after what happened or didn’t happen.
Roommates, continue to keep the babies in your prayers! This is so awful.
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on IG
