BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — Students at Apalachee High School held a walkout Tuesday, as they continue to push for more safety measures in response to the deadly school shooting that killed four people.
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“I feel like they could’ve done more,” said junior Maurice Rivera Guzman on why he walked out of class with hundreds of others.
It was the same walk many of them made in September, when they fled from a school shooter who killed two of their peers and two teachers.
On the football field during the walkout, they held a moment of silence before students made their voices heard.
“We demand action. No more excuses,” said one student over a loudspeaker.
Students said they are finally feeling more secure after weapons detectors were installed at the school last month.
“Especially now that we have metal detectors. I kind of do feel safe,” Guzman said.
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Parents hope legislators can pass bills proposed this week. Republican Speaker John Burns proposed a seven-point plan, including creating a database to collect and evaluate data on if students are a threat. On Tuesday, Democrat Representative Michelle Au pushed a pediatric safe storage act.
“Even me as a Second Amendment die-hard, we agree with it because it makes some pretty important cutouts where it doesn’t make innocent people get wrapped up for things felons do,” said parent William Philip.
Students and parents are hopeful those changes will come. For now, students are taking steps, such as walking out, until they feel every measure to keep them safe is in place.
“Everybody was hyped. Even the kids who were not allowed to do it, they were like, ‘Hey, if you’re going I’m going to go with you,’” said Rivera Guzman.
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