Apalachee High School students demand action for school safety at State Capitol

In the wake of a deadly school shooting last fall, Apalachee High School students and alumni rallied Tuesday morning at the Georgia State Capitol to demand stricter firearm storage laws and improved school safety measures.

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What we know:

Students and alumni from Apalachee High School gathered at the Georgia State Capitol this morning to demand legislative action in the wake of last fall’s deadly school shooting. Their focus is on urging lawmakers to pass the Pediatric Health Safe Storage Act, which would establish penalties for making firearms accessible to children and promote safe firearm storage.

The tragic shooting on Sept. 4 claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, leaving nine others injured. Five months later, students continue to advocate for stronger safety measures to prevent future tragedies.

ALL APALACHEE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING STORIES

What they're saying:

"Our state representatives have a clear opportunity to make sure that no other students, teachers, or families in Georgia have to endure what we have endured," one student said at the Capitol. "No child should ever have to learn how to survive a mass shooting. No student should have to run from gunfire in their own classroom, and no family should have to grieve the loss of their child, sibling, or parent because of preventable violence."

"No student should have to run from gunfire in their own classroom and no family should have to grieve the loss of their child, sibling, or parent because of preventable violence," added Apalachee High School senior Isabel Trejo.

"It's not enough to punish after that unsecured gun has been used in the commission of a crime," said Rep. Michelle Au (D-Dist. 50). "The goal needs to be prevention. The goal needs to be creating a culture and expectation of what responsible gun ownership looks like."

"If our students – our children – are willing to stand up and demand better, then we should be able to stand with them," said Layla Renee Contreras with Change for Chee. "They are asking us to act, and we owe it to them to do everything in our power to make sure no other community suffers what Barrow County has endured."

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, a student-led walkout took place at Apalachee High School, reinforcing the call for increased school safety measures. In response to the shooting, metal detectors were installed at Apalachee High last month and will soon be implemented in all Barrow County high schools.

The advocacy will continue tonight at the Barrow County School Board meeting, where the brother of Christian Angulo—one of the students killed in the shooting—is scheduled to speak. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.

What's next:

Students and families are hopeful that their continued efforts will lead to the passage of the Pediatric Health Safe Storage Act and further legislative measures aimed at improving school safety across Georgia.

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