B.C. Manion

Students across the nation walked out of classrooms on March 14, in a protest against gun violence and a call for greater action by Congress to keep students safe.

In some cities, protests were marked by students leaving their school campuses, carrying signs and chanting for greater legislative action regulating the sale of guns, particularly assault-style rifles, such as the one used to kill 17 people in a Valentine’s Day shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

During the walkout at Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, the mood was subdued.

A large contingent of students gathered in the school’s courtyard, observing a minute of silence for each of the 17 people killed at the high school in Parkland.

At Wiregrass Ranch High, before reading the names, 16-year-old Bella Adams, who had organized the walkout, read a statement.

She recalled how Wiregrass Ranch High students celebrated Valentine’s Day that day.

At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, however, she said, “a former student opened fire with an AR-15, which had been legally obtained, and killed 14 students and three teachers.

“More were injured, and all were terrified,” she said.

Students who were lucky enough to get home from school that day “went shaking and crying,” she said.

Adams said the walkout at Wiregrass Ranch was intended to honor those who had died and also to express “outrage at the relative inaction of our state and federal governments regarding gun control.

“This year alone, nearly 2,800 people have died due to gun violence or gun-related violence,” she said.

“This is not a partisan issue, nor is it something limited to adult discussion. Our schools are targets. Our lives are at risk. Nobody will stand up for us, the students of America. Nobody will speak for us, the children with long lives ahead of us. It now falls to us, the youth that are too often pushed aside and overlooked, to bring attention to gun control until our government finally acts. Starting today, we will be the change, and we will not stop until this purpose is fulfilled,” Adams said.

While Adams read the names of the victims, those in the courtyard remained silent.

Some, including Taylor Horvath and Marisa Paul, bowed their heads, signaling their respect for the victims of the shooting rampage.

Adams wasn’t the only one with a message that day.

A group of several male students stood near the school’s flagpole, where two of them held a sign that read: “Why punish the responsible gun owner for the government’s failure to act?”

In another part of the crowd, Zachary Bosch held a sign that said “Disarming us will not protect us.”

Bosch said he thinks schools could prevent tragedies, such as the one in Parkland, by arming their teachers.

“Give them the option to be armed,” Bosch said, while noting that those who are armed should be properly trained.

Wiregrass Ranch High sanctioned the walkout.

“I believe that students should have a voice to express their concerns, their opinions,” said Wiregrass Ranch High Principal Robyn White.

Brenda Hodson, a school volunteer at Lacoochee Elementary in Dade City, made the trek from East Pasco to attend the Wiregrass Ranch High walkout.

“I’m here to support the students,” Hodson said.

In the aftermath of the Parkland shootings, Linda Cobbe, spokeswoman for Pasco County Schools, said the district has asked principals to be sure their buildings are as secure as possible, and asks everyone on school campuses to be vigilant.

“If you see something, say something,” Cobbe said.

The district also is working with local law enforcement to comply with Senate Bill 7026, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott. That calls for having a school resource officer in every school.

The district now has 37 school resource officers and will need 47 more to meet that requirement, Cobbe said.

She noted the state did not adequately fund the mandate, so that will mean “taking funds from other parts of our education budget, from classroom funds, other operating funds.

“Finding those qualified people and getting them trained in time to be in schools next year is going to be a huge challenge for the sheriff’s office,” Cobbe said.

Senate Bill 7026 also gave local school districts the option of arming nonteaching personnel, who meet training requirements.

Pasco County Schools won’t exercise that option, Cobbe said.

“We don’t plan to arm any of our staff,” she said.

After the Wiregrass Ranch High walkout, Adams said she was happy that it drew a big crowd.

“I was very glad that they maintained their silence, and that it was respectful and peaceful,” she said, despite the media presence, which had the potential of changing the tone of the gathering.

“There were some students who came out to protest our protest,” Adams said, but that didn’t bother her.

“I understand that other people have different views, and they are entitled to those views,” she said.

On the other hand, she said she’s been somewhat taken aback by some of the comments she’s read by adults that have been posted on social media.

“It’s interesting to see how many of them believe that us, teenagers, only participated in that event to skip class,” she said.

One comment she saw described protesting youths as being “liberal sheep.”

“The backlash of some people … is honestly inspiring me to do more,” Adams said. “It’s not a discussion limited to adults. This is affecting us as much as anyone else.”

She said she and other students from Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Wharton high schools all plan to participate in the March for Our Lives event planned for March 24.

Marches are planned in different locations, including Washington D.C.

The Tampa Bay version includes a rally and march beginning at 10 a.m., at Kiley Garden, the elevated section of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, in downtown Tampa.

Published March 21, 2018