ATLANTA (AP) — Weeks after four people died and nine people were injured in a school shooting northeast of Atlanta, a group of elementary school students carried signs into the Georgia Capitol Thursday as lawmakers discussed legislation that would incentivize safe gun storage.
About 20 students ranging from five- to 12-years-old — joined by a few parents and teachers from an Atlanta private school — shuffled into a state Senate committee meeting to demand legislative action on gun violence.
“This is our future generation,” 11-year old Autumn Humphries said to Senate Democrats in the room and Republicans who were watching remotely. “We are the next generation. You’re acting like you don’t care.”
As the students walked out, committee Chairman Emanuel Jones, a Decatur Democrat, led the students in a chant: “No more violence! End gun violence!”
Colt Gray’s father allegedly gave the 14-year-old a semiautomatic assault rifle that he used in the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia. Federal law doesn’t permit individuals younger than 18 to buy rifles or other long guns from licensed firearm dealers. Gray has been charged with four counts of murder and his father faces related charges.