PORT ANGELES — Students and their supporters marched for gun reform Friday on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine massacre.
The group of 40 held a moment of silence on the Clallam County Courthouse steps to honor the 12 students and one teacher who died in the high school shooting in Colorado on April 20, 1999.
The peaceful march from Port Angeles High School to the courthouse was led by Washington State Teens for Gun Reform.
“Columbine was not the first school shooting in America, but it was the one that implemented the lockdown drills that children in schools now know all too well,” said Emily Menshew, the 17-year-old founder and CEO of the student group.
Elizabeth Watkins, 18, lamented the fact that Port Angeles High School is scheduled to hold its first active shooter drill at 8:42 a.m. Friday.
“I am so creeped out by that,” said Watkins, public relations officer for Washington State Teens for Gun Reform. “Like, that’s so creepy.”
Watkins said the drill itself is not the problem.
The idea that students must train for shootings is what is disturbing, she said.
“The drill needs to happen because we need to know what to do,” Watkins said.
“The drill is a good thing, and I’m glad that they’re taking safety precautions.
“The wrong is that we have to be practicing that, that we have to be ready for that, and that (a shooting) is not out of the question in happening,” Watkins added.
“That’s what’s wrong.”
High school seniors like Menshew and Watkins grew up with lockdown drills in elementary school.
“Those are shut the doors, lock the doors, close the windows, sit and hide,” Menshew said.
“An active shooter drill involves police on campus and usually someone simulating an active shooter, someone running through the halls banging on doors, somebody holding a gun. That is the difference.”
Menshew read the names of the 13 Columbine victims before the moment of silence.
Most who participated in Friday’s march down Peabody and Lincoln streets were adults, including members of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.
“It’s the kids’ movement,” said Paula Barnes, an Alliance volunteer.
“They’re leading it and they’re driving it. We’re just here to show support.”
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility is a statewide nonprofit that is working to end gun violence through legislative advocacy and education. It has more than 100 members in its Clallam County chapter, Barnes said.
“There is, actually, widespread support for more reasonable gun laws in Washington and in our area,” Barnes said.
Some motorists honked horns for the demonstrators at the courthouse.
Others chanted “NRA” and “Keep Our Guns.”
Washington State Teens for Gun Reform was scheduled to host a letter writing campaign to urge state legislators to pass “common sense” gun laws Saturday, according to a news release.
The students have organized and participated in several events to advocate for gun reform since the school shooting that killed 17 in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14.
Future events will be posted on the “Washington State Teens for Gun Reform” Facebook group.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
