TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (WSVN) - Protesters who descended on Tallahassee to convince Florida lawmakers to ban assault rifles have returned to South Florida after a day of demands.
7News cameras captured the demonstrators as they left Tallahassee in a charter bus, Monday afternoon.
But earlier that morning, they didn’t let the rain dampen their convictions, as they flocked to the State Capitol in Tallahassee to call for a change to Florida’s gun laws.
“We’re not going to let anything like this happen again. We’re going to make a change,” said student Bella Eurbina.
Eurbina was one of more than 1,000 Floridians, including some Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, who traveled from South Florida with the goal of convincing lawmakers to enact the ban.
“Enough is enough,” chanted the protesters as they made their way toward the State Capitol in the rain.
The rally comes after 14 students and three staff members were killed in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14.
“I’m coming out here for justice, not only for my school, my town, but for my country,” said Eurbina. “This can’t be the new norm in America. We can’t just find it normal that there can be a school shooting all the time.”
Parents were also in the mix of protesters.
“What we really know is that our kids are in school, and we want them to be safe,” said parent Jill Lewis.
Protesters were present as the state Senate discussed a Republican-backed gun safety bill for the first time in session since the Stoneman Douglas massacre.
“We are hoping we can use our voices to make a difference,” said Tampa resident Jessica Shattuck.
While many in the movement said the proposal is a step in the right direction, they feel it falls short of their (hash)NeverAgain campaign.
“Shame! Shame! Shame!” chanted demonstrators as they stood and pointed to state senators.
On Tuesday, Parkland parents will push for progress as well. They plan to talk to legislators to make sure sensible gun safety measures are in place in all schools statewide.
“It’s not about the guns, and it’s not about the mental health, and it’s not about the school safety,” said Stoneman Douglas parent Randi Weisselberg. “It’s about it all. I want it all put together.”
The parents said they are in Tallahassee to talk to legislators and do not plan to protest.
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