Hundreds of Utahns plan to join ‘March for our Lives’ and pro-gun march
Mar 23, 2018, 9:49 PM | Updated: Mar 24, 2018, 1:15 am
SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds in Utah plan to join the nation Saturday in the “March for our Lives” at the Utah Capitol, although a second group of demonstrators will also be there—with a different view.
Brighton High School senior Meg Flynn says the “March for Our Lives” event is not anti-gun. “We’re trying to be able regulate guns so that it’s safer for students,” she said.
Pro-gun marchers with the group, Utah Gun Exchange, will advocate Saturday for fortified schools and more armed teachers, while hundreds of Utah students will take to the street to rally with the mission to urge lawmakers to pass gun regulations.
The rallies in Salt Lake City come 10 days after thousands of students held walkouts to protest gun violence and honor the 17 people killed in the Parkland Florida school shooting.
“We like to call it gun reform,” said Meg Flynn, a student at Brighton High School, who calls this March ‘personal,” “Every time I hear about a school shootijng I think those kids are me, they’re my age, it’s just as easy for it to happen to me as it was to happen to them.”
Meanwhile, the pro-gun marchers will hold a demonstration along the same route taken by the students one hour before.
Utah Gun Exchange co-owner Bryan Melchior holds up a sign that will be used in Saturday’s pro-gun march to the Capitol building.
Utah Gun Exchange March Organizer Bryan Melchior, said his organization wants to bring attention to its “EduCarry” program that is aimed at improving school safety and helping more teachers get concealed carry permits.
“Our message is the same, we want to secure our children,” said Melchior
There are 837 events planned worldwide, according to the “March for Our Lives” website, including events in Salt Lake City, Park City, St. George and Logan.
RELATED: Competing marches for school safety planned for Saturday in Utah
