Lawmakers give students opportunity to talk with them directly following gun reform school walkout
May 3, 2018, 11:36 PM
WOODS CROSS, Utah – It was a day of marching many won’t soon forget. On March 14, thousands of students from nearly 30 Utah schools joined a nationwide walkout to voice their concerns following the Parkland, Florida school shooting. Many students called on lawmakers for stricter gun laws.
“I participated because I wanted students around me to know what I believe,” Woods Cross student Madeleine Eliason said. “I wanted our representatives to know this is something that matters to me.”
Thursday night, Representative Todd Weiler held a public meeting inviting the hundreds of students who participated in the walkout to speak to lawmakers directly. Nearly two dozen students attended the impromptu meeting held at Bountiful High School.
“I want them to feel like their elected officials care about them and will listen to what they have to say, that’s my main goal,” Rep. Todd Weiler said. “Before tonight, I actually have not had any of the students reach out to me.”
One by one, students took to the stage to address lawmakers and school board representatives directly. Many addressed funding for school safety, gun control legislation and questions about background checks.
It was a meeting student Blake Eliason said he is glad he did not miss.
“With Representative Weiler putting this together, I feel like I’m being treated like a real constituent for once,” he said. “I am glad they are listening to our concerns.”
Representative Weiler said he took notes on the issues students brought up Thursday night and will approach his constituents with the information to see if these are issues they need to be addressing.
