Students at Rockledge High School in central Florida staged a walkout Friday in response to the Parkland, Florida school shooting, but in contrast to a national walkout last month, this one was in support of gun rights.
Students Chloe Deaton and Anna Delaney organized the event, and dozens of students turned out, WFTV Orlando reported. Two weeks ago, students at Rockledge and around the country walked out of schools during the National School Walkout, a movement organized by gun control activists. Some students who support gun rights said their voices were silenced.
"I’m just saying that we should not let our rights be taken because someone else does something wrong," said Deaton.
The students organizing the walkout said many students agreed with the Second Amendment, even though they did not receive the same attention from the national media as those who support stricter gun control.
"There are many people that don’t agree, but we have just as many who agree with us and are going to come out here today and support us," Delaney said.
Some students who took part in the pro-Second Amendment walkout held American flags or signs about the importance of gun rights. The students said they wanted to discuss public policy actions related to gun ownership but they would not tolerate infringement on the right to keep and bear arms.
"I’m pro-Second Amendment. I wouldn’t mind deeper background checks, of course, but the Second Amendment will not be infringed upon," Delaney said.
Reporter Melonie Holt described the walkout as "orderly and brief" and said it lasted only about 20 minutes.