Denver teachers push gun control after shooting
(25 Mar 2023) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4426083 ASSOCIATED PRESS Denver, Colorado - 24 March 2023 ++SOUNDBITES PARTIALLY COVERED++ 1. Various of teachers, students and parents protesting in front of the Colorado State Capitol 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Raegan Haines, teacher at Palmer Elementary School in Denver: “It’s really scary being a teacher, to be completely honest. You never know what’s going to happen every day and when someone walks into your room and tells you, like, ‘hey, you’re going on lockdown or a lock out,’ your heart sinks. It just it drops into your stomach, and you think what am I going to do with these kids? How can I keep these kids quiet? Who am I going to put my body in front of? And why do I have to make that choice?” 3. Various of protesters holding signs 4. Tight shots of signs and scenes from protest 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Mollie Sheehan, Elementary School Teacher: “I’ve been teaching 11 years now, and I used to wake up every morning when I first started teaching, excited for the day and excited to teach my students and now I’m nervous about what’s going to hit the news, what students might be affected, what coworkers I have might be affected by this. I think a lot of teachers and students are afraid to go to school. We have far too many mass shootings in this country." 6. Various of protesters holding signs 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mollie Sheehan, Elementary School Teacher: “We are looking to increase the age of individuals able to purchase a gun from 18 to 21. A lot of our students are 18 in high school, so they’re able to purchase a gun legally. We’re also looking to ban assault rifles and have background checks for all individuals purchasing guns and firearms." 9. Various of protesters marching in front of the Capitol 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mollie Sheehan, Elementary School Teacher : “We have to be optimistic for our kids, for our own mental health. We have to look forward to the future, that there’s a future out there that our country cares more about its people than its guns and that’s my hope." ++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++ STORYLINE: Colorado teachers converged at the state Capitol on Friday to press for better protections for students and school staff after a 17-year-old Denver student shot two administrators, fled to the mountains and killed himself. About 1,500 teachers and their supporters called for improved school security, more mental health support and tighter gun control measures, adding to pressure on lawmakers a day after students and parents gathered at the Capitol to make similar demands. School shootings are becoming increasingly frequent in the U.S., and some teachers at the rally voiced the fears they feel during safety lockdowns that are now regular occurrences. School was canceled in Denver on Friday in response to Wednesday's shooting at Denver's East High School. Officials have said they’ll put armed officers into city high schools through the remainder of the school year, reversing a policy enacted just a few years ago in response to protests over racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd by police. The teachers Friday gathered on the steps in front of the Colorado capitol for speeches, then circled the building with chants as some played brass instruments and drums. Many then filed into the Capitol. Pending bills would expand who can petition to temporarily remove a firearm from someone who poses a danger, raise the minimum age to posses a firearm from 18 to 21, require three-day waiting periods after buying guns and ban semi-automatic firearms. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
