Posted on 09/13/2025 6:02:04 PM PDT by real saxophonist
'This shouldn’t even be a debate': Colorado students march against gun violence
Denver7 was there when Jefferson County students walked out of class to demand more be done to stop gun violence in the wake of the Evergreen High School shooting
By: Richard Butler
Sep 12, 2025
WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Hundreds of students at Standley Lake High School walked out of class Friday afternoon, lining Wadsworth Boulevard with signs and chants calling for an end to gun violence.
The demonstration comes just two days after two students were wounded in a shooting at Evergreen High School before the shooter turned the gun on himself. Organizers said the tragedy compelled them to take swift action.
“We come to school to learn, and this is what we have to deal with,” said ninth grader Abigale Smith. “Everyone’s pretty scared right now. The parents, the teachers, and the students, too.”
Freshmen Riley Johnsen and Abigale Smith, both 14, said they joined the walkout to raise awareness and push for change.
“It’s really scary. Coming to school can be scary because of it, because we don’t know what’s going to happen, especially since it’s been in our district,” Johnsen said.
Smith added that she worried even about the protest itself.
“I was scared about something dangerous happening while we do this. But I think it’s worth it to let people know what’s going on,” she said.
Freshmen Levin Kenison and Drake Ellis said walking out was about refusing to accept school shootings as the new normal.
“Gun violence isn’t okay and it shouldn’t be normalized anymore,” Ellis said.
“I don’t want to get shot just for doing something that I’m legally required to do,” Kenison added.
Both said the honks and cheers from passing cars reinforced that their voices were being heard.
Standley Lake High School seniors Isaac Palma and Andrew Lin helped organize the demonstration after seeing a similar event planned at Wheat Ridge High School. They expected about 200 participants.
“I’m shocked that we were able to get such a large percent of the student body out here today, making signs, chanting along Wadsworth,” Palma said.
“We’re in high school. We’re not adults yet. Why do we have to worry about losing our lives to get an education?" Lin added.
Both said this walkout was just the beginning of their activism.
Ben and Steph Petri, who have a niece at Standley Lake and a daughter in another Jeffco school, came to support the crowd.
“We’ve been through too many of these school shootings in our communities, and we’re tired of this,” Ben Petri said. “We want change to make our schools safer.”
His wife, Steph, called for stronger laws.
“We’d just like to see common sense gun laws enacted so that kids have less access to guns to do these things,” Steph said.
Sophomore Faye Wentz said she walked out because she was motivated by fear that has become routine.
“I am genuinely so terrified to even come to the place where I should feel the safest and where I should be comfortable enough to learn,” Wentz said. “No one should have to weigh the fact of, will I be safer if I don’t go to school? Will I be safer if I hide in the bathroom or if I hide in the closet?”
She added, “This shouldn’t even be a debate. This shouldn’t even be a fight, because these are kids’ lives.”
Standley Lake’s demonstration wasn’t the only one.
At Wheat Ridge High School, sophomore Maura Plavnick led a walkout where students carried signs and marched through their neighborhood.
“We should not be in fear in our classroom,” Plavnick said. “We should not be worried about making it to school the next day. We should not be struggling due to gun violence.”
Back in Westminster, students said the two-hour demonstration was just a starting point.
“I don’t think the change stops here,” Lin said. “We want to spread the word out more — not just in Colorado, but to the U.S. in general.”
By the way, has the despicable Columbine dad Tom Mauser spoken about the use of a Mauser? Didn't think so.
Bunch of useful idiots.
They ought to be seeking a ban on transgenders. That’s where the danger is.
‘This shouldn’t even be a debate’
Yeah, that way you can’t be proven wrong . . .
Some of those marching are the future criminals that will commit Gun Violence. They don’t understand that gun violence is not about guns. It is about people who are conditioned to be evil.
Are they going to ignore the fire violence? I seem to remember a woman being killed by fire on the subway. What about knife violence?
I want some spaces in between words.
There is no debate to be had. Mentally ill individuals need treatment and severe cases require confinement.
disarm pronouns
Suspend their ignorant asses for truancy and cut state and federal funding to the school for allowing it.
Every guy (and some girls) had Buck knives on their belts.
Somehow, nobody got shot or stabbed.
I’m not taking moral cues from people that celebrate murder.
Well said.
Actually, according to the HSLDA, children aren’t legally required to go to public school.
They can opt out and go to a (heavily armed) homeschool.
How many of them opposed the Vicious Mass Transit Attack on a “white girl”
Not one.
He said, “I got the White girl.”
I bet a lookup on these “man on the street” and teenbot names will turn up. links to radical leftist groups. Freshmen don’t spout leftist dog whistle phrases unless they are getting coached.
Yep, no debate. Pound sand, our GOD given gun rights are not negotable!
Soon to be a CEO at a doomed company near you...
This is like blaming glass for alcoholism.
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Wasn’t Evergreen tranny related?
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