Georgia students plan 'March For Our Lives'

ATLANTA - From Washington, D.C. to downtown Atlanta, thousands plan to march to their lawmakers' doorsteps next month to advocate for gun law changes in the wake of this month's school shooting.

"I kind of question my safety at school," said Jonah Ruffin, a student in the Atlanta Public Schools.  "I was like, this could have been me.  This could have been anybody at any type of school."

Sunday, Ruffin and more than two dozen other students from around metro Atlanta announced plans to hold a "March For Our Lives" at the State Capitol March 24 to coincide with a national march being organized by survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.  17 people died when a gunman opened fire at the school on February 14.  

"Everybody should support common-sense gun legislation.  Legislators around the country and in the State of Georgia have commonly ignored this issue," said Elias Green, a Gwinnett County student.  "So, the youth are coming forward and addressing it and saying that this is a problem that is going on around the country and in our schools."

Some, however, fear that changes to gun policy could erode Americans' Second Amendment rights.

"I would urge everyone to study US history and why we have a Second Amendment right.  Our Constitution was the first document in world history that limited government control over citizen's lives. The reason citizens still have the bill of rights today is because of the Second Amendment," said Jerry Henry, executive director of GeorgiaCarry.org, a gun rights advocacy group.  "That being said, I recognize and support their right to exercise their First Amendment right. I only wish they would recognize and support my right to exercise my Second Amendment right as well."  

The march is still in the planning phases, but the students said they plan to release more details about the event soon.  They encourage not just students, but community member to join in the effort.