Gun Control Advocates and 2A Supporters Clash in Carmel

Elementary school teacher Marcia Stone reflected on the security change in the aftermath of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, adding that schools are a place for learning, not death.

“This is not what’s supposed to be happening in our schools,” Stone said. “Teachers are supposed to be teaching not worrying about the lives of their students let alone their own lives. This situation cannot be tolerated. It’s up to us to take action.”

The crowd joined together in a solemn rendition of “Imagine” and “We Will Overcome” during the hour-long vigil.

While several in attendance carried signs and chanted slogans such as “Enough is Enough,” contentious debate broke out between residents with differing views on gun regulations. One resident yelled at Marron for holding a sign that read “How much has the NRA paid for each dead child?”

Carmel resident Denis Giriat, who screamed over speakers and erupted in debate with several attendees, said allowing “people of good character” to obtain a concealed carry license will reduce crime. He said protesters want to disarm the public by banning guns, which will increase crime. He added residents who carry firearms with the proper training would provide a “balance of power.”

Barry Graubart, a member of Mom’s Demand Action, read aloud the names of those who were gunned down in Florida, stressing that every loss matters and touches hundreds of lives. He said every mass shooter displays red flags but law enforcement officials can’t stop someone who could be a danger to themselves or others due to strict laws.