Columbia Falls students on opposing sides participate in National Walkout Day
COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. — Wednesday morning over 100 Columbia Falls High School students walked out of school to honor the lives of those lost in the Florida school
shooting.
Two separate groups stood outside at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes in silence.
A pro-gun group of close to 60 students gathered to counteract the protest for gun control. The group feels gun control is not the answer.
Columbia Falls High School student Braxton Shewalter was one of the organizers of the pro-gun group. He said with the Florida shooting there were a lot of warning signs missed, and he does not feel organizations such as the NRA should be blamed for the tragedy.
He added his group does support a ban on bump stocks.
He said many students across the country share his feelings -- around 4,000 that he knows of. He talked with students from Washington, Idaho and Oregon who were also doing pro-gun protests.
The other group outside of the high school was close to 50.
Both groups were ultimately participating in the walkout to honor the victims.
"Both groups handled it in a way that was very respectful,” said Columbia Falls Superintendent Steve Bradshaw. “I only wish adults could handle it as respectful as the teenagers do sometimes. I was very proud of the kids."
Both groups walked peacefully back into the school after the protest.
Bradshaw told NBC Montana there was no penalty for the walkout.
