By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
COLUMBUS — Thousands of people participated in the March for Our Lives event on Saturday and more than 30 of them were Crawford County residents.
Hannah Hess, a senior at Wynford High School, attended the march with her mom, Linda.
“I am tired of being afraid while I am at school. No one should have to feel that way,” Hess said.
Hess’ school recently experienced a power outage.
“We had a blackout and went on lockdown. It was so scary and many of us were crying because at first, we did not know why the outage happened,” Hess said. “Our minds immediately went to the possibility of an active shooter in the building.”
Darrian Eaton, an eighth-grade student at Bucyrus Middle School, agreed.
“I think that kids should not have to be afraid to go to school because they could be shot,” Eaton said. “The survivor from Stoneman Douglas in Parkland was very inspiring.”
The march was a first for Galion resident Ashley Gantzler Butler.
“This was my first march. It will not be my last. I have never felt more patriotic before in my life, because now I have officially used my first amendment right: The freedom to assemble,” Butler said. “I met so many amazing people down there, and then marching to the statehouse and chanting was the most inspirational and empowering thing I have ever done in my life. I’m proud.”
Most Crawford County residents that attended the march rode to Columbus and back on a school bus through Rise-Ohio.
“Crawford County Democrats treasurer Bob Guinther asked if our group, the Mid-Ohio Progressives, would help organize a bus trip to the march in Washington. When that looked like it would be a little pricey, we decided to participate in the Columbus event,” said trip organizer and Bucyrus resident Lisa Miller. “I thought it was important that people from our community, which is quite conservative, know that they have a voice in one of the most important social and public health issues of our times.”
Miller said it has always seemed a little odd to her that an 18-year-old could buy a firearm with no problem, but could be arrested for walking into a bar and drinking a beer.
“I think that there must be compromise to come up with ways to secure our schools and reduce gun violence,” Miller said. “According to the Gun Violence Archive, 3,213 people have died as the result of gun violence this year and we are not even three months in. Sixty-four police officers have been shot or killed by guns in 2018. And in 2016, guns were used in 43 percent of suicides by people younger than 19, the Columbus Dispatch reported Sunday. This is a great country and we are better than this.”
Miller said Saturday’s march saw military veterans, elementary school teachers, teenagers, a widely diverse crowd showing up to say what she said sadly has become a cliché, “enough is enough.”
“If all of these folks turn out to vote for officials who support common sense ways to reduce gun violence, we could move the needle on this thing,” Miller said. “We don’t stop cancer research because it’s such a hard problem to solve, we keep at it.”
Miller said the goal is not to take away second amendment rights.
“My bestie, my hairdresser, my 80-year-old father and plenty of other friends and family are all responsible gun owners,” Miller said. “I think most people have no problem with people defending themselves, they just want comprehensive background checks and an end to the proliferation of weapons that can slaughter so many so quickly.”