Local Seniors March for Young Lives

A group of local seniors protested in Blue Bell this morning for stricter gun laws and in support of the national 'March for Our Lives."

"Instead of just talking about it, we decided you're never too old to be an activist," said Judi Carson, 72, a retired dog trainer and resident of Normandy Farms Estates, a retirement community.

"Our kids are proving you're never too young," said Dick Sanders, 84.

Some of the protesters were members of a nonpartisan political group called Concerned Citizens of Normandy Farms Estates. The group meets once a week to write e-mails and make phone calls regarding issues facing Congress. The marchers, some on whom were on walkers and in motorized wheelchairs, waived American flags and held signs that read "We Walk for Parkland," and "Honk to Support Our Kids."

"We want politicians to know we are paying attention," said organizer Bob Fles, 75. "We are consistent and reliable voters. We support the Parkland students and reasonable limitations of weapons. It's not the only element in our violent gun culture, but it's certainly a part of it."

On the crisp morning still marked by snow from last week's nor'easter, some 50 seniors stood at the intersection of Morris Avenue and Twin Silo Road.

Barbara Rubin, 72, a retired teacher, said she was not in support of banning guns.

"I have family that hunts. I support common sense gun laws, background checks, banning of assault weapons and keeping guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them," she said. "The fact that a young person can't buy a beer but can buy an AK-47 is ludicrous."

Robert Straus, 70, who was drafted at 19 for the Vietnam War and who spent his service in Thailand and Ethiopia, said he hoped today's actions would help young people know that their votes counts.

"I'd like to see a ban on assault weapons, he said. "The AR-15 is one click away from what I fired in the service. I'd like to see kids push if a person is taking money from the NRA, that it's documented."

Betty Waldron, 92, who protested for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) after she lost a child to a drunk driver, said she was afraid that change would come slowly.

"I thought politicians would have taken care of this when those babies in Connecticut died," said Waldron, referring to the shootings in Sandy Hook. "It was a long time before they did anything about drunk drivers, too."

Doug Martinez, 74, a Vietnam Veteran, agreed.

"When these [Parkland] kids get to be in charge, things may happen," he said.