Pennsbury Students Plan Walkout In Call For Stricter Gun Laws

Pennsbury High School students are planning to join a national movement and partake in a walkout in March to protest recent gun violence in schools and call for stricter laws. The March 14 walkout, set to coordinate with the National School Walkout day, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., according to an event posting on the main campaign website.

Numerous schools in Bucks County and across the region are participating the walkout, which is being done to call for stricter laws, according to organizers.

In Pennsbury, the effort is being led by student Reed Markowitz, who says at this point he is not sure how many are participating. He said he hopes to releasing a survey and petition to gather data to send to local lawmakers showing how many students are wanting change. "Many people who I don’t know personally have approached me about the walkout and have told me that they will be walking out with me," Markowitz said.

The walkout events are planned across the country after 17 students, teachers, and coaches were killed and numerous people injured in the Valentine's Day massacre. Students participating in the National Walkout will leave their classrooms for 17 minutes – one minute for each life taken at the school on Feb. 14, according to organizers.

"We need action. Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship," according to the nationwide event page.

Other area schools planning walkouts include Council Rock North, New Hope-Solebury, all three Central Bucks high schools and more. You can find a full list of schools participating in the walkout by clicking here.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci