'Save our children': Demonstrators gather at Tennessee Capitol to call for stricter gun laws after Nashville shooting
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion is advised.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: After the tragic death of six victims, including three nine-year-old children, a candlelight vigil was held on Wednesday, March 29. The event horrific incident took place in Nashville city when Audrey Hale walked in heavily armed and open-fired at The Covenant School. Thousands participated in the mourning including city leaders, musicians, first lady Jill Biden, as well as the family and friends of the victims.
It was organized outside of a memorial at The Covenant School, where many found a place where they can share their pain and find some comfort. “You can feel the sadness in the city right now, it's really overwhelming," said Nicole Zielinski, one of the attendees of the vigil. At the event, Sheryl Crow, Margo Price, and Ketch Secor performed and unanimously voiced their support for gun regulation. They also expressed their sadness at the school shooting tragedy. "I lift my voice up to Nashville, Tennessee," Crow sang.
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Jill Biden, the first lady attended the vigil at Nashville
After the shooting, President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats have started to voice strongly for stricter gun control laws, while on the other side, Republicans have suggested that it's premature to assume legislation should interfere to confront gun violence. Jill Biden, the first lady was seen in Nashville, as the White House representative. Before participating in the vigil, she paid her respects at a memorial outside the school, where she carefully looked at the photo of the victims and left flowers, as per CBS News.
'They protect their children'
Russ Pulley, a city council member representing Covenant's district, said Koontz heard the gunshots, abruptly ended a Zoom call, and rushed to leave the office. "I would absolutely expect that from Katherine Koonce and principals. That's what educators and administrators do. They protect their children," Pulley told. The students who died during the shooting were Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus, and William Kinney, and the adult victims were named by the authorities as Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61. The staffers Hill was a custodian, Peak worked as a substitute teacher and Koonce was listed as the head of The Covenant School, as per records.
