Students Prepare to ‘March for Our Lives’

James Limbaugh

James Limbaugh and Jamie Pool, both seniors at Sallisaw High School, and students from other Sequoyah County schools will join with students from across the nation to “March for Our Lives” on March 24.

The march is in response to the shooting on Feb.14 that killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The alleged 19-year-old shooter was armed with an AR 15 rifle.

The Sallisaw High School students are also planning a 17-minute silent vigil at 7:30 a.m. on March 16 to remember those killed in Parkland.

Limbaugh said students and others joining the March 24 march in Oklahoma City will meet at 11 a.m. at the Oklahoma County Election Board and the march will begin at noon. The march will go to the Capitol, where several speakers are to be heard.

Others will be marching on the capitols in their own states and even on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Limbaugh, age 18, said his mother, Dr. Paula Haraway, is planning to join in. He is the son of Dr. Haraway, a Sallisaw veterinarian, and Jim Limbaugh.

And it is OK if parents and others join in the march, he said, “even moms.”

The march, Limbaugh said, is for common sense gun reform. He said the students don’t intend to ask for bans on guns, but want legislation calling for mental health checks for those buying guns, school safety, raising the age to purchase AR 15s from 18 to 21, for better background checks, and to ban the bump stocks which make an automatic rifle.

Limbaugh believes Sallisaw Schools, with School Resource Officers stationed at each school, may be as safe as possible, but he acknowledges that such a shooting may happen anywhere, in any school. And he may have plans to do even more for student safety in the future.

Limbaugh said he wants to major in political science in college and eventually attend law school. Asked if he had plans to run for a political office, Limbaugh just grinned and said, “Things develop in the future.”

 Limbaugh was at the Sequoyah County and Democrat Women’s meeting Thursday night to announce the march and invite anyone to join in for “common sense gun control” and student safety.

Anyone wishing for more information about the march may visit the March for Our Lives OKC Facebook page to contact Limbaugh or Pool.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com