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Local students champion gun-control bill in Legislature

Published 6:22 am Thursday, March 1, 2018

By James Brooks

Juneau-Douglas High School sophomore Stella Tallmon testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee in favor of HB 75, a gun violence protective orders bill, at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Juneau-Douglas High School sophomore Stella Tallmon testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee in favor of HB 75, a gun violence protective orders bill, at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School sophomore Stella Tallmon testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee in favor of HB 75, a gun violence protective orders bill, at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
John Sonin testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee in favor of HB 75, a gun violence protective orders bill, at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau high school students and dozens of other Alaskans offered two hours of impassioned testimony Wednesday afternoon on the first gun-control proposal considered by the Alaska Legislature since a mass shooting killed 17 people and injured 14 more at a Florida high school on Valentine’s Day.

House Bill 75, sponsored by Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, does not directly address mass shootings but has nevertheless become the prime vehicle for Alaskans to show support for gun control after the Florida massacre.

“I know that this bill won’t end all gun violence, but I do know that people can make a change,” said Juneau-Douglas High School student Talya Johnson to the committee.

“As an American, I should not feel scared to come to school,” said Stella Tallmon, a sophomore at JDHS. “We need stricter gun laws.”

“If this is a step in the right direction, then I support it,” said Anna Frazier, a junior at Thunder Mountain High School.

For the rest of this story, visit the Juneau Empire.

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