PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Nineteen years ago Friday, 12 students and a teacher were killed at Columbine High School in Colorado. To mark the somber anniversary, students nationwide hosted a walkout, including here in Maine. While students say they want action against gun violence, it starts with an honest conversation.
"It's a huge epidemic in our nation right now," says USM student Gwen Walsh. "I think it's important that we get involved because it affects all of us."
By way of music and marching, the gun violence debate took center stage at the University of Southern Maine Friday. It started with a walk-in, where students like Omar Andrews say more can be done to stop suicide by firearms, which accounts for 60% of gun deaths in America, according the CDC.
Andrews is also a veteran. An average of 20 veterans take their own lives everyday, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs.
"That means I'm celebrating someone on memorial day instead of veteran's day," says Andrews.
After students walked in, they walked out to march quietly across campus. It was part of a National Day of Action Against Gun Violence in Schools, this one was organized by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, to mark the Columbine anniversary.
The timing, also happening not long after the latest school shooting in Marion County, Florida.
"That makes me cry. It's just got to stop," says an adjunct professor at USM.
"It makes me feel awful," says Walsh. "We're not doing enough. Like so many people are trying so hard to make changes but it's not happening at the systemic level where it needs to."