Demonstrators take a stand against gun violence at 'March For Our Lives' Texas rally

AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — It’s been 10 months since a gunman killed 21 people at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. Since then, advocates have been demanding stricter gun laws.

"March For Our Lives" – the gun reform organization founded by students who survived the 2018 mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School – held a rally at the State Capitol Saturday morning to push Texas lawmakers to pass stronger protections.

Speakers there took a stand and called on the state legislature to pass bills, like S.B. 145, which would raise the minimum age to purchase an assault weapon from 18 to 21. Currently, that bill is pending and was sent to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee on Feb. 15.

This legislative session, a group of Democratic state senators are introducing what they call a historic package of gun control bills. One of them, S.B. 728, was the first one to pass the Senate this year. The bill focuses on mental health and will now include mental health and intellectual disability information on criminal background checks for people 16 and older when they try to purchase firearms.

Gun-reform advocates say it’s not enough.

Sure, they passed the Senate bi-partisan gun bill, but what did that achieve? Do you know how many mass shootings we’ve had since the beginning of 2023? 120 – more mass shootings than the days in the year that have passed since Jan. 1,” said a "March For Our Lives" youth advocats. “The silence is deafening from Congress’ inaction.

The purpose of the rally Saturday was to turn up the heat and put pressure on lawmakers to make changes and to make them fast.

“The constant excuses for inaction, indecisiveness and differences will no longer do and are no longer accepted by everyone and everyone across this nation, because we need action now!,” said Noel Candelaria, secretary-treasurer for the National Education Association.

The Austin "March For Our Lives" rally had speakers including youth activists and family of Uvalde victims. The common refrain from the speakers Saturday was that they felt like nothiung has been done as the anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde approaches.

These failed politicians prioritize their political and monetary gains over saving human lives, over grieving children, like our Jackie, making a safe place to learn and opportunity to live a long life,” said a Uvalde victim’s aunt.

Activists pushed and pushed hard, demanding the Texas legislature take immediate action to save lives and pass SB 145.

“I won’t be able to tell you the pros and cons of enhancing or restricting guns, nor is it my job to do that today,” said another "March For Our Lives" youth advocate. “My job, as a 17 year old is supposed to be protected by the people we elect to protect us, but it is sad that, as I sit in classrooms or when I go to Lunar New Year celebrations, I do not feel protected at all.”

The Austin rally capped off a week of rallies across the nation to mark the fifth anniversary of the "March For Our Lives."