Today students at Bowdoin College held a vigil for Brown University shooting victims and called for action on gun safety from national and state political leaders.

One week ago on December 13, a gunmanopened fire in an academic building as students took finals, killing two and wounding nine.  It was yet another example of gun violence terrorizing American schools and universities.

“Too many students in my generation have experienced the terror of the always-present threat of gun violence in American schools,” said student Shawn Jiminez, junior at Bowdoin College.  “The sad reality is that for many Brown students experiencing the trauma and fear of last weekend, it may not have even been their first time.  As students, we should be worried about finals, not our lives.”  The gathering was organized by Shawn Jiminez.

“Once again we mourn the recurring horror of gun violence in American schools and universities” said Nacole Palmer, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition.  “The tragedy at Brown reminds us that this horror can happen anywhere, anytime and our leaders in Maine need to take action to help keep our schools safe and help keep guns out of dangerous hands.  Maine politicians should take heed of the election results for Question 2 that Mainers demand action on this issue.”