Students at McLean High School walked out of school and off campus to hold a Students Demand Action gun control event.
It quickly turned political for a highly-contested congressional district.
"I'm tired of the fear of walking in a school everyday and thinking what if I get shot," said student Carmen Beadie.
McLean students read the names of the dead killed a month ago in their Florida high school.
"At 18, he had an AR 15," said student Syndey Ng.
Then, risking unexcused absences, about a hundred students walked, with each step toward activism.
"I think if you are unwilling to admit that guns are the problem in this situation then you are partly responsible for these mass shooting that continue to happen and to kill hundreds of kids," said student Daniel Meakem.
At Lewinsville Park, they heard from gun violence survivors, activists, politicians and fellow students They also remembered a friend killed last year. James Chen, whose father killed his son, mother and himself.
"Just last year a student at Langley High School was killed in another gun violence incident by his family. This is enough. How many more times do children have to die before legislators take our pleas seriously," said student Maddie Sisk.
They took aim at one of the politician who represents many of these kids. Barbara Comstock is the only Republican representing Northern Virginia in Congress.
"I'm here because I was part of Barbara Comstock's young women's leadership program for two years, and she told us to stand up for what we believe in and be strong leaders as women. So I'm challenging her to be a strong leader and listen to her constituents and actually do something about the gun laws so we can all feel safe in our school," said student Caroline Brunner.
"Barbara Comstock is one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country and not just because of Trump. I think this gun issue is one of the major reasons that she can be defeated," said Alexandria state Senator Adam Ebbin.
Most of these students are not old enough to vote, but they soon will be. And on Wednesday they were learning how their votes could change gun laws.
"Our tears and protests are not enough you need to educate yourself so about the gun laws in Virginia and this country, also educate yourselves about the pro gun legislatures," said Georgetown Law professor Alecia Plerhopes, who co-manages Virginia Democracy Forward, grassroots organization committed to progressive changes.
Students said they are committed to not give up and keep pushing for stronger gun controls.
"What will be most important for them is to follow through. It seems to me if they're standing out here in 30-something degree weather, that they should be willing to volunteer in the summer. And the student leaders I don't think are going to let up," said Ebbin.
WUSA9 reached out to Rep. Comstock's office, asking if she supports any gun control measures.
The following is the response:
"The Congresswoman encourages young people – including all graduates of her Young Women’s Leadership Program to be engaged. As the wife and sister of public school teachers, the Congresswoman is committed to finding solutions to keep our students safe and prevent gun violence. Today, the House passed the bipartisan STOP School Violence Act, a bill the Congresswoman cosponsored. The bill provides support for the successful school safety programs that train students, teachers, school officials, and local law enforcement to identify and intervene early when signs of violence arise. It also creates a coordinated reporting system and uses technology and mobile apps and hotlines to improve school security, and implements school threat assessment protocols and crisis intervention teams to prevent school shootings. Since 80% of school shooters have told someone beforehand, these programs are designed to provide more coordinated responses.
The House also has already passed legislation that the Congresswoman co-sponsored to improve the National Instant Background Check System that will strengthen the background check system and makes sure that felons, criminals and thousands of dangerous people are prevented from buying any gun. Virginia has one of the best reporting systems, but many states and agencies have been failing to upload critical records to the system. This legislation represents the strongest update to the background checks system in a decade.
The Congresswoman continues to work to find common ground on keeping our students and schools safe and keeping any weapons out of the hands of those who should not have them."
