Gun control activists marching 50 miles from Worcester to Smith & Wesson HQ in Springfield

WORCESTER, Mass. (WHDH/AP) — Students in Massachusetts have set off on a 50-mile march to Smith & Wesson’s headquarters to call for stricter gun control.

About 40 students and supporters started walking Thursday morning from Worcester City Hall. They’re expected to arrive at the gun maker’s Springfield office Sunday for a large demonstration.

They’re demanding, among other things, that the company contribute $5 million to gun violence research.

“Our ask is that you do not ship out-of-state weapons that are not legal to distribute here and that you be part of the solution and fund gun violence research,” one student marcher said.

David Hogg, a survivor of February’s massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida, was among Thursday’s marchers. He stressed the importance of turning the energy of nationwide demonstrations into political change in elections.

“We’re not marching against anybody’s rights, we’re marching for our lives,” he said. “We’re marching 50 miles so everybody so nobody has to come after us because our Congress and our politicians are not gonna do that.”

Manuel and Patricia Oliver, parents of a Parkland shooting victim who also joined marchers, criticized Smith & Wesson for making the weapon that killed their son and 16 others.

“This is our life,” Manuel Oliver said. “We became activists because we lost our son.”

Company spokespersons didn’t comment this week.

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