Rep. Davis welcomes walkouts: Students ‘deserve to be heard’

Posted on March 14, 2018
Rodney Davis
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis talked to students on Tuesday at Central A&M High School in Moweaqua. (Photo courtesy Rodney Davis)

By Eric Stock

MOWEAQUA – U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said he welcomes students engaging in a national protest against gun violence on Wednesday even if he opposes one of its main themes, more gun control.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Davis on WJBC.

“They deserve to go out there and talk about whatever issue they think is going to help us solve the problem,” Davis said. “I come from a different position as someone who actually had to dodge a bullet.”

Davis is referring the shooting in Virginia last June in which he stood just a few feet from where U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., was wounded on a baseball field.

“It makes my heart sick to know that they are going to have to live through the same things I do,” Davis said. “I want to hear their voices. They deserve to be heard, regardless of whether I agree with them on policy issues.”

Congress is set to vote this week on the STOP (Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act which would give money for more security and mental health training at schools.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected]. 

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