Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Nashville at Saturday’s March for Our Lives rally. People came from across Middle Tennessee to join a national call for gun reform in the U.S.

Damon Mitchell WPLN News

Linda Southwell stands behind a large crowd at Public Square Park in downtown Nashville as organizers of a local March for Our Lives rally give speeches about gun violence.

Linda Southwell says gun violence is a complex issue that requires a versatile approach to properly address. She says “more guns in more hands” is not the answer.

“I’m here with a group called Art and Soul and we’re an expressive arts studio. So, we’ve shown up to take action and we feel by taking some creative efforts to stop the gun violence, that’s another way that we can contribute to our community. Giving kids who grow into adults an expressive outlet. Giving them positive things to do with their time. Instead of bottling up their emotions, they’re able to express their emotions. Then when people don’t bottle it up, maybe they don’t have the violent tendency buildup over anger.”

Damon Mitchell WPLN News

Jodi Zipperer stands in front of a small group of rally-goers at Public Square Park ahead of Saturday’s march for gun control.

Jodi Zipperer says she came from a family of rural gun owners but never felt the need to own one herself. When she wanted to go target shooting for fun, she’d just borrow one from a family member.

“I’m not against guns. I’m against gun violence. I’m against, you know, teachers having to deal with things that they’re not supposed to be doing. Teachers should be teaching. They shouldn’t have to be disciplinarians. They shouldn’t have to be parents. They shouldn’t have to be law enforcement. They should be educators.”

Damon Mitchell WPLN News

Mindy Winningham stands in a small crowd gathered in a shaded area at Public Square Park.

Mindy Winningham is an art teacher at a Nashville elementary school. Winningham says she wants lawmakers to focus on limiting the amount of guns in the country instead of hardening schools.

“I think a lot of the people making the decisions, or deciding what the problem is, they don’t understand education and how schools work … We’ve got to control access to the guns for people who shouldn’t have guns. And more guns in schools isn’t going to make us safer. Arming teachers is ludicrous. I would not want to be armed. I would refuse to be armed.”