VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- Local students are keeping the nationwide gun debate alive.
On Monday, dozens gathered to stage a "die-in" protest at the Virginia Beach Town Center.
After that, they rallied in front of Congressman Scott Taylor's office, hoping to speak to the local leader.
These students are from different high schools across Virginia Beach. Many met each other at the 'March for Our Lives' rally in Norfolk.
They said they've all been in touch ever since, coming up with ideas to keep this discussion going and how they can get local politicians involved in talking about stricter gun control laws.
"We're just students who are upset that we feel our voices aren't being heard in Congress and by our representatives," said Katelyn Monostori, a student organizer.
But not everyone at the protest was at Town Center to support them.
"You're here for the wrong reasons. Your attention is misguided and your efforts are misplaced. It is 46 times more likely that you will drive home today and you'll die on the way home," one counter-protester yelled at the group.
The students, however, want to make their message clear to those who came to oppose them.
"We're definitely not trying to take guns away. We just want more legislation. We want universal background checks. We want to destigmatize people with mental health conditions," said Christian Kerlick, a student at Salem High School.