Salt Lake Tribune photos of the month for March 2018

Salt Lake Tribune photographers explored and documented gun issues, as Utahns responded to the February mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, Fla.

The March For Our Lives SLC rally coincided with student-led nationwide gun violence protests. Police estimated there were 8,000 demonstrators in Salt Lake City.

Second Amendment supporters organized their own March Before Our Lives that would take off a few hours before the students’ march, following the same path to the capitol. About 1,000 people attended the gun rights rally.

Tribune staff interviewed young people who have their concealed carry permits to ask why they choose to do so.

At the beginning of the month, one woman was reunited with her family after 40 years of trying to immigrate to the U.S.

Photographers also covered basketball wins and losses; the retirement of University of Utah athletic director Chris Hill; and displays of culture and diversity throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

Explore the best Tribune staff photos from March below.

An angler lands a fish as snow falls on the Provo River on Thursday, March 1.

Corazon Espinosa, left, hugs her sister Celeste Galbreath after arriving from Australia, via Los Angeles on Thursday, March 1. Espinosa, 70, has been trying to legally immigrate to the U.S. for 40 years. Sister Carolina Pangilinan is at right.

Lehi players rush the court to celebrate their win against Desert Hills in the 4A State high school basketball tournament at Utah Valley University in Orem on Thursday, March 1.

Jacee Cole, 20, said a stalking incident in a store as a teenager spurred her to get her concealed carry permit when she was 19 years-old for self defense. Cole, shown at home in West Jordan, Utah, with her husband, Russell Larsen, and step-daughter Katilyn, 11, Friday, March 2, now carries a Kimber 9mm pistol. "I don't trust people," said Cole, who said she respects law enforcement, but questions whether the police would be able to arrive at any given situation in time to thwart a possible incident or crime. "It makes me feel safe, knowing I can protect myself."

Rivera Milly, from Lebanon, walks the runway during the eighth annual Women of the World Fashion Show on Wednesday, March 7. The fashion show is a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which seeks to help refugees settle in a new culture.

Muslim leader, community activist, nonprofit organization founder Noor Ul-Hasan holds a sign to bring attention to Muslim women's rights at the Amplifying Women’s Voices rally to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Utah State Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, March 8.

Big Cottonwood Creek meanders through the valley near Cardiff Road in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Monday March 12.

West High School seventh-grader Sadie Nelson-Stippich, 12, joins fellow students after walking out of classes in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 14. Students across Utah and the nation planned a walkout that day to protest gun violence and memorialize the victims of the February mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Marlene Jennings, right, a former delegate for Gary Herbert when he ran for Governor, returned her shirt to Herbert’s office over the issue of the inland port and Senate Bill 234 on Thursday, March 14. Terry Marasco holds a sign indicating the group's hopes that Herbert will not sign SB234 into law. Herbert was not in the Capitol at the time.

Vaiden Price, 3, smiles at his reflection in the new sensory room at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 14. The sensory room is for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Susanna Alley works for the Salt Lake City Fire Department. The department is trying to find more diverse recruits for its crews.

Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) fouls Phoenix Suns guard Josh Jackson (20) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Thursday, March 15. Utah Jazz defeated Phoenix Suns 116-88.

A princess party was thrown for several young FLDS girls in Colorado City, Ariz., on Friday, March 16, as a reward for reading books. Before the party, Christine Marie Katas, left, of Voices for Dignity, emphasized the importance of education to Lolly, center, and Kathy Bistline while giving them their first experience with makeup.

"I'm a free bird," said Dustin Bitton of Salt Lake City showing off his new tattoo on his chest to cover up the name of his soon-to-be ex-wife at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention on Saturday, March 17. "The divorce is final at the end of the month," said Bitton.

Investigators comb the scene where a Granite School District police officer shot a driver on Tuesday, March 20. While on patrol near Hunter High School, the officer noticed a car full of teenagers and smelled marijuana. When he approached the car lurched and he ended up on the hood. The driver was shot and four other teens in the car fled the scene.

Eighteen girls at Salt Lake City's Escalante Elementary were given new running shoes as part of the Girls on the Run program on Friday, March 23.

Demonstrators listen during the March for Our Lives SLC rally at the state Capitol on Saturday, March 24. The student-led march had an estimated 8,000 participants, according to police.

Demonstrators hold up the peace sign as they listen to John Lennon's song 'Imagine' during the March for Our Lives SLC at the state Capitol on Saturday, March 24. An estimated 8,000 people walked from West High School to the capitol to protest gun violence, as part of nationwide marches.

Second Amendment supporters walk in the March Before Our Lives, a response to the student-led gun violence rally planned for later that same day, on Saturday, March 24. An estimated 1,000 participants walked in the gun rights march, while 8,000 attended the rally against gun violence. Both marches concluded at the Capitol.

Sabrina Martinez cuddles a new kid while checking on the goat herd, located in a scenic spot west of the Salt Lake City International Airport, on Saturday, March 24.

Revelers dance to the sounds of Aakansha Bollypop, during the 22nd annual Holi Festival of Colors at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork on Saturday, March 24. The festival celebrates the beginning of spring.

University of Utah Athletics Director Chris Hill holds an emotional press conference to announce he will retire this spring after 31 years. Joined by his wife Kathy and their kids and grandkids at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on campus on Monday, March 26, Hill is the longest actively tenured athletics director at the same school in the NCAA FBS.