Despite maintaining a generally orderly atmosphere, last night's Q&A panel session on gun violence did not entirely avoid harsh clashes of words.
Starting at 7 p.m., the Students for Non-Violence Club held a screening of ABC 20/20 special "If Only I Had a Gun," which sought to dispel notions that carrying a gun increased safety. The screening was followed by a questioning session between the audience and a four-member panel in Haymarket Theatre.
The panel consisted of Andrew Goddard and Lori Haas, both parents whose children were injured on April 16, Omar Samaha, whose sister Reema was killed in Norris Hall, and Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
A repeated theme during the panel discussion was the removal of the so-called "gun show loophole," which allows individuals to purchase firearms at gun shows without going through background checks. The issue of raising required training for applicants for concealed carry permits was also central to the panel.
"If you showed me a Kroger card, I would know the same things about you: You might have been fingerprinted, you might know what to do with a gun, you might be extensively trained," Goddard said, "but you might not."
The tension in the room was clear on several occasions as some attempted to deviate from a Q&A to a debate, but afterward leaders on both sides said it went relatively smoothly.
"I think the discussion was very civil, but I don't think it was as constructive as it could be," said Kurt Mueller, eastern regional director of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. "The panel was composed of all people who were all in favor for some measure of gun control."
Mueller said SCCC would be willing to hold a debate with gun control advocates anytime.
"I thought it was more civil and more constructive than I anticipated," said Jerzy Nowak, director of the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention. He repeated an earlier comment that the two sides likely agreed on at least 60 percent of the issues and could make progress together.
"I hope it's the beginning for a further dialogue," Nowak said.