I was able to attend the First Monday event (circus?) at Butler University in Indianapolis last night put on by the Indiana Citizens Concerned about Gun Violence (don't ask, I don't know where they came from, don't care, and we will probably not hear from them again). They had invited a group of candidates to make statements about gun issues, the forum was to be about gun 'violence' and what to do about it. Of more than a dozen candidates, half of them were Libertarians. Anyone see where this is going? The moderator was blatantly anti-gun and there were about 4 anti's on the panel. In the audience I counted 7 people who were there to support the anti side, about 15 students (some who left when they saw how it was going), and more of us than I expected, about a dozen. We were quiet as the moderator, obviously not happy with the panel who showed up, allowed all equal time for statements. A Libertarian congressional candidate brought a sign with the 'gun free home' wording on it and it got a big laugh and applause. This is when I, and the 7 anti's, realized that they were outnumbered. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! A couple of anti students had some questions which were trounced by the pro-gunners on the panel. One girl asked what they candidates would do to prevent gun violence if elected, more on her later. We were scattered about the room. The moderator kept calling on people and EVERYONE was a pro-gun person!!! He was not happy about this. He finally made a comment that the Supreme Court had ruled that the 2nd Amendment did not permit the private ownership of firearms, at which point 4 of us, including 2 members of the panel, jumped to their feet to take him to task on it. It was amusing to see the moderator startle so easily. He was slammed on this issue and to get out of it simply stated that we would not discuss the 2nd Amendment, that we were here to discuss 'gun violence'. I think this outburst scared any of the anti's into just sitting quietly when they saw how we react to lies and how well informed we were. Of course the fact that they were bunched together on the 2nd row and we were all over the room made it seem like there were more of us.
As for the girl who asked what the candidates could do? She was told that you can't legislate morality. No law is going to stop violent behavior. And then it was my turn. I introduced myself and gave them my background. I told them that this forum was to be about gun violence and what could be done to stop it. I was doing something about it. I am teaching 500 K-5 grade students the Eddie the Eagle Gunsafe Program in an inner city school. The state senator was there whose district the school is in. I told them that these children have been effectively deserted by their parents. They have no positive roll models in their lives. If you want something done, don't complain about it, get out there and do something to teach the high risk kids right from wrong. There is a HUGE problem in the black community in Indianapolis. I pointed them to the U.S. Dept of Justice Bureau of Statistics which show white homicide rates have been gradually declining over the last 20 years, while rates in the black community are 7 to 13 times higher http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/race.htm The answer isn't in legislation. It is in your involvement in the community. Don't complain about it, do something. Go to an inner city school and sign up to become a mentor. Take action to stop all violence. At that point the moderator decided that this wasn't going as well as he had hoped and the forum was closed. All in all it was a good night.
As for the girl who asked what the candidates could do? She was told that you can't legislate morality. No law is going to stop violent behavior. And then it was my turn. I introduced myself and gave them my background. I told them that this forum was to be about gun violence and what could be done to stop it. I was doing something about it. I am teaching 500 K-5 grade students the Eddie the Eagle Gunsafe Program in an inner city school. The state senator was there whose district the school is in. I told them that these children have been effectively deserted by their parents. They have no positive roll models in their lives. If you want something done, don't complain about it, get out there and do something to teach the high risk kids right from wrong. There is a HUGE problem in the black community in Indianapolis. I pointed them to the U.S. Dept of Justice Bureau of Statistics which show white homicide rates have been gradually declining over the last 20 years, while rates in the black community are 7 to 13 times higher http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/race.htm The answer isn't in legislation. It is in your involvement in the community. Don't complain about it, do something. Go to an inner city school and sign up to become a mentor. Take action to stop all violence. At that point the moderator decided that this wasn't going as well as he had hoped and the forum was closed. All in all it was a good night.
But I didn't have much choice, I had a sick son and didn't get him home from the doc's until 6:30. I think you guys did a fantastic job and changed a few young minds. You also put some central Indiana gun grabbers on notice! 
