Elon to host public forum on gun violence – May 1

The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions of invited experts on the dimensions of addressing American gun violence; the event will be streamed live.

A forum to discuss the complex issues surrounding gun violence will take place Wednesday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. on the Elon University campus. (Photo credit: "barjack"/Flickr.)
A discussion on the complexity of addressing gun violence in the United States will be held May 1, 2013, on the Elon University campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The event is meant to be an open, educational and respectful forum to benefit Elon University and the wider community. It begins at 6:30 p.m. in McKinnon Hall, just inside the parking lot entrance to the Moseley Center.

Watch the event via a live stream courtesy of Elon Student Television.

A moderator will open the discussion with a short statement before panelists selected from the Elon campus community will offer remarks. The moderator will then ask a smaller panel of legal, law enforcement and public policy experts to make statements that, at least in part, address the issues raised by the first speakers.  

The expert panel includes:

Rev. Richard McBride, Chaplain Emeritus, Elon University

Chief Cliff Parker, Town of Elon Police 

Celo Faucette, Councilperson, City of Burlington

Stephen Ross, NC House of Representatives

Michael Rich, Associate Professor of Law, Elon University

Audience members will be encouraged to join the conversation by asking questions of the various panelists.  The evening will end with an informal continuation of the discussion in the Hearth Lounge in Moseley.

“It is the duty and privilege of Elon University and local community members to come together and discuss this important issue in an open and respectful manner,” said Professor Tom Arcaro, co-chair of a committee organizing the program. “The intention of this event is to bring together thought leaders in meaningful debate and dialogue.”

For more information on the gun violence forum, email co-chair Tom Arcaro at arcaro@elon.edu or co-chair Niki Turley, assistant dean of students, at nturley@elon.edu.