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Mar 27, 2018

News Shapers: Gun Safety in America

Axios

Mike Allen talks gun safety and the March for Our Lives with David Hogg, Parkland survivor and student activist. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios

The day before March for Our Lives rallies scattered the world, Mike Allen hosted a trio of conversations on gun safety in America. He sat down with people from both sides of the debate to discuss the resurgent demand for gun control set off by the Parkland shooting.

Why it matters: Relentless news cycles make it difficult for any one issue to capture America's attention. Yet, the Parkland students have remained at the forefront of a national conversation for almost 6 weeks despite huge breaking stories in both tech and politics.

The guest list:

  • T.H. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator, Connecticut
  • Mr. David Hogg, Activist and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student
  • Mr. Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, National Shooting Sports Foundation
David Hogg takes the stage pinned with a slogan coined by the Parkland students: "We call B.S." Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
Hogg on the media's biggest mistake covering the Parkland shooting: "not giving black students a voice" despite being 25% of the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
Hogg, who is a 17-year-old high school senior, tells Mike he will be taking a gap year because he "wants to go to college to change the world" but has "the opportunity to do that now." Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
Over 150 guests listening in. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
Keane tells Mike that he agrees "with the students and the rest of America, we think there needs to be change." Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
Keane on whether he is seeing movement for passing ambitious gun legislation after the midterms: “Not that we’ve seen.” Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
Sen. Blumenthal says that the young people leading the gun control movement have "touched the conscience of America." Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
"What's so extraordinary is how articulate and committed they are. They are the voice and face of a new social movement...I think that's one of the fundamental changes we're seeing in the gun violence prevention movement."
— Sen. Richard Blumenthal
Sen. Blumenthal on what the 832 gun control marches set to take place worldwide will do: They will help "galvanize and mobilize" people, but it's a marathon, not a sprint. He later added that major progress won't come until after the midterm elections. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios
Mike mingling pre-show. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios

Thank you to Bank of America for sponsoring this event.

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