WEBVTT EXPECT. ALMOST EVERYONE AT THE TOWN HALL AGREED THAT EVEN THOUGH MASSACHUSETTS ALREADY HAS SOME OF THE STRICTEST GUN LAWS IN THE COUNTRY IT’S NOT ENOUGH. ,>> FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR US. ALL OF OUR GUNS ARE ILLEGAL AND WE DODGE BULLETS FOR A LIVING. DAVID: PEOPLE CALLED FOR TOUGHER BACKGROUND CHECKS, NEW WAYS TO TRACE GUN SALES, AND MORE HELP FOR GUNSHOT SURVIVORS. >> WE DON’T DO ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HEALTH CARE IS COVERED. THAT THEY GET ENOUGH HEALTH CARE THAT THEY CAN LIVE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. >> MY QUESTION IS, HOW ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO WORK TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT HANDGUNS DO MAKE UP A LARGE PART OF GUN VIOLENCE? DAVID: CONGRESSMEN MIKE CAPUANO AND STEVE LYNCH, BOTH DEMOCRATS, PROMISED TO FIGHT FOR NEW GUN LAWS IN WASHINGTON AND SAID LAST MONTH’S MARCH FOR OUR LIVES EVENTS HAVE PUT PRESSURE ON CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE CAN DO, AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO AT LEAST SOME OF THEM. DAVID: BUT BOTH CAPUANO AND LYNCH SAID ANY GUN LEGISLATION THIS YEAR WOULD LIKELY FALL FAR SHORT OF WHAT MOST PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WANT AND SAID REAL CHANGE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER. >> I THINK WE MAY HAVE MORE DEMOCRATS, MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS IN SOME CASES THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF A BACKGROUND CHECK BILL. DAVID: CONGRESSMAN LYNCH ALSO SAID HE’S PLEASED THAT A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS WEEK UPHELD MASSACHUSETTS’ ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN AND SAID IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE OTHER STATES TO PUT SIMILAR
Students, parents across Massachusetts lead anti-gun town halls
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Updated: 5:48 PM EDT Apr 7, 2018
Students and parents in Massachusetts inspired by gun violence survivors in Parkland, Florida, held town hall meetings across the state on Saturday to discuss firearm policy with legislators. The five meetings were part of 120 "Town Halls for Our Lives" held across the U.S.. The local events were organized by creators of the recent March for Our Lives in Boston and the group Stop Handgun Violence. Democratic U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark and Jim McGovern were among the officials who participated. Student organizer Charlotte Lowell, of Andover High School, said that although she is not old enough to vote, she is wants to create "the change our classrooms and communities deserve." She helped organize a 30-member town hall in Lowell. For some parents, the fight to get guns off the streets is deeply personal. Monica Cannon-Grant, 37, is the mother of five children, including two sons, ages 19 and 20. She said she and one of her sons were threatened by a shooter in 2015 as they were getting out a car near their home in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. The man's gun jammed and they escaped, she said. Cannon said there is a constant flow of illegal guns in her community and that residents are "moving targets." She said although gun fatalities have declined in some neighborhoods, they haven't dropped in hers. Boston police department data shows there was an increase of victims of fatal shootings in the city from 158 to 186 people in 2017. Cannon said businesses and schools are receiving grants for violence prevention training and that local legislators should follow up to see how the funds are being used. "We need to talk about the people of color in Mattapan, Roxbury and Dorchester who face this (violence) every day," said Cannon, who was one of 100 people at a Boston-area meeting in Roxbury. Student organizer Jack Torres of Somerville High School agreed that people of color need to take the forefront in steering gun control discussions. "We need elected officials to listen to their constituents_not just one group_but a diverse group of constituents," the 15-year-old said. He and other students called for the passage of a Massachusetts bill that would prevent firearm access to dangerous or suicidal people through a one-year protection order obtained in court. Recent student activism in Massachusetts and around the country was catalyzed by survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida who have spoken openly against gun violence.
BOSTON — Students and parents in Massachusetts inspired by gun violence survivors in Parkland, Florida, held town hall meetings across the state on Saturday to discuss firearm policy with legislators.
The five meetings were part of 120 "Town Halls for Our Lives" held across the U.S..
The local events were organized by creators of the recent March for Our Lives in Boston and the group Stop Handgun Violence. Democratic U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark and Jim McGovern were among the officials who participated.
Student organizer Charlotte Lowell, of Andover High School, said that although she is not old enough to vote, she is wants to create "the change our classrooms and communities deserve." She helped organize a 30-member town hall in Lowell.
For some parents, the fight to get guns off the streets is deeply personal. Monica Cannon-Grant, 37, is the mother of five children, including two sons, ages 19 and 20.
She said she and one of her sons were threatened by a shooter in 2015 as they were getting out a car near their home in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. The man's gun jammed and they escaped, she said.
Cannon said there is a constant flow of illegal guns in her community and that residents are "moving targets." She said although gun fatalities have declined in some neighborhoods, they haven't dropped in hers.
Boston police department data shows there was an increase of victims of fatal shootings in the city from 158 to 186 people in 2017.
Cannon said businesses and schools are receiving grants for violence prevention training and that local legislators should follow up to see how the funds are being used.
"We need to talk about the people of color in Mattapan, Roxbury and Dorchester who face this (violence) every day," said Cannon, who was one of 100 people at a Boston-area meeting in Roxbury.
Student organizer Jack Torres of Somerville High School agreed that people of color need to take the forefront in steering gun control discussions. "We need elected officials to listen to their constituents_not just one group_but a diverse group of constituents," the 15-year-old said.
He and other students called for the passage of a Massachusetts bill that would prevent firearm access to dangerous or suicidal people through a one-year protection order obtained in court.
Recent student activism in Massachusetts and around the country was catalyzed by survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida who have spoken openly against gun violence.
