More than 58,000 Americans died in the Vietnam War — about the same number killed by firearms in the United States every two years.
More than 4,400 Americans died in the first seven years of the Iraq War — about the same number killed with guns in the United States every seven weeks.
Few Americans question that the nation has a gun violence problem. What they do question is why and what can be done about it. Those answers will be the focus of a two-hour interactive public conversation on gun violence in America at 7 p.m. March 5, at the Nebraska Union Auditorium.
“Point Blank: A Conversation about Gun Violence” will feature seven panelists, each representing a different perspective. They will discuss what they see as both the problems and potential solutions to gun violence in America. Susan Poser, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Law, will serve as moderator. Panelists include: Andy Allen, Nebraska Firearms Owners Association lobbyist; Eric Berger, UNL constitutional law professor; Mark Christensen, Nebraska state senator; Steve Joel, Lincoln Public Schools superintendent; Mario Scalora, UNL psychology professor and an expert in threat assessment; Todd Schmaderer, Omaha police chief; and Susan Swearer, UNL psychology professor and co-director of the Bullying Research Network.
The event is free and open to the public. It also will be televised on TimeWarner cable Channel 21; broadcast on Radio KRNU, 90.3 FM; and live-streamed at http://NewsNetNebraska.org. Interested individuals can follow the discussion on Twitter at #unlpointblank and find details on Facebook at http://facebook.com/unlpointblank.
University policy prohibits the possession of firearms, ammunition or other dangerous weapons on campus.