Town hall at UNC allows lawmakers to ask students about school safety
April 22, 2018
Ever since the recent Florida school shooting, students across the country have been asking lawmakers tough questions. On Sunday, the tables were turned — lawmakers were the ones questioning a panel of students. Students with the UNC Institute of Politics hosted a “reverse town hall” on gun violence.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) – Ever since the recent Florida school shooting, students across the country have been asking lawmakers tough questions.
On Sunday, the tables were turned — lawmakers were the ones questioning a panel of students.
Students with the UNC Institute of Politics hosted a “reverse town hall” on gun violence.
“These students don’t feel safe in their schools and I think they want the General Assembly to take action and my sense is they’re going to be very committed to this issue until we pass common sense gun reform,” said Democratic State Senator Jay Chaudhuri.
Two Republican and two Democratic legislators questioned a panel of high school and college students.
“So often we get told ‘you’re just kids you don’t know anything about guns, you’re barely voting age’ and I think we’re always silenced,” said Kari Degraffenreid, a senior at Raleigh Charter High School.
The group discussed everything from security officers to security cameras to whether or not guns should be allowed on campus.
Out of the 16 students, only two believed people should be allowed to carry guns on high school and college campuses. Allan Kat was one of them.
“Just because an opinion is commonly held doesn’t mean it’s right,” said UNC Senior Allan Kat. “I think one of the biggest things is we’re in the minority. North Carolina is one of 17 out of 50 states that prohibit any carry of firearms on a college campus.”
Students say they hope events like this one will light a fire under lawmakers.
“I hope they understand this isn’t just some buzz word issue in the media right now that this is something that has been affecting the people for a long time and that they need to be part of the change now,” said Green Hope High School sophomore, Raina Lee.
Republican representative John Torbett agrees that something does need to change.
“They look to us to provide their safety and security and I think this last round enough is enough and so that’s when I said ‘let’s do something about North Carolina and work as hard as we can to try to solve this issue once and for all’,” Torbett said.
Students and lawmakers both say they believe progress was made. Students with the UNC Institute of Politics say they plan on hosting more town hall events in the fall.
Town hall at UNC allows lawmakers to ask students about school safety
The group discussed everything from security officers to security cameras to whether or not guns should be allowed on campus.
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