By Mary Hoang
Daily Bruin Contributor
Gun control and violence are two issues of concern in the
upcoming election, and MTV sought to address them in town hall
meeting and film screening Thursday night in the Ackerman Grand
Ballroom.
More than 100 people attended the premiere screening of
“The Gun Fight,” the latest of the station’s
“Choose or Lose” segments centered around the November
elections.
A panel discussion following the screening included a reporter
for Time Magazine, a UCLA graduate student who is also a member of
the National Rifle Association and a victim of a gun injury.
“We hope to advocate action so the youth are prompted to
speak to their legislators to voice their opinions on matters that
they are concerned with,” said panel member Erica Terry of
MTV’s “Choose or Lose” Street Team.
In response to the upcoming election, MTV has set out a campaign
to promote youth involvement through the “Choose or
Lose” segments, promoting awareness on issues affecting its
18 to 24-year-old audience, according to Stephen Friedman,
MTV’s vice president of public affairs.
The “Choose or Lose” Street Team is a group of six
20-somethings who venture the nation to do in-depth reporting on
political issues and bring them to light for their audience,
Friedman added.
The moderator of the event was correspondent Chris Connelly. He
said his job was to create as much conflict as possible, and to
stimulate debate.
Connelly also mentioned that MTV is not promoting one side of
the issue ““ it is urging people to get out to vote and take
action.
“Our mission is to educate and empower the young to engage
in important social issues,” Friedman said “We are
hoping that this conversation leads to action.”
The panel members represented two distinct views on guns and
violence. MacLane Key, a computer science graduate student and
member of the NRA, held the minority opinion, arguing against gun
control.
The other four speakers disagreed with Key, who provoked the
most debate on the panel.
Key noted many statistics and examples of gun control, or lack
thereof, in foreign countries. He said if laws were to be modeled
after Israel ““ where teachers are armed in schools ““
there will be less violence.
Karin Sung, a first-year biology student who attended the event,
said Key succeeded in trying to get his point across, but she and
most of the audience found these points hard to swallow.
Sung stood up in the audience to argue with Key, asking how
increasing the number of guns on the street would reduce gun
violence.
“There would be a dramatic drop in gun violence if you
liberalize gun-carrying laws,” Key said. “It would
enable everyone to be protected.”
But, the base of the problem should be targeted, said Leila
Attari, a third-year business economics student.
“The root of the need for guns comes from teen
insecurities and their irrationality,” she said. “Teens
want quick solutions and guns seem to be that solution. Kids should
be educated about guns.”
She also said she wished students on campus were more vocal and
politically active, like they were a few years ago
Panelist Gilbert Salinas was someone who knew first-hand the
negative effects of guns. A few years ago he injured himself with a
gun and he is now disabled.
“Guns need to be kept out of the hands of kids and no one
would worry about getting shot,” he said.
Salinas said he is an advocate of tougher gun legislation and
the possible elimination of guns to prevent accidents like his and
possibly worse.
An organization called Seeking Harmony In Neighborhoods Everyday
was responsible for finding the location and publicizing the
event.
SHINE is a pro-social youth services organization that uses
outlets such as music, art and technology to engage and empower
young people to take a stand, use their voice and impact their
world, according to their Web site.
The “Choose or Lose” segment is scheduled to air on
Monday night at 10:30. MTV News will also be airing segments from
the event, which will include student interviews.
“What matters is that people across all spectrums are made
aware of the issues. This is an effort to reach out to the young to
educate them,” said panelist Tamala Edwards, Time staff
writer in politics.