In light of the gun control debate going on across the country today, the College Republicans hosted a debate on the topic at 7 p.m. in Willard Building last night.
The College Republicans and College Democrats each chose two debaters to participate, who were moderated by Pi Sigma Alpha Vice President Ilsa Snyder and Pi Sigma Alpha President Anthony Christina.
“Gun control is a topic that clearly both sides have pretty solid views on,” Christina (senior-history and political science) said.
Moreover, California Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced new legislation on gun control to the Senate, Christina said.
Jake Simon and Nadia Lehtihet were chosen as the candidates for the College Democrats while John Wortman and Ethan Wolfinger were chosen to represent the College Republicans.
The debate revolved around the meaning of the Second Amendment today, what limits should be imposed and the bill proposed by Sen. Feinstein.
“This was my first real debate,” Lehtihet (sophomore-biochemistry) said. “I always appreciate an opportunity to come out to and speak with the opposition party. I think it’s a great exercise.”
After the official questions were posed and discussed, the floor was open to attendees for questions.
“I thought it was interesting because Republicans outnumbered Democrats in terms of the audience,” attendee Brendan St. Thomas said. “I think the Democratic representatives did a good job answering questions that were a little hostile.”
St. Thomas (freshman-petroleum engineering) said he enjoyed coming and thought the College Democrats and Republicans should host more events like this one.
Simon (senior-philosophy and political science) said he was glad to hear that most Republicans agree with universal background checks and improving the mental health system as well as the principle of limiting what kinds of guns people should have.
“It was nice to have a conversation with the Democrats,” Wortman (freshman-secondary education social studies) said. “We found areas where we agree and disagree.”
It illustrated the national opinion on the topic, Wortman said, in that there are a lot of people who agree on modest gun reforms that protect the rights of law abiding citizens.
“It was fun [to moderate],” Snyder (senior-international politics) said. “I wanted to be open minded. It was really about the candidates and the issue.”
