Gun Violence-The Culture of Fear

This 3rd Annual forum will again bring together individuals and groups concerned with the growing spread of gun violence. Participants will come away with new information and strategies for moving our culture to more responsible and sensible gun policies and practices.

This year, for the first time, the Forum will feature a keynote speaker of national prominence, Leonard Pitts, Jr., winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and a powerful advocate for common sense gun regulation. His syndicated column appears in the Kansas City Star each Tuesday.

There are three opportunities for participation.

• $25 includes one ticket to the Forum, including lunch
• $100 includes two tickets to the Forum, including lunch, and listing in the Forum program as a sponsor
• $250 includes continental breakfast with Mr. Pitts before the forum, a signed copy of his 2015 novel Grant Park, plus two tickets to the Forum, including lunch, and listing in the Forum program as a sponsor

Heartland Coalition is a program of Grandparents Against Gun Violence, a 501 c 3 organization. Sponsorships of $100 or $250 are tax deductible, MINUS the $50 value for goods and seervices received. Federal EIN 47- 4529133

Your sponsorship will enable us to provide scholarships for people who otherwise could not attend and thus expand our educational outreach in the community to find meaningful ways to end gun violence.* see below

PROGRAM:

8:00-8:45 - Registration and Coffee

9:00-9:15 - Welcome and Recognition of Elected Officials

9:15-10:00 - Keynote Speaker, Leonard Pitts, Jr.

10:15-11:30 - Planned Conversations

* Vignette from Gunplay-recently presented at Fishtank Theater

* The Role of Faith in Addressing Gun Violence, Reverend Adam Hamilton, Church of the Resurrection

* Culture change - Examples of previous culture change successes: e.g., MADD, seat belts, marriage equality, and what is the way forward now? Micah Kubic, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas

Each panelist will speak for no more than 10 minutes on their subject. Since this segment is called Conversations, we would like as much input from the audience as possible. To that end, index cards will be available on every table so people can write their questions. Nick Haines, from KCPT, will review and address the questions to the appropriate panelist.

11:30-12:15 - Lunch

12:30-3:15 - Breakout Sessions

There will be three and you will be able to attend all three.

• Risk assessment - particularly re: domestic abusers and suicide, Donald Lang, PhD
• Second Amendment - a basic overview of what this means particularly addressing everyone's right to own a gun: gun rights advocates have the right to own a gun and gun regulation advocates have a right to feel safe and enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Professor Allen Rostron
  
• The Power of Words - including facts and myths, also words we use in everyday life referencing guns, Barbara Shelly

3:25-3:45-Closing Session

This will cover success stories from other states. The speakers will each discuss and identify the many things that each of us can do as individuals, Barbara Bollier, Representative from Kansas and Judy Morgan, Representative from Missouri

Registration for the day is limited so please register now!

Please note: Per the policies of the Kauffman Conference Center, we can not accept any form of payment on the day of the event. Please pay in advance by credit card online or indicate in your registration that you will mail a check to: Grandparents Aainst Gun Violence PO Box 11193, Overland Park, KS 66207

In addition, per Kauffman Conference Center policies, we can not allow any outside food or drink to be brought into the building. ( That includes bottled water, coffee, snacks. All are available in the Conference Center.)

*Scholarships are available. To be considered for a scholarship to attend please contact us at heartlandcoalitionevent@gmail.com.