Currently, few things have taken the spotlight in news and media like the discussion of ethics pertaining to gun violence.  Sophomore Kenzie Kluksdal and Junior Claire Whitman are doing a presentation on the topic of gun violence in America and what we as a nation we can do to limit it. The topic has gained a lot of momentum in recent months with multiple gun related tragedies occurring in the US.

The opened fire in Orlando, the Sandy Hook school shooting, the Las Vegas Shooting, and most recently the Parkland school shooting all have brought this issue to center stage. The debate on gun reform has proven itself a heated one and the two girls are ready to share their opinions on the issue.  

They feel as though the relevance of their topic in current events shows the need for changes in the way we handle gun sales in the US. Their presentation is closely related to the extensive research they conducted for AP Capstone and they feel prepared to share their ideas on potential deterrents of gun violences, focusing on universal background checks.

Their presentation first addresses the severity of gun violence in the US and then goes on to express their ideas on UBC’s critical role in eliminating gun related crime. “We talk about how we can prevent or lessen the amount of gun violence in the United States through universal background checks. We explain how effective they are and give examples of mass shootings that could have potentially been prevented with them. Basically, why they will help, and why we need to focus on promoting this more,” said Kluksdal.

Kluksdal and Whitman are both extremely passionate on their prospective topic and are looking forward to expressing that to spectators come presentation day. Whitman explains, “There are many things I hope people take away from this presentation. First, I hope that everyone understands that gun violence is not a problem just for politicians, it involves the determination of all of us. Second, I hope that we can all realize that gun violence is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue, but instead involves the implementation of logical and practical solutions through legislative practices. And lastly, I hope that everyone feels a sense of responsibility and obligation to create positive change.”