Annual Community Forum

Making Real Change Happen: Vote, Vote, VOTE!

(Click here to listen to the Forum. Presentation begins at minute 11)

The singular message to the 280 people attending the 11^th annual Community Forum on gun safety was simple: vote.

“Unless we elect the right people to keep doing the things that are working, it all comes to a halt,” said Fred Guttenberg, the Forum’s keynote speaker at Rockhurst University.“(By voting), we have the power to continue fighting to protect the people we love.”

One of those loved was Guttenberg’s 14-year-old daughter Jaime. She was among the 17 people killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Since then, Guttenberg has worked tirelessly for gun reform. “I am Jaime’s voice,” he said.

He pointed to real progress stemming from the 2022 passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first federal gun legislation enacted in nearly 30 years, and creation the following year of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

Guttenberg and Jason Kander, former Missouri Secretary of State who also spoke at the Forum, agreed on the urgent need to repeal the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Passed in 2005, PLCAA gives gun manufacturers broad immunity from being sued for the damages their products wreak. “We’re all getting screwed by the gun companies that just want to make as much money as possible,” Kander said.

One example cited by Guttenberg: in 1994, the number of AR-15 assault rifles sold in the U.S. was 400,000. This year: 20 million.

In addition to the proliferation of and easy access to guns, “a culture of poverty” plays a role in gun violence, according to Kyle Hollins, who joined Guttenberg and Kander in a panel discussion. Hollins founded the local nonprofit Lyrik’s Institution that works to steer at-risk young people away from violence.

The Forum on October 14 also included recognition of Grandparents’ Advocates of the Year: Kansas State Representative Linda Featherston and Community Christian Church of Kansas City, MO.

Annual Community Forum Highlights

Past Annual Community Forum Overviews

2023 — Gun Safety: Generations Standing Together

If you were among the 250 Forum attendees on October 9, you experienced first-hand the enthusiasm of the crowd, especially the young people who attended, as guests and as speakers. The standing ovation given to 34-year-old keynoter Brandon Wolf, who survived the 2016 Pulse Nightclub mass shooting, made clear we’re all in this together.

2022 — ADVOCACY: The time is NOW!

With the public at a tipping point in its concern about gun violence, the Forum focused on ways to successfully advocate for change. Keynote speaker was Connecticut attorney Josh Koskoff who won a landmark $73 million settlement from Remington for nine Sandy Hook families who sued the manufacturer of the AK-15 assault rifle used in the mass shooting.

The link to this Forum is here
Passcode: K0Z!U2=k

2021 — Gun Violence. Strategies to Curb This Public Health Epidemic

Our second virtual Forum featured keynote speaker Megan Ranney, MD, MPH, a nationally recognized epidemiologist and advocate for gun violence prevention. She was joined by local community leaders explaining their strategies to improve homelessness, unemployment, early childhood education and living environments. Over 185 people attended via Zoom.

The link to this Forum is here
Passcode: FZiE20D$

2020 — Gun Violence. Going Beyond Thoughts and Prayers

Our first ever virtual Forum featured leaders in the Faith, Business and Government communities sharing their current actions and plans for the future. More than 225 people attended this Zoom webinar.

The link to this Forum is here
Passcode: AXdY0jm?

2019 — Gun Violence. Insights From Both Ends of the Gun

The Forum featured keynote speakers Azim Khamisa and Ples Felix and was attended by more than 280 people.

2018 — Gun Violence. Changing the Conversation

The Forum was attended by 250 participants and featured keynote speaker Candace Lightner, founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

2017 — Gun Violence. Keeping Our Children Safe

The Forum was attended by over 200 participants and featured keynote speaker is Nicole Hockley, mother of Dylan Hockley, who was killed at Sandy Hook.

2016 — Gun Violence. The Culture of Fear

For the first time, the Forum featured a nationally known keynote speaker: Leonard Pitts, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist syndicated in newspapers across the country including the Kansas City Star. The Forum was attended by more than 190 people.

2015 — Gun Violence. A public health issue

Rex Archer, M.D., Director of the Kansas City Department of Health was the keynote speaker. He was one of the earliest proponents of referring to gun violence as a public health issue. The Forum was attended by 165+ people.

2014 — Gun Violence. We need to understand it

Missouri State Representative, Stacey Newman, of St. Louis and Kansas City Mayor Sly James spoke. Both viewed this as a crucial step to address gun violence before many others understood its importance. This first Forum was attended by 140 people.

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