Guns in America: the debate
Missed our debate on Guns in America? Find out if it was a Hangout or a shootout – watch it here.
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Barack Obama laid down the gauntlet on guns.
He wants the Newtown school shootings to be a tipping point for America’s relationship with guns, and is pushing for sweeping controls including bans on high capacity magazines and assault weapons.
“The countless other communities ripped open by gun violence – they deserve a simple vote,” he told Congress.
But the key question now is whether he will win that vote – and if the country is behind him.
As part of the Channel 4 News special report, Guns in America, our Washington Correspondent Matt Frei hosted an online debate via Google+ Hangouts with panellists from both sides of the argument on guns.
The countless other communities ripped open by gun violence – they deserve a simple vote. President Barack Obama
He was joined by Larry Ward, the founder of Gun Appreciation Day; Rick Ector, a gun safety instructor in Detroit; Shaun Dakin, social media organiser of the March on Washington for Gun Control, and Shira Goodman, director of advocacy group CeaseFirePA.
Will Sandy Hook prove to be a tipping point? Is Obama’s approach the right one to end America’s gun violence epidemic – or is the answer, as the National Rifle Association suggests, more good guys with guns to stop the bad guys with guns?
Watch the debate again here on our website, on our Google+ page, or on our YouTube channel.
Tweet us your comments and questions @channel4news using the hashtag #gunsinamerica or post comments on Google+.
