The massacre that took the lives of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida is also reopening a national debate about gun violence and gun control. But what should be the focus of that debate and is there any common ground?
Cheektowaga Police Chief David Zack is a board member for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Zack said during meetings last week in San Diego, the association agreed to begin conversations with the National Rifle Association (NRA) to see if common ground can be found on some issues like background checks and suppressors.
Zack said he believes extremists on both ends of the gun issue have kept meaningful discussions from taking place. The Chief also expressed concerns that if some progress is not made, there will be more terrible shootings in the future.
7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly also sat down today with Paul McQuillen from New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and Dave DiTullio who operates a firearms training and security firm called Defensor, Inc. on Grand Island. The two men agree that mass shootings are a grave concern. While they have different opinions on whether teachers should be armed, they both agree that more research is needed into the causes of mass shootings and prevention
Their full conversation is posted on our WKBW Facebook page.
Ed Reilly has more in his reports.
