Gun ownership discussed in Austin forum

AUSITN (KXAN) - A forum on Sunday tackled a heated issue that has Americans energized and Austinites debating a constitutional amendment.

The debate on gun control has passionate supporters on both sides of the aisle. And Austinites had a chance to voice their opinions about the topic this weekend at a community forum.

The group MoveOn.org held the discussion at the AFL-CIO headquarters on Lavaca in downtown Austin Sunday.

Among the topics discussed, a “common sense” approach to firearm regulations to; as the group describes it, “promote the general public safety.”

The panel discussion was made up of members from groups like the NAACP, Students for Gun Free Schools, the Brady Campaign and the NRA.

The Saxet gun show at the Travis County Expo Center is also sparking a lot of debate as well. Saturday would-be gun owners lined the Expo grounds waiting for hours to purchase weapons and ammo which have been in short supply as the debate on gun control legislation grows.

Members from the community say they are hoping this forum will give them a chance to have their voices heard.

"I have attended these in the past and I will continue to do so in the future. I don’t know how much it will help but if I stay at home then I have no say so whatsoever," said Austin resident Charles Maple.

Some of the topics that came up in that meeting were universal background checks as well as guns in schools.

Saturday’s forum in Austin is part of a nationwide campaign by MoveOn.org to discuss the issue of responsible gun ownership aimed at curbing gun violence in communities and schools.