No peace at 'sensible gun laws' forum in Wheaton

Karl Lykken was simply trying to earn some extra credit for his government class when he attended a Tuesday night forum in Wheaton about gun violence.

What he and some of his Wheaton North High School classmates got was a firsthand view about how passionate people can get over the issue of gun control.

The event, which was sponsored by several League of Women Voters chapters and the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, was organized to educate area high school students about "sensible gun laws."

But the crowd of more than 170 people that packed Wheaton city hall was dominated by gun rights advocates who voiced their displeasure over what they called the "one-sided nature" of the event.

"They sprinkle the thing with untruths and innuendo, and we're not too happy about that," said Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association. "We are about trying to set the record straight."

Before the event, forum moderator Michelle Jordan said she was expecting "hecklers of the highest order." She later said the evening proved her right.

Jordan, who is state counsel for the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, was repeatedly interrupted by audience members who laughed and stood up to challenge the statistics she was quoting.

Even a Chicago man who survived the Virginia Tech massacre had his presentation disrupted by a heckler while he was recounting the campus shooting spree from two years ago.

Garrett Evans, who has recovered from being shot in the legs, pressed on to tell the crowd that tougher gun laws are needed. "I don't care what we have to do," he said. "But there's more and more people who shouldn't have guns."

Jordan said that's why gun control groups are pushing for state legislation that would require background checks for purchases or transfers of all firearms. She said the proposal would close the "private sale loophole."

But Pearson argues that federal background checks already are required for anyone who wants to get a firearm owner's identification card. The legislation gun control groups support will only make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain firearms, he added.

"If you look at these incidents that happen, none of them are done by legal gun owners," he said.

No one in the pro-gun crowd was allowed to speak during Tuesday's event. Wheaton resident Dave Liddy said he believes that's why there was so much discord. "To get shot down before it got started," he said, "it's hard to blame some of their responses."

Jordan said organizers were under no obligation to present the other side of the debate. "They can put together their own forum if they want to have their position heard," she said.

Several audience members said that's exactly what they plan to do.

Peace: Some intend to present other side at their own forum