Misunderstandings of gun meeting

The League of Voters of Wheaton North High School working in partnership with the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Leagues of Women Voters of Wheaton, Naperville and Glen Ellyn sponsored an April 21 Gun Violence Prevention event.

The purpose of the program was to provide an educational and action opportunity for high school students interested in being involved in this issue. The intention of this effort was to discuss the options available to work toward prevention of gun violence and how to effectuate change by passing common sense gun legislation.

Although the local League organizations frequently sponsor candidate forums when all candidates appear or all sides of an issue may be discussed, the April 21 event was an advocacy program dedicated to advancing the position the League supports relating to prevention of gun violence and why some gun control regulations need to be enacted.

This was a program to discuss how those attending and wishing to participate could get involved. It was not billed as, nor was it meant to be, a public forum debating the subject of the need for gun control or an attempt to ignore the Second Amendment.

All of the participants regret the unsatisfactory turn of events and any misunderstanding of the reasons the program was held. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization that neither endorses candidates nor political parties.

The League does, however, intensely study all sides of issues and then adopts a position. Only then does the League advocate for legislation and other action to work for legislation representing that position.

Although this has led to a great deal of controversy and discontent, we are hopeful that such discussion and attention to this serious issue will ultimately work for the good of all.

Michelle Jordan

Illinois counsel,

Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence