Dozens of people gathered at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Tampa Sunday to view the Newtown documentary about the aftermath of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

  • Tampa church hosted open discussion on gun violence Sunday
  • Participants watched Newtown, a documentary on the 2012 shooting

The purpose was to have a conversation not just about gun violence, but its impact on communities.

"Any education we can do helps people keep this in the forefront of their minds," said Joan Lund, a member of the church who helped facilitate the conversation. "And maybe they say, 'Yes, maybe I should do something about this'. And prevention is so much better than treatment afterwards."

Organizers for Action also helped facilitate the discussion, along with the League of Women Voters. The idea was to talk about gun violence as a public health issue. Dr. Marc Levy, one of the panelists who answered questions, is a pediatric surgeon in Orlando who responded to the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

"It was a little after 2 a.m. and I called the trauma surgeon on call and asked if I could be of any help," said Dr. Levy, "and went in to help out and take care of patients injured in the Pulse shooting."

Understandbly, that tragic night changed Levy. Now he seeks out opportunities to engage in conversation and awareness about the impact of gun violence.

"I've always been a little bit active about gun violence," said Dr. Levy. "But it made me more active and made me want to get more involved."

Others who came out, like Ron Stokes, believe that there is only one way to stop gun violence.

"I don't think it can be stopped," said Stokes, a retired Philadelphia police officer. "You're not going to talk people out of it. You're not going to legislate people out of it."

The League of Women Voters moderated the discussion. The group is in favor of the Second Amendment but hopes to inspire support for what they call common sense gun laws.

"Expansion of background checks, banning assault weapons, and trigger locks so children don't get access to guns are overwhelmingly favored by people who oppose gun ownership and by NRA folks and gun owners as well and so that's what we're really seeking," said Julie Kessel, president of the St. Pete League of Women Voters.

The event is part of a grass roots effort to discuss all perspectives and offer the tools to take action if those participating feel so inclined.