10 conversations

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Co n v er sati o n s o n :

Victor Ramos // GR600 // Vol. 1

Do guns kill people or do people kill people?

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Pl anning Guide

C o n v e r s at i o n s

T o p ic O ver v ie w Victor Ramos // GR600 // Vol. 1

The issue at hand is the r ight to bear arms.

Within this f ramework, however, lay deeper questions about gun control, gun v iolence, and a hotbed of other debates. I’ve become i nterested i n t his topic mai nly due to my u n f a m i l i a r it y w it h t he s u bje c t m at te r.

A lt hough I come f rom a c ult u re r ic h i n gun histor y, my ex posure to f i rear ms has been somewhat l i m ited. I feel t h i s topic w a r ra nt s debate a nd i nves t igat ion for a number of reasons, but pr imar ily because of it s di rec t connec t ion we all have w it h guns. It ’s a n unfor t unate real it y t hat i n our current culture, we could be exposed to a gun at any given moment—i n t he hands of a per petrator or pol ice. Gun control is a controversial topic that is surely not div ing under the surface of our national at tention any time soon. Therefore I feel it war rants a d iscussion f rom va r ious poi nt s of v iew.

“God may have made men, but Samuel Colt made them equal.”

I N T H I S I S SU E Overview

Reasons why

Questions

Topics to keep it flowing

Participants

Russ Hosking

Tom Boyer

Kristin Agnarsdottir

Kevin Albrecht

Rani Goel

Scott Cronin

Mike Bell

Sandra Ledger

Dave Parks

Michaela Cwieka

Timeline

Rundown of events

Detailed Sources

Just in case the shit hits the fan

Documentation

Proof that it really happened

Ques tion s 1.

Who should decide who can carr y a gun?

2.

Do more guns equal more violence?

3.

What are the economic outcomes of the gun issue? Who benef its the most?

4.

Is the media creating more gun violence?

5.

What role does fear play into the gun debate?

6.

Is the gun debate really a question of power and control?

7.

Can there really be a solution to the debate?

8.

Why should we not just completely ban guns?

9.

Why do people hold on to gun rights and the 2 nd Amendment so strongly?

10. What role does gender play in the gun debate?

11. Does politics help or hurt the issue?

12. Do you feel that the possession of weapons makes people feel more American?

13. If guns were outlawed, would that be giving more power to criminals?

14. Who is mainly responsible for the gun-violence and crime?

15. Is the issue a problem with guns or criminals?

16. Does the media inf luence gun violence?

17. Who do you feel owns more guns, men or women? Why? 18. What aspects of the gun debate can both sides agree on?

19. Who is responsible for your protection?

20. Is gun ownership an extension of masculinity?

“If they stop talking AT the conversation, I’ll shoot ‘em with this here pistol.”

“ What if I throw this part y and nobody shows up? naw, I’ll make them show up... ”

Participants

Russ Hosk i ng Independent f ilmmaker/producer, early 40’s Russ brings an open mind and seasonal perspective about guns and gun control. His v iews fall in-line in the middle and will generate rich dialogue f rom both sides of the issue.

From his exper ience as a Mormon missionar y in Montana, where ever yone has guns, he learned to evaluate passionate beliefs about religion while maintaining a constr uctive conversation w ith strangers.

Tom Boy er Firearms Instructor, late 40’s As a homosexual man, Tom has experienced a great deal of prejudice and v ictimization in his life. To protect himself and those around him he became interested in f irear ms and the civ ilian r ights. He is now a spokesperson for the “P ink Pistols” organizat ion, compr ised of LGBT cit izens who suppor t gun ownership. He is also a cer tif ied f irearms instructor. His alternative perspectives should help give the conversation an interesting angle.

“I think the whole gun issue is very complic ated, it’s like with booze, prostitution or abortion.”

- Russ

K ris tin Ag n a rs d o tt ir Graduate Student, early 30’s K r ist i n is a t ransplant f rom Iceland w it h st rong v iews on A mer ican culture and politics. She of fers not only a female perspec t ive, but a worldly v iew of t he gun i ssue­­, hav i ng studied in Europe and traveled extensively.

K e v in Alb re c h t Sof tware Programmer, late 20’s Kev i n has a histor y of grow i ng up w it h guns. At a young age, his step-f at her would take him to t he shoot ing range to pr ac t ice. Now, he f i nd s h i m sel f mos t ly i nd i f f e re nt about guns, but leans towards gun control. He is a gun ow ner, t hough he hasn’t touched his gun i n at least 8 years. His perspective, along w ith his exper iences and keen insights, help balance t he conversat ion f rom bot h sides, given t hat Kev in applies cr itical thought and analysis in his v iews.

“Hey Kristin, someone wants to bring a real gun, do you mind if he brings it?”

“I have no problem.

They sc are the shit out of me, but I think it will be interesting to have it there, bring out feelings in people by holding it.”

-Kr istin

Ra n i G o e l Graphic Designer, mid 30’s Rani is a person who wishes no harm upon anyone. She feels her political and legal knowledge of gun control is limited, yet f undamentally she doesn’t want to be around guns and w ishes they didn’t exist- they are too eas y to end a l ife w it h t hem.

T h i s v iew counters t he pro-gu n v iew and helps to add balance.

S c o tt C r o n i n Usabilit y Designer, mid 30’s Scot t has a ver y liberal stance on most things. He is easy going but can w ield a st rong, well t hought out a nd i n s ight f ul opi n ion on mat ters. He i s able to l i s ten to many opposing v iews and remain open-m i nded. For t h is topic, he f all s i n t he m iddle, feel i ng t hat t he i s s ue w a r r a nt s d i sc u s s ion but i s l it te red w it h e mot ion al b a gga ge t h a t of t e n m a k e s i t d i f f ic ult to a r r i v e at se n s i ble solutions. He holds a BA degree in Psychology (and a Master’s in HCI) which might prove f ruitf ul.

“I don’t want to be around guns and I wish that they didn’t ex ist. It’s too eas y to end someone’s life wit h that kind of weapon.”

- R ani

A n d r e w Va n D o r e n Music Industr y, early 30’s Andrew has strong opinions about many i ssues. He ca s t s h i s opi n ions f rom a thorough investigation and analysis on the subject. He is not one to simply say “what he feel s” rat her he says what he knows. His stance falls closer to calling for a total ban of guns, except for hunting rif les. He can of ten generate interesting parallels bet ween topics of ten w ith w it and humor. I am hoping this can occur in the conversation.

D a v e Pa r k s Graphics Programmer, mid 20’s Dave works at Linden Labs programming gr aph ic f or Second L i f e, i s m a r r ied a nd recently joi ned t he P i n k P i s tol s Organization. He became interested in 2nd A mendment issues af ter sta r t i ng police reser ve training. His knowledge on t he pro-gun law s w ill be a n asset, along w ith his exper tise on gun issues and cur rent technologies.

M ich a el a C w iek a Energy A nalyst, mid 30’s Michaela doesn’t have a st rong regard for guns in any sense. She has grow n up around guns, but never really embraced or accepted t hem. Her f at her w a s a gover nment worker who car r ies a gun as par t of his dut y and as such taught her gun safet y and gun usage. She does not ow n a gun nor t h i nk s she w ill do so a ny t i me soon. She is open m i nded and excited to par t icipate in a diverse conversation to learn var ied v iews.

“...If the world was somehow void of guns, then we’d be talking about knives instead..”

-Mike

M ik e Bel l Graduate Student, mid 20’s M i ke br i ngs a d iverse perspec t ive to t he d i scussion. He feel s t hat i nd iv idual s should have t he r ight to ow n guns, howe ver, i f t he y were ba n ned, t hen si m il a r r ules would apply to alcohol, a nd people w ill alw ay s f i nd a w ay to get bot h. Plus, i f t he world w as somehow void of guns, t hen t he conversat ion would surely shif t towards k nives instead.

Gu ns a re l i ke med ic i ne...some t i mes you jus t got t a do what you have to do i n order to solve the bigger problem.

Sa n d r a L e dg e r Graduate Student, mid 20’s Sandra brings an extremely thoughtf ul and analy tical perspective to the conversation. Having been taught to shoot at a young age, she understands the mechanics and power of a f irearm and the power exper ienced by the indiv idual behind the tr igger. Yet, she f inds herself also in the middle in regards to gun control.

T i me l i n e 1:00 Guests arrive, serve snacks and drinks 1:15 Begin facilitating conversation, Introduction to Topic 1:20-2:20 Open conversation 2:20-2:30 Conversation ends, Begin de-brief of conversation 2:30-2:45 Gun Safety Demonstration 2:45-3:00 Mix and mingle/photo headshots 3:00 Finished

D e ta i l e d S o urces San Francisco Police Depar tment: 415-553-0123 Emergenc y: 911 San Francisco Fire Depar tment: 415-558-3200 Building Manager: 415-568-5685 Poison Control Center: 415-821-5265

D o cumentation There w ill be v ideography, still photography and voice recording to capture the intr icacies of this open forum discussion. The st yle and approach of the documentation is intended to be intrusive. Techniques for shooting in this manner include camera setup at a distance, no use of extensive lighting packages or f lash photography. Aesthetically this w ill appear as hav ing a raw and unscr ipted feel to it.

Extra Hello folks, we are set for Saturday.

A long w it h br i ng i ng y ou r idea s a nd v iew poi nt s on gun cont rol, I w ould g reat ly appre c i ate i f y ou could al so br i ng i n t hese item s: 1. Illustration, photograph, sketch or magazine cutout of a gun image t hat you feel bes t desc r ibes you r personalit y. In a sense, if you were a g u n w h ic h one w ould y ou be?

2. A quick log of gun related issues you encountered dur ing t he week, a nd up to t he conversat ion i f at all possible. Please note: t h is ca n be a handw r it ten note l i ke “today (Monday) I saw a policeman wearing a gun on market st.� to somet hi ng longer. Did you see a mov ie, T V show, news repor t or inter net ar ticle that dealt w it h guns? You can email me t he log i f you l i ke or jot it dow n on pape r a nd br i ng it w it h y ou.

Bon us: I f y ou ow n a gu n now or i n t he past, br ing in any pictures of you: holdi ng or shoot i ng a gun(s) or of any guns you might ow n.

“Hey what’s all the fuss about anyway?

They’re just stupid pieces of metal aren’t they. ”

Victor Ramos // 2008