San Antonio councilman announces forums on mass shootings

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA  News) – Following the weekend tragedies in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio last weekend, a San Antonio City Councilman is launching a series of Town Halls concerning mass shootings.

The first one is scheduled next week featuring three panelists, including Rabbi Mara Nathan who will talk about faith and “give us a perspective on something that doesn’t get as much attention as it should,” said Pelaez. They’ve also invited a mental health expert.

“The other one is going to be an expert on political rhetoric and the role of political rhetoric in violence,” he told KTSA News.

The councilman is aiming to rally the community in the face of recent and ongoing gun tragedies by providing information to understand the underlying causes, and by empowering the community to move forward and take action to prevent mass shootings here.

The first Town Hall is scheduled from 6 to 8 pm Wednesday, August 14, at Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center on Northwest Military Highway.

The second installment will feature a panel of safety and law enforcement leaders to talk about public readiness and prevention strategies. The third forum will emphasize steps that the public and government bodies can take to reduce the risks of gun violence and its effect on our communities. The panel will include policymakers, law enforcement professionals and gun rights advocates.

“The growing frequency and severity of mass shootings around our nation, in our communities, in our schools and in our places of worship warrant more than thoughts and prayers,” said Pelaez. “We as a community must look at the issue of gun violence head-on and band together in solidarity both to mourn and to develop innovative solutions to the problem together.”