By Ashley Antonini

NORMAL – Members of the McLean County Diversity Project gathered at Normal West High School on Sunday to hold a discussion of the Second Amendment.

The event titled “Diversity of Change” featured two experts with opposing views on the topic.

Colleen Daley is the Executive Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and John Bach is the Executive Director of Guns Save Life. The two spoke in front of a classroom of more than a dozen students to create a double-sided dialogue on the topics of gunownership and gun violence.

Bach said the best way to combat gun violence, is inevitably, with guns.

“The only thing that stops the bad guy with evil in his heart, is a good guy with a gun,” Bach said.

Daley disagreed.

“I don’t believe that more guns makes us safer, I think less guns makes us safe,” Daley said.

Bach suggested it is harder to discriminate against someone who is armed. He posted a sign which read “Armed Gays Don’t Get Bashed!”

The two did agree that not everyone should own a gun and abolishing the Second Amendment is not the correct course of action.

Another topic that the two had similar views on was the presence of guns in schools.

Bach believes that teachers should be armed and that preventative measures, like having shooter drills and evacuation plans, are critical in schools today. Daley agreed with taking precaution, but feels that arming teachers may potentially make the issue of gun violence worse.

Tri-Valley High School student and McLean County Diversity Project member Justin Bean expressed gratitude that he was able voice his opinion.

“As someone who is in high school, you always have adults that are making the decision, the children do not really have a say, said Bean, “So I think being a part of this discussion now is highly important.”

Ashley Antonini can be reached at [email protected].