Houston's KHOU wades through what they've been able to verify about the Santa Fe High School shooting and what's just rumor. USA TODAY
Pastor Melanie Martinez had already planned “Let’s Talk Guns,” a series of community discussions, when a mass shooting Friday at a high school near Houston spurred calls to rein in gun violence.
Martinez of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Community Church is inviting the public to attend three free dialogues on guns, their impact and their place in our culture.
The first discussion from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the church at 1401 Travis St. will feature a National Rifle Association-certified instructor. The church is a gun-free zone.
Martinez, known as “Pastor Mel,” hopes the talks will help Wichitans seek common ground.
On Friday, Texans absorbed the news that at least 10 people died in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County.
It was the most lethal such act of violence since the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida, which sparked a wave of student activism, according to the Associated Press.
“We all want to stop situations like the shooting today from happening,” Martinez said Friday.
Some believe arming teachers and school officials may be the answer, she said. Others want guns under tighter control.
“Our answers are probably somewhere in between,” Martinez said.
“Truth is, we don't get anywhere in the struggle against gun violence until we can come together with mutual respect and do the hard work of change in all its discomforts and uncertainties,” she said.
Known for social action and community-building efforts, the church is hosting discussions on topics such as the reality of gun ownership and gun safety, the impact of gun violence on surviving family members and culture versus symptom of gun violence, Martinez said in a media release.
Kathy Richardson of Ricochet Red’s Pistol Range will speak Tuesday at the first facilitated dialogue, “Deconstructing the Polarization.”
Richardson is a certified instructor for concealed-handgun license classes. The event Tuesday will focus on moving away from extremes into a common ground for dialogue.
“We are hopeful for a variety of perspectives to join in the dialogue,” Martinez said.
“Rather than get bogged down in the ‘us vs. them’ attacks, which get us nowhere, we want to make space for guided discussion among diverse views,” she said.
That’s the only way to strengthen the community and end the violence, Martinez said.
A member of the Landavazo family will speak for “A Tipping Point” 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 29 at the church.
Lauren Landavazo, 13, was killed in a Sept. 2, 2016, shooting on her way home from school. One of Landavazo’s parents is expected to speak about the loss of their daughter.
This dialogue will focus on the impact of gun violence on surviving family members and friends and on those who perpetuate it, Martinez said.
Dr. Michael Vandehey of the Midwestern State University Psychology Department will discuss “Violence as Disease, Guns as Symptom” 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 5 at the church.
Vandehey, a clinical psychologist, will speak about human violence overall.
“Our intent – and hopefully our impact – is to provide a safe place for reasonable, respectful conversation from all perspectives of our shared gun culture,” Martinez said.
“It’s too important to leave this conversation to leaders, alone. We are all responsible for our community’s well-being,” she said.
Call 940-322-4100 or email info@wichitafallsmcc.org for more information.