Delco United Hosts “Forging Common Ground” Form

On the evening of Wednesday, May 8th, a crowd of 80 supporters gathered at Widener University’s Lathem Hall to hear a panel discussion focused on the issue of gun violence prevention.

The panel consisted of:

• Thaddeus Kirkland, Mayor of Chester City
• Otis Blair, Chester Police Commissioner
• Mike Felker, US Navy Hospital Corpsman and Combat Medic in Vietnam, Member of Veterans for Peace
• Dr. Mary Francis, Nurse Practitioner at Cooper Hospital’s Trauma Unit, Faculty Member at the Widener School of Nursing
• Lisa Dennis, Chester City Community Liaison
• Michael Chitwood, Superintendent of the Upper Darby Police Department
• Deb Ciamacca, Former Marine Corps Officer, Social Studies Teacher at Conestoga High School
• Brenda Kucirka, Asst. Professor at the Widener School of Nursing

All of the panelists came from vastly different walks of life, and all felt the effects of gun violence on an almost daily basis. While not everyone agreed on every single piece of gun legislation that can help us to move forward, they came together in a consensus on issues like background checks, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed education.

The more discussions we have like this, the easier it will be to find a clear path forward in the fight to end gun violence, and to keep our communities safe.

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