The problem with the gun debate in our country is that it's been shaped entirely by the mainstream media. It goes like this: "If you care about children, you want gun reform & to outlaw assault weapons. If you have ANY other opinion, then you're an asshole & want kids to die."
There were reports that many of the questions at the #CNNTownHall were scripted for the kids, and all of the questions needed to be pre-approved (this is show business after all).
So CNN chose the theme, the direction of the discussion, and which ideas were off limits.
Nowhere in the gun debate will you hear about economic insecurity, healthcare, and lack of educational and job prospects factoring heavily in violence and suicide rates. Oddly enough, the importance of these issues are things a majority of Americans AGREE on.
In fact, nowhere in the corporate media will these issues of agreement be discussed in earnest. Why? Because they make a ton of money from big banks, insurance companies, for-profit universities, and other corporations whose profits soar by keeping our wages low, interest rates high, and loans oppressive.
So when you hear divisive rhetoric equating your level of care for children with your acquiescence to a specific solution, understand that it's the corporate media, keeping us fearful, divided & lashing out at each other while they keep things we CARE about off the airwaves.