David Chipman, retired ATF Special Agent and currently advisor to “Mayors Against Illegal Guns,” introduced the crowded auditorium at Washington-Lee High School to the language of firearms with a slide show entitled “Firearms 101.” U.S. Rep. Jim Moran hosted the March 11 forum.
Chipman showed images of various weapons and gave histories and descriptions of what the weapons are capable of and what advantages some of the designs have over each other. Chipman was joined by a panel of experts on gun policy, public safety and mental health that included Jonathan Lowy, director of the Legal Action Project, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence; Karen Marangi, advisor to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and principal, the Raben Group; Josh Horwitz, executive director, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and Earl Cook, Chief of Police, City of Alexandria.