UGA political groups debate the Second Amendment at political … – Red and Black

The University of Georgia Students for Socialism, Young Democratic Socialists of America and Young Democrats of UGA and Athens-Clarke County voiced their support for the Second Amendment to protect oppressed individuals at the political showdown in the Zell B. Miller Learning Center Thursday night.

Georgia ranks sixth highest in registered weapons, with 304,124 individuals in ownership of a registered weapon in 2021, according to Statista.

Hampton Barrineau, the selected speaker for Young Democratic Socialists of America, responded first. He said that YDSA believes this time of political violence makes it important to ensure that Americans have a protected right to own a firearm.

Ultimately I think it makes sense that communities of color, communities such as trans folks, would want to have some means of self defense in these times, Barrineau said.

Trey Holloway, one of the two representatives for Students for Socialism, voiced a concurring opinion to YDSA. He clarified that while the right to own a firearm for some should be protected, there should also be increased gun control for those who could potentially pose a threat to society, such as domestic abusers.

I think there are certain forms of gun control, of course, that are sensible and should be implemented and most likely would be implemented under a socialist government, Holloway said.

Yasmine Sabere of Young Democrats of UGA and ACC also stated her group's general support of the Second Amendment. She also emphasized their belief that the U.S. must halt firearm manufacturing to allow fewer guns to circulate the market, take away power from gun lobbying groups that fund politicians who vote against gun control policies and increase non-discriminatory background checks.

Gun violence is the leading cause of death amongst children today, which I think is absolutely disgusting and something that we all need to fight against, Sabere said.

Beyond gun control, the three groups also discussed four pre-selected topics: housing, voting, facism and capitalism. They agreed that the lack of rent control in Georgia worsens the housing crisis state-wide and locally.

According to Sabere, with the increase in luxury housing construction in Athens, rent will continue to increase. This could uproot previous residents who cannot afford the new cost of living.

Barrineau stated that while there have been few socialist politicians in office, socialists are slowly making progress in winning public approval, with 60% of voters in support of The Green New Deal and69% of Americans in support of Medicare for all.

While we have not made any major wins yet, we have made small concessions, and we have momentum and never before strength, Barrineau said.

Holloway said that in the wake of the Jan. 6 riots, the need for a working class alternative and a new social system has never been clearer. He said the fight against fascism cannot be separated from the movement of rent control, debt cancellation, universal healthcare and many more demands.

Student Kyndal Coleman decided to come to the debate to hear different perspectives of students on the left.

I think these conversations are really important to have just to know that people are having them or just to know that this space exists, Coleman said.

The event was sponsored by two local aid groups, Lemonaid, a mutual aid group dedicated to feeding unhouses individuals in Athens and Planned Parenthood Generation Action, an organization which advocates for reproductive rights for students at UGA.

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UGA political groups debate the Second Amendment at political ... - Red and Black