Sedona AZ (January 29, 2013) – Hot Topics Cafe, a partnership between Philosophy in the Public Interest and the Compassion Project programs at NAU, will hold an open public discussion about second amendment issues at The Sedona Public Library on Tuesday, February 5 from 5:30 to 7PM. The program is free and all are welcome.
While gun control and gun rights were not originally on the list of Hot Topics for this year’s program, the tragedy in Newtown, CT, and the ensuing discussions in the halls of Congress resulted in members of the Hot Topics program committee requesting that it be a subject of community discussion.
Hot Topics Cafes provide opportunities for community members to discuss contentious political issues in a civil way. The program is non partisan and does not endorse positions with respect to any issue discussed. Topics are chosen by a community committee that represents community leaders from a variety of political constituencies and interests.
NAU students from philosophy, political science, and in the Franke College of Business prepare informational sheets that give overviews of competing positions and their economic impacts.
Hot Topics Cafes began on the NAU campus, but this year moved to community locations including the Coconino Center for the Arts, the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Sedona Public Library and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Yavapai College in Sedona.
Andrea Houchard, the director of Philosophy in the Public Interest, will facilitate the discussion on February 5. Future Sedona Hot Topics programs include “Taxes: a cost/benefit analysis” on March 5 at the Sedona Public Library and “Education: a public or private good?” on April 2 at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Yavapai College, Sedona Center. For more information visit www.nau.edu/ppi.
