Kansas City PBS has announced the premiere of The Gun Conundrum, a new documentary from acclaimed local filmmaker Michael Price (The Hidden Pandemic, Our Divided City, Evicted). Taking a nuanced, journalistic approach to the conversation of public safety and gun rights, this new examination sidesteps the poisoned political debate in favor of the voices of everyday citizens. The Gun Conundrum will premiere Thursday, May 19, at 7 p.m. on Channel 19.1, immediately followed by a special edition of Flatland, Kansas City PBS’ newest civic affairs show, which will expand upon the conversation.
The Gun Conundrum features interviews with metro citizens who have firsthand experience with guns — avid hunters, gun owners who shoot for sport, and those who have made the decision to own a firearm for protection of themselves or their family. Price also convenes with defense attorneys who have represented people accused of gun crimes, community leaders affected by neighborhood violence and parents who have lost a child to homicide or suicide.
“We are proud to collaborate with Michael Price on this powerful program,” said Kliff Kuehl, President & CEO of Kansas City PBS. “The debate surrounding guns has played out for decades between politicians, activists and cable news hosts. The Gun Conundrum features the voices of our neighbors, friends and community leaders, seeking common ground between gun enthusiasts and those who have been affected by gun violence.”
The debate surrounding guns is notoriously loud and often extreme. The Gun Conundrum puts aside partisan talking points and examines the crux of the problem: with millions of guns currently in circulation, are there practical ways to balance gun rights with the need to address the high numbers of homicides and suicides? Price brings his noted journalistic expertise to the debate, examining the quiet nuance of perspectives often drowned out by the noise, with an eye toward finding common ground.
“I’m excited to once again have the opportunity to work with Kansas City PBS and bring this important conversation to the air,” Price said. “Gun violence is on the rise in the Kansas City metro, though the gun is merely the tool of violence, reflecting societal ills: from homicide, from non-fatal shootings and in circumstances where someone will sadly take their own lives. However, when you start talking to ordinary people, they often have a more complex view of gun rights and public safety than what we see in the media. Those who have lost a loved one to gun violence are not automatically anti-gun. People will give you such unexpected answers.”
For more information, visit kansascitypbs.org/gunconundrum.
Support for The Gun Conundrum is provided by The William T. Kemper Foundation.
