SUNY Cortland to hold Constitution Day events

09/14/2020 

SUNY Cortland’s Institute for Civic Engagement will offer two opportunities for members of the university community to participate in important conversations as part of Constitution Day.

The first, “Should Cortland County became a Second Amendment sanctuary county?” will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 4 to 5 p.m. on WebEx.

Three Cortland County towns, Cincinnatus, Solon and Truxton, have recently passed laws that prohibit town officials from enforcing state laws that limit the acquisition or use of personal firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition. This panel discussion will localize interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, particularly the Second Amendment and issues of gun control and the right to bear arms.

The panelists are Stephen A. Furlin, Solon town supervisor, Ann L. Homer, Cortland County legislator and Robert Spitzer, distinguished service professor in SUNY Cortland’s Political Science Department and one of the nation’s foremost experts on gun control.

A 20-minute question-and-answer period will follow the first 40 minutes of discussion.

To register, please contact John Suarez, director of the Institute for Civic Engagement.

The second event is a SUNY-wide deliberative dialogue that will explore the future of voting. “Constitution Day: Deliberation on Voting in the United States,” will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 via Zoom.

Register online through SUNY’s Center for Professional Development.

Constitution Day is recognized annually on Sept. 17, the day in 1787 on which delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia, Pa.