POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Middle school student Maya Jackman was the first to speak at a community forum on gun violence in Poughkeepsie Saturday. She joined local residents to voice their concerns about gun violence to Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. 

“When I said my speech, and afterward when everyone clapped, I thought ‘I'm not the only person who has this voice,’” said Jackman.

The event came just weeks after the Parkland school shooting, and days after threats closed Poughkeepsie City Schools and were received by others around the area. 

Community members spoke out on all sides of the gun debate, and spoke passionately about their perspectives on gun violence, the NRA, government overreach or inaction and mental health. 

Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison felt the conversations were important for the community, even if everyone didn't see eye-to-eye. 

"It's multi-faceted and it's complicated," said Rolison. "But if you don't talk about it, you can't come up with solutions." 

Maloney says he will have a similar forum in Orange County next week.