COLUMBIA, SC — Mayor Steve Benjamin is hosting a public discussion on the faith community’s role in preventing gun violence.

The roundtable discussions will be held at 7:30 a.m. Friday at First Nazareth Baptist Church, on the corner of Gervais Street and Millwood Avenue. A free continental breakfast will be served.

The discussion is part of the national Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend led by Faiths United, a coalition of nearly 50 denominations and faith-based organizations.

Mayors across the country are getting involved in the debate. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley is one of 30 mayors appearing in a new televised ad calling on Congress to take action to prevent gun violence. About 900 mayors from 45 states are part of a coalition called Mayors Against Illegal Guns, asking that Congress act immediately.

-- Noelle Phillips