Hip-hop artists and elected officials gathered in Bridgeport Saturday for a panel discussion about gun violence.

The focus of a panel on gun violence quickly turned to the recent school shooting in Florida, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Mayor Joe Ganim and Police Chief AJ Perez addressing concerned citizens, and hearing input from legends of hip-hop, including radio personality Doctor Dre and DJ Red Alert.

With 17 people killed in the most recent attack, there was a call to better equip teachers through technology, not by arming them with weapons. There was also agreement about an assault rifle ban and extending background checks to all gun purchases.

Retired police officer Dave Daniels grew up during the advent of hip-hop. He said artists have the influence to get their message out.

"Every time these tragedies occur, we go from being outraged to normal to being outraged again because no changes occur and these instances keep going on,” says Daniels. “The gun lobby in this country is very, very strong and things need to be changed."

The third annual Hip Hop Expression of Black History Month event took place at the Margaret E. Morton Government Center and was sponsored by Connecticut Against Violence and the City of Bridgeport.