David W. Smith/Daily NewsWesley Leake of Bowling Green speaks to people at the rally in the justice center parking lot. The protesters planned to meet with Congressman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., on Saturday.

It’s one of the most debated topics across the nation, and dozens of people gathered Saturday outside the Warren County Justice Center to sound off about health care reform.

Congressman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., was on hand to answer questions from people, most of whom opposed President Barack Obama’s plan for government-run, public insurance, arguing that government-controlled health care would lead to an inefficient system.

“I feel like they’re shoving it down our throats,” said Brian Norman of Glasgow. “It took Obama six months to get a dog, but he’s trying to (push) health care reform in three weeks.”

The gathering, hosted by the Southern Kentucky Bowling Green Tea Party, took the form of a town hall meeting as people lined up to comment and ask Guthrie questions, which mostly concerned health care.

While the government should consider issues, such as Medicare, government-run health insurance could smother private insurance companies, resulting in a single public option, Guthrie said.

U.S. health care would mirror systems in countries such as Canada, where “you go to the government, and they approve you … then you get in line to get service,” he said. “Once you’re authorized by private health insurance, then you get your procedure in this country.”

People wandered in and out of the justice center parking lot Saturday, some sat in their vehicles listening to the discussion, others held flags and thrust signs into the air. One read, “Our Government Needs Health Care for Obesity and Mental Illness,” referring to the government’s deficit health care proposal.

“A lot of people are sick and tired of Congress trampling on the Constitution,” said Brian Birchell of Warren County. “This health care bill is another example of that.”

Similarly, Jason Clark encouraged Guthrie and other officials to take a strong, vocal stand against health care reform.

“We want you to take a message back to Washington with you: that we are watching, we’re listening and we’re aware,” said Clark of Warren County. “We do not want this garbage shoved down our throats anymore.”

But not everybody opposed health care reform. A group of people stood near the back, holding signs that read, “Support Health Insurance for All Americans.”

Jennifer Gonzalez of Bowling Green supports nationwide health coverage, and she ventured to the gathering to talk with people, especially those who oppose reform, she said.

“I’m here hoping to have some civil conversations with people, which we’ve had,” she said. “The public option, it’s a commitment. I’m not afraid of the government like all these people are.”

Mike Kanan of Bowling Green also supports universal health coverage, he said, but he agreed with some of Guthrie’s ideas.

“I think he’s a very reasonable person,” he said. “But the bottom line has to be everybody gets health care.”

Tom Stuller and his sister, Ann Stuller, both of Halfway, came to show their opposition to government-sponsored health insurance.

“The government’s going to run it, and they can’t run anything,” Ann Stuller said. “The government doesn’t owe me health care.”