The Gun Debate   By: Lori Jenkins, Casey Campbell, Catherine Mwaura, Po-yu Chou

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

A rise in gun related violence in the United States Ð including the April 1999 shooting of 14 students at Columbine High School in Colorado - is getting the attention of Congress. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,223 Americans ages 19 and younger were killed or killed themselves with guns in 1997. That averages out to nearly a dozen kids a day. An additional 28,186 adults were killed. Because of violent incidents like the one in Colorado, lawmakers in Congress are debating whether there should be more gun laws such as child safety locks, tougher background checks, age limits on purchasing guns, and other controls to reduce gun violence. On the other hand, some lawmakers see the need for more gun rights. They see gun control as infringing on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. The National Rifle Association, an organization who supports gun rights, says that Congress should enforce the laws that are already in place. If these laws were enforced, there would not be a need to control firearms. The NRA supports gun use for hunting, target shooting, collecting, and personal protection of ones self or family. Your help is needed in Congress. You will be assigned the role of a member of congress. The question is: Are guns the problem or are people the problem? Should there be more gun control or more gun rights?

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Task

You will be assigned a role in Congress. Your role will be to defend either gun control or gun rights. You will work in groups of three to research your position.

• Research this highly controversial issue using the suggested resources below.
• Prepare a Power Point presentation to use as an introduction defining where you stand on this topic.
• Defend your opinion during a class debate.
• Create a television commercial trying to persuade your audience to agree with your viewpoint. Instructor will videotape students commercials.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, trying to persuade your audience to agree with your view on the gun debate.

Questions:

In order to complete the above tasks, you will need to address the following questions:

• What gun laws are currently set up by the United States Congress?
• Throughout history how have gun laws changed?
• What steps should Congress take toward gun control / gun rights?
• Should kids be allowed to handle guns? Why or Why not? Under what circumstances?
• What judgment would you make about putting locks on guns?
• Do you agree with this statement: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people."
• What would the result be if there were no gun laws?
• What evidence would you propose to Congress for gun control / gun rights?
• What information would you cite to defend gun control / gun rights?
• How do you interpret the 2nd amendment in regards to your stance on the issue? " A well - regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

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Resources

Gun Right:

• Gun Control does Government have the right Webquest
• Guns, Gun Control, and the Right to Self Defense
• Why Gun Control is Not the Right Answer
• The Second Amendment guarantees the individual right to own a gun
• Federal Court Ruling: Second Amendment is an Individual Right!
• Gun right mustn't be treated as absolute
• Anti-gun control Web sites / Pro-Gun Rights Organizations
• Original Intent and Purpose of the Second Amendment
• Guns, self-defense, & the second amendment

Gun control:

• Email Gun Control Debate
• Gun Laws in the U.S.
• TOPICAL GUIDES: Gun Laws, Gun Control and Gun Rights
• Milestones in Federal Gun Control Legislation
• Coalition for Gun Control
• Handgun Control
• Cops: Teen Had Gun Before Killing

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Process

You will work together in teams of three. Those in your team will share your view on gun control / gun rights.

1. You will draw your job in Congress from the teacher. Your job will be either a Republican or a Democrat. You will also be assigned a side to take on the gun issue.
2. Work together in a team of 3 to research gun control / gun rights. Use the questions provided to guide your research.
3. After you have researched your view, develop a short 3-5 minute Power Point presentation to use as an introduction for a debate.
4. Each group will present their view on gun control / gun rights. A debate will follow.
5. Each group will create a 30-60 second commercial trying to persuade your audience to agree with the chosen viewpoint on the gun issue. You must create your own script and props. The teacher will videotape the commercial.
6. After participating in the debate and commercial presentation, you may decide which side of the gun debate you actually agree with. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper trying to convince others to agree with you. Use information you learned from the debate and commercials. You may collaborate with others before writing your own individual editorial.

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Evaluation

Points: Fair 1-3, Good 4-6, Excellent 7-9

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Conclusion

By completing this web quest, you have learned the gun control/right laws currently in place in the United States. You have also gained the knowledge of how gun laws have changed throughout history, in addition, you should be able to take a clear stance on gun control laws/rights. You should be able to answer all questions in a well thought out manner. There are no easy answers to these questions, the important thing to remember is to be able to back up your beliefs in a well thought out manner using the resources provided.

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Gun picture offered by righthook.com for non-commercial purpose use.