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Gun Rights or Gun Control?
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Gun Rights or Gun Control? According to research, there are more guns than people in the USA, and we might wonder why Americans do not tighten their gun laws. Many Americans strongly believe in their constitutional right to bear GUN ESTIMATES, arms. However, innocent people are killed by guns every day in the 2018–2019 USA. Media raise awareness by focusing on terrorist attacks, horrible The USA had the world’s highest school shootings and police violence. Still, these incidents remain gun ownership rate, an average of the smallest proportion of firearm deaths. How should the nation 120.5 per 100 people. balance the right to bear arms with access to deadly fire-power? More than 43% of American How should it be possible to buy guns? Who should be allowed to households had a gun available. buy and own guns? Should there be a national age limit? Would it More than 40,000 people died of make a difference if semi-automatic weapons were made illegal? gun-related injuries. Why is it so difficult to change the politics of gun control?
The fence around the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida. A mass shooting took place on February 23, 2018. Vurderingseksemplar
→ Turn the page to dig deeper into the gun debate.
SOURCES Gramlich, J., and Schaeffer, K. 2019. 7 facts about guns in the U.S. Pew Research Center, 22 October. PewResearch.org Ingraham, C. 2018. There are more guns than people in the United States, according to a new study of global firearm ownership. Washington Post, 19 June. WashingtonPost.com
Search online for more statistics to discuss and compare Norway and other countries to the USA.
tighten stramme inn innocent uskyldig awareness oppmerksomhet/oppmerksemd proportion andel/del
DIG DEEPER INTO THE GUN DEBATE
Research, discuss and work on all the sources and tasks presented here to understand more of the complex issue.
ACTION
24 Work in groups and take notes on a-h. Then form new groups and compare answers. a Study the Second Amendment.What is the difference between gun ownership in a militia versus an individual's right to own a gun? How has the meaning of the Second amendment changed over time? b Study and research the images on page 167–169. What do they tell you about gun rights and gun control in America? c Discuss the facts on firearm deaths in the USA. What are your initial thoughts and comments? Based on what you have learned about the USA so far, can you explain reasons for any of the facts? d Find and watch Obama's speech online, discuss what Obama says about: a store and online balance to the Second Amendment e Research former Senator Santorum and his view on the gun question with his quote to your right as a basis. f Research Vice President Pence and his speeches at NRA meetings. Discuss his take on the gun debate. g In pairs, one arguing for and one arguing against, discuss what is right: Guns kill, not people; or Guns do not kill, people do. h Have you practiced emergency situations at your school? Are you afraid of school shootings? Discuss by using examples from Norwegian media.
"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." The Second Amendment, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the United States of America (1791) "Our unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – those rights were stripped from (victims) ... Everytime I think about those kids it gets me mad. And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day." President Obama (2016) Find and watch President Obama's speech on new gun control measures at a press conference from What was the original intent of the Second Amendment?Vurderingseksemplar the White House in 2016. "How about kids, instead of looking to someone else to solve their problem, do something about maybe taking CPR classes or trying to deal with situations where there is a violent shooter ... Phony gun laws don't solve the problem." Former Senator Rick Santorum on CNN TIME (2018) Should kids be more prepared or should the laws be changed?
Vice President Mike Pence (2019)
Research Aftermath+ "examining accidental shooting death statistics". What is Aftermath and what advice do they give on proper gun safety?
FIREARM-RELATED YOUTH ACTION
DEATHS IN THE USA ● The most likely cause of death for middle and high 25 Connect the issue of gun control to the film school–age youth is firearms. The Hate U Give. Discuss visibility, access ● Over the last 20 years, death due to motor and use of guns. vehicle crashes has steadily declined, but firearms statistics have remained the same. 26 Starr says, “If One-Fifteen had traded his weapon for [a megaphone], Khalil would still ● For well over a decade, African American youth be alive.” What does she mean? have been more than eight times more likely to die from firearm homicide than white youth. 27 Work in groups. Based on the images, ● Firearm suicide rates are highest among American quotes and tasks on pages 167–169,
Indian/Alaskan Native and white youth compared to other racial/ethnic groups. debate in a table for and against more gun ● Possible factors for racial differences are control. You may also do more research socioeconomic status, firearm accessibility and online. Remember to state the source. lack of mental health services. ● Youth living in rural areas are more likely to die from firearm suicide and unintentional injury than those living in urban areas. 28 Imagine that due to the steady increase of fake news and presidential chaos, ● 46% of firearm owners with youth in the home researchers working for the American do not keep their firearms locked away. Embassy in Oslo have opened a competition
SOURCE Zimmerman, M., Carter, P., and to shed light on young Norwegians’
Cunningham, R. The facts on children and teens understanding of the gun issue in America. killed by guns. The Trace. Thetrace.org The content needs to present the current situation, explain why this is a problem and list the main arguments both for and against more gun control. Enter the competition
What are your initial thoughts by making an informative poster or visual and comments on firearm-related presentation that stands out. youth deaths in the USA?
Vurderingseksemplar militia milits infringed krenkes / blir krenkt law-abiding lovlydig
