1. Constitution Questions

2. 2 nd Amendment

3. Your important questions answered…

4. Attitude Inventory For each of the questions below: Write whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree And explain why 1. The 2 nd Amendment is one of the most important rights listed in the Bill of Rights. 2. The United States needs additional gun control measures to control who can get access to guns. 3. The United States needs additional gun control measures to control what types of weapons people can buy.

5. The 2 nd Amendment “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.” ______________________________________________ Does this mean…. That people have the right to bear arms BECAUSE a well-regulated militia is needed? OR That a well-regulated militia is needed AND people should have the right to bear arms?

6. The Great Compromise POWER writing! 3 minutes Constitution Enlightenment Equal Representation 1st Amendment Articles of Confederation Thomas Jefferson Tinker vs. Des Moines Bill of Rights Proportional Representation New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan 2 nd Amendment

7. The 2 Interpretations The right to bear arms is a COLLECTIVE right Given because we need militias/a military People who see the 2 nd Amendment this way generally want more gun control The right to bear arms is an INDIVIDUAL right Given because people have the right to own guns People who see the 2 nd Amendment this way generally want less/very limited gun control

8. IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT CASES

9. United States v. Miller (1939) Background: Law that limited some types of firearms, saying that they must be registered (1934)

10. United States v. Miller Decision The 2 nd Amendment did NOT protect the rights of people who wanted to buy these guns Why: A shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches long had no reasonable relation to the a well regulated militia

11. Lewis v. United States (1980) A felon sued, arguing that he deserved his 2 nd Amendment right to own a gun

12. Lewis v. United States (1980) Decision Decision: The felon’s rights were not protected by the 2 nd Amendment Congress could prohibit convicted felons from owning firearms.

13. D.C. v. Heller (2008) A number of citizens sued Washington D.C. over a law that restricted their right to have guns (ban on handguns, storage laws for rifles)

14. D.C. v. Heller (2008) Decision The Supreme Court overturned the District of Columbia’s gun law, which banned virtually all weapons, stating that the Second Amendment protected the individual right to keep handguns at home for self-defense. Federal court denied relief to plaintiffs—2 nd amendment doesn’t apply to individuals

15. Supreme Court’s evolution on 2 nd Amendment Until D.C. v. Heller, federal courts only recognized the 2 nd Amendment as a collective right Supreme Court’s decision in D.C. v. Heller determined that the 2 nd Amendment protects an individual right

16. GUN CONTROL PROPOSALS

17. What do you think? 1. Close the “gun show loophole” Make those who buy guns at gun shows get background checks 2. Ban “high risk” individuals from getting guns People who have domestic violence convictions, previous violent records, etc. 3. Ban those found to be mentally ill from getting guns 4. Mandatory gun safety classes for gun owners 5. Ban semi-automatic guns 6. Ban magazines with more than 10 rounds Do you support this proposal? Write “Yes” or “No” next to each proposal to indicate your response.

18. The Arguments Pro-Gun Control: Making crimes harder, make them rarer Most violent crimes are committed guns Background checks/waiting period will deter criminals Semi-automatic weapons are meant for military/police Anti-Gun Control: An unarmed public is more dangerous Stringent guns laws won’t reduce shootings Criminals will always find a way to get guns Black markets Infringement on liberty

19. Discuss in groups of 4 Use the task card

20. Sharing out conclusions: 1. What limits, if any, did your group think should exist on the 2 nd Amendment? 2. Which gun control measures had the most support in your group? Which had the least support? 3. What interesting points did people make in your group discussion?