2.  Est 200-300 million privately owned handguns, shotguns and rifles in the US  America is the most heavily armed nation  Connection with firearms runs back to founding of the country-armed colonists in rebellion  Gun owners include more…  Republicans  Whites  Rural residents

3.  U.S has highest rate of gun homicide in the advanced world  According to CDC 2010 saw 11,000 gun murders and 19,000 gun suicides (highest rate since ‘98)  Although many blame semiautomatic rifles for violence, most incidences involve handguns  White Americans are more likely to die of gun suicide while African Americans are more likely to die from gun homicide (leading cause of death among black 15-19 yr olds)

4.  Too easy to get a hold of- especially gang members and the mentally ill  Poverty  Illegal drug trade  Violent entertainment and video games  Poor enforcement of existing gun laws

5.  “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”  Although there are different interpretations of the amendment, many believe it protects “individual right” to keep and bear arms  In D.C v. Heller (2008) Supreme Court agreed but also stated that “right to Second Amendment is not unlimited”

6. AGREE  Just because criminals use guns does not mean the law- abiding citizens rights should be limited  Guarantees citizens’ rights to be armed and rebel, if necessary, against government tyranny DISAGREE  Supreme Court recognized that Second Amendment rights could be regulated  Gov’t must limit rights when free exercise poses harm to society  Constitution does not protect right to overthrow government- considered treason

7.  Earliest gun control laws passed in the 1830s  1920s & 30s Congress passed laws to reduce mob crime and restrict machine guns  After a crime wave and assassinations in the 1960s Congress passed 1968 Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act & Gun Control Act  Prohibited certain individuals (felons) from possessing firearms and banned direct mail order sales of firearms

8.  Assassination attempt on Regan spurred movement for stronger gun control  1993 Brady Handgun Prevention Act: est 5 day waiting period and background checks for gun purchases from licensed dealers  1994 Democrat-controlled Congress banned sale of certain types of semiautomatic assault weapons  Aimed as part of a larger bill to reduce inner-city crime

9.  Although many saw early 1990s gun legislation as a sign of progress, guns rights advocate saw something else- gov’t trying to take their guns  Fearful of a secret gov’t effort to confiscate guns some supporters organized into citizen militias  Believed they should be heavily armed and their 2 nd Amendment right allowed them to rebel against gov’t  Fears of looming gun control seemed to spur increase in the number of militia groups & anti-gov’t “patriot” groups after Obama elected in 2008  Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004 and was not renewed

10.  According to Congressional Research Service, since 1983, 78 public mass shootings have taken place in U.S  Shootings involved 4 or more deaths and took place in public places  12 in schools & others in public  All shooters during this time period, except 1, were males and majority were white  Many showed signs of mental illness

11.  In spring 2013 Senate began debating legislation to prevent gun violence  Strong advocacy from Obama and families who lost loved ones vs. NRA  April, Senate voted down proposals:  Expanding background checks  Banning assault weapons & high-capacity gun mags  Making straw purchasing and gun trafficking federal crimes  Many Americans shocked that proposals failed to pass

12.  After Newtown shooting NRA Chief Executive pointed finger at mass media and video games  Video games draw extra scrutiny because they are interactive- players actively pulls the trigger  Critics of video games argue that they boost aggression and call for pressure on manufactures to tone down their product  Supporters of video games say there are no studies directly linking video games to gun violence and argue that violence more likely stems from easy access to powerful firearms  2011 Supreme Court struck down a California law restricting sale of violent video games to minors

13. AGREE  Sales and use of violent video games should be restricted- especially for young people  Studies show the games boost aggression  Repeated exposure to violence and murder desensitizes people to consequences of violence  Columbine and Sandy Hook shooters are tragic examples DISAGREE  Games are an artistic expression and therefore cannot be restricted  Up to parents to ensure their children use video games appropriately  No studies link video game use to gun violence  Nations with high violent video games use have much lower gun violence  Real problem in America is growth of powerful firearms

14.  To buy firearms from a licensed dealer potential buyers must undergo a background check to determine whether they are eligible  Federal law prohibits sales to:  Convicted felons  Criminal records  Restraining orders  Severely mentally ill  Illegal immigrants  Electronic background check system, run by FBI, references records from, among others, state courts and mental health agencies

15.  Private sales: unlicensed dealers to buyers from same state  Do not require background checks  10-20% of guns sales outside of the system legally  Private sales can happen anywhere-including gun shows  2013 Obama proposed expanding background checks to be universal  Private sellers and buyers would have to visit a licensed dealer to file paperwork  Spring 2013: 9 out of 10 Americans supported proposal but was defeated in the Senate  NRA strongly opposed as well as members of Congress from rural states and districts

16. AGREE  Background checks would make a strong system even stronger and keep guns from criminals  Respects Second Amendment rights- its quick and records cannot be kept to create a registry DISAGREE  Criminals will still get guns  System would hinder the rights of law-abiding citizens by making it harder to buy guns  Might lead to a national gun registry that could be used to seize firearms