1. The Right to Bear Arms

2. Second Amendment Facts
Proposed on Sept. 25, 1789
Ratified on Dec. 15, 1791
Actual words in the 2nd 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.”
When created, many state constitutions required men to own a gun and supplies needed to operate that firearm

3. The Debate
The wording of the amendment is what caused the debate from the beginning
Gun control advocates state that it is meant for state militias
Firearm enthusiasts argue that it gives everyone a right to own and operate a gun

4. The Current Debate
With the rising cases of gun violence should there be stricter rules on purchasing firearms
Parker v. District of Columbia addressed the issue of handgun.
Should handguns be prohibited but guns/riffles be allowed?
Ruling would say prohibiting the ownership of handguns was unconstitutional

5. What does it mean? For gun control: Against gun control:
Individuals are for the restriction of firearm use and ownership
Against gun control:
Individuals are against any type of restriction in legal firearm ownership and use

6. Shootings that have lead to gun control reform
Columbine High School Massacre
Occurred April 20, 1999
Senior students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were responsible
Attack included a fire bomb, propane tanks converted to bombs in the cafeteria, 99 explosives and bombs rigged in cars
Killed 12 students and 1 teacher
Dylan and Eric both killed themselves afterwards
Sparked a debate on gun laws and the youth

7. 2012 Aurora Shooting
Shooting took place inside a Century movie theatre during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises
James Eagan Holmes was the sole suspect
Set off tear gas in the theatre and shot into the crowd killing 12 and injuring 70
Holmes also reported “booby-trapping” his apartment with explosives
Reportedly called himself “the Joker”
Caused a debate on the sale of semi-automatic weapons and mental illness

8. Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting
Occurred Dec. 14, 2012
Adam Lanza was the sole suspect in the shooting
Killed 20 children and 6 adults
The children were between ages six and seven
Before the school shooting he had killed his mother in their home
Sparked debate on mental illness and gun control including:
Background checks
Semi-automatic firearms and magazines

9. So….what is gun control?!?
Gun control does not always mean everyone is going to have their guns to the government
Gun control is limiting a specific group of people from owning and purchasing a gun legally
i.e. Individuals who struggle with mental illness
Individuals with a criminal background
etc.

10. Statistics 47% of American adults keep a firearm on their property
26% support a ban on handguns
On average guns are responsible for around 30,000 deaths a year, more than half of these being suicides
There are million guns in private hands in America
Around 8 million have a concealed carry license

11. Questions to Ask….
In your opinion, should we in the U.S. have gun control or not?
What would the U.S. be like if guns were prohibited?
Are we safer as a society when people have their concealed carry license?
Based on what you know, what kind of gun control should be put into law?
List three arguments for gun control and three arguments against gun control.