1. The Battle for Gun Control By Jessica Kennon

2. How we can lower gun violence without abusing our 2 nd amendment rights: Increase background checks Make straw man purchases a felony offense Approve the National School Shield Report commissioned by the NRA Proposal

3. 2007 congress passed the NICS Improvement Amendments Act which created incentives for states to improve reporting mental health information to background check systems. Many states were unable to progress with the reporting because of the lack of funding, granting only 5.3% of the total authorized amount from the fiscal year 2009 to fiscal year 2011

5. If approved by the House, those so-called “straw man” purchases would increase from a Class 5 felony to a Class 4 felony, punishable by a mandatory minimum of one year in prison. The goal is to reduce the number of illegally obtained firearms that someone may use to commit crimes, including against a school

6. Host possible safety measures Internal door security Perimeter fencing Main recommendation: Armed personnel should be posted in all schools. Local police trained to work in schools, arm teachers or administrators designated by school boards or superintendents Staff members should receive 40 to 60 hours of weapon instruction and other training.

7. Illinois gun laws do not issue conceal carry licenses, nor does it recognize licenses issued by other states. Open carry is prohibited in most areas. To legally possess firearms or ammunition, Illinois residents must have an (FOID) card issued by state police. Automatic firearms, short- barreled shotguns and silencers are prohibited.

8.  1997 Pearl, Mississippi –mass murder avoided  Virginia Tech Massacre—April 16, 2007 could have been avoided  The Luby's massacre that took place on October 16, 1991 in Killeen, Texas could have been avoided  Rifles only=(2.55-2.75% of homicides)  There were more strangulations than firearms homicides  Crime rates have lowered in states that allow conceal carry licenses  Only 0.007% of conceal carry licenses have been revoked after a crime in Florida

10. "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."

11. Davey, Monica. "Strict Gun Laws in Chicago Can't Stem Fatal Shots." 29 January 2013. The New York Times. Web. 3 April 2013. Finn, Peter. "NRA -commissioned study supports having armed guards in schools." 2 April 2013. National Security. Web. 3 April 2013. "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luby's massacre." n.d. Wikipedia. Web. 3 April 2013. MacBradaigh, Matt. "UNC School of Government." January 2013. Gun Control Facts: Existing Gun Laws Would Reduce Crime, But These Are Not Enforced. Web. 3 April 2013. NRA. "Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot." Verse. 1. n.d. KnobCreekShoot.com. 3 April 2013.. Simpson, Ian. "NRA Releases Armed 'Shield' Proposal for Schools." 2 April 2013. The Fiscal Times-Policy + Politics. Web. 3 April 2013.