Gun Violence

Background

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

Gun Violence

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)

Believed Causes of Gun Violence

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

Second 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”

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”

The Second Amendment guarantees unrestricted gun ownership

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

Gun Control

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

Gun Control

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

Gun Rights Backlash

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 2nd 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

Mass Shootings and New Gun Control Campaign

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

NRA Pressure

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

Targeting Video Games

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

Americans should do more to limit the use of violent video games

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

Background Checks

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

Background Checks

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

Congress should pass a law mandating universal background checks for gun purchases

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