Gunland
There was a tragic and senseless shooting death yesterday at my alma mater, Mt. Tabor High School. William Chavis Raynard Miller Jr., a Mt. Tabor student was shot at school and died after being transferred to a hospital. My thoughts and condolences go out to the Miller family. I graduated from Mt. Tabor High school and later taught summer school there. My thoughts are with all the students and teachers at Tabor. This is the second time this week there has been a shooting at one of our schools in North Carolina. I will update with any further information. I know this is personal for everyone in a school building, so please skip today’s class starter if it is too heavy or close to home. Today’s class starter is about the Second Amendment.
AP US Government and Politics
Critical Analysis
Based on the information from the chart, when state gun ownership rates increase what happens to gun death rates?
According to the data from the chart, identify the state with the highest percentage of gun ownership and the highest rate of gun deaths.
This chart illustrates the connection between guns and gun death in the states of the United States. What do you think the data looks like when we compare the U.S. to other countries? (see visual extension below)*
We suffer gun related deaths in the US at an exponentially higher rate than in other countries (see chart below)* Why do you think that is?
Passing legislation is hard to do. Imagine the U.S. House and Senate proposed legislation regarding gun safety. What are two places in the legislative process where proposed gun legislation could potentially be killed.
67% of Americans want stricter gun laws (see graph below)*. Do you believe they will get stricter gun laws and explain what that says about the level of democracy in our political system.
Imagine that the Congress managed to pass legislation making stricter gun laws. In response to that legislation, what role might the US Supreme Court play?
The Second Amendment reads: "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." If you were on the Supreme Court and were hearing a case involving a state that banned the sale or AR-15 semi-automatic rifles to people under 21 would you rule that law in violation of the rights guaranteed in the Second Amendment?
In 2010 the Supreme Court issued its McDonald v. Chicago holding that the Fourteenth Amendment makes the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of self-defense applicable to the states. (This process of applying all of the Bill of Rights to all of the states is known as selective incorporation.) With Justice Samuel A. Alito writing for the majority, the Court reasoned that rights that are "fundamental to the Nation's scheme of ordered liberty" or that are "deeply rooted in this Nation's history and tradition" are appropriately applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. Explain whether you agree with Justice Alito’s claim that the right to own a handgun is fundamental to ordered liberty.
Imagine that you wanted to Amend the Constitution to get rid of the Second Amendment. Describe the steps necessary to amend the Constitution, and then explain whether you think it is likely that the U.S. will amend the Constitution regarding guns.
Learning Extension
Check out these extremely comprehensive charts on guns in America from Vox and Nick Kristof's incredibly rich graphics about guns in the US from the NYT.
Action Extension
Share your opinion on guns with the president at (202) 456-1111 or contact the White House online. Or discuss your opinion by contacting your federal representatives online, or by calling them at the capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.