Gun Control Created By Anna Forster & Ben Vila

Introduction and History ► Constitution ratified - arguments over “the right to bear arms” and the legality of gun control ► 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.” ► United States v. Miller asserted the “collective rights” interpretation of the second amendment –right to bear arms with service in a militia. doesn’t guarantee the right to posses military style or unusual weapons like assault rifles and shotguns. ► “individual right” interpretation of the Second Amendment -giving individuals the right to bear arms and restricting government’s ability to regulate ► National Rifle Association (NRA) growing in politics and influence in Congress

Pro and Con Explanation Pro ► Cause millions of deaths by homicides, suicides, and accidents ► Too easy for criminals to get a gun  should be tougher and stricter regulations (background checks) ► Lax gun laws create illegal gun trafficking across state lines  States like Utah, Mississippi, and West Virginia are the largest exporters of illegal guns ► Columbine, Virginia Tech examples of loose gun laws and their devastating effects

Pro and Con Explanation Con ► 2nd Amendment protects individuals’ right to posses firearms ► Millions of Americans use guns for legitimate reasons  protection against crime, sport, and hunting ► Right to protect themselves and their families in case of criminal activity ► If more people owned and carried guns, crime could be stopped quicker and more effectively

Recent Developments ► June 28, 2010 Chicago vs. McDonald  Victory for opposers of gun rights  “right to bear arms” diminishes of state/local authorities to control  Previously one of the strictest in nation  City’s ban is effectively dead

Recent Developments ► May, 2009 Obama signed consumer- protection credit card bill  Attached provision allowing visitors to national parks to carry loaded and concealed weapons  Law and provision completely unrelated ► Shows influence of against Gun Control Interest Groups in politics

Evidence/Statistics Pro Gun Control Display New York Times pg. 1

Con Gun Control Display Crimes per 100,000 population Total Violen t Crime Aggrav ated Assault YearMurderRape Robb ery Trend, %-8%-4%-9%-5% Trend, %-49%-32%-51%-39% Murder has fallen 49 percent to a 45-year low. At the same time, the number of guns that Americans own has risen by about 90 million

Special Interest Groups The National Rifle Association (NRA): Mission statement: Established in 1990, the NRA Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax- deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearms-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. These activities are designed to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those participating in the shooting sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context. (Taken from the NRA Website)

Special Interest Group The Brady Campaign: Mission statement: We are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities. The Brady Campaign works to pass and enforce sensible federal and state gun laws, regulations, and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support common sense gun laws, and increasing public awareness of gun violence. Through our Million Mom March and Brady Chapters, we work locally to educate people about the dangers of guns, honor victims of gun violence, and pass sensible gun laws, believing that all Americans, especially children, have the right to live free from the threat of gun violence. The Brady Center works to reform the gun industry by enacting and enforcing sensible regulations to reduce gun violence, including regulations governing the gun industry. In addition, we represent victims of gun violence in the courts. We educate the public about gun violence through litigation, grassroots mobilization, and outreach to affected communities. (Taken from the Brady Campaign’s Website)

Political Parties on Gun Control ► Republican :  Open more public land to hunting – increasing access to hunters  No frivolous gun lawsuits, no gun licensing- oppose federal licensing of law abiding gun owners  Will protect right to bear arms- will hold criminals accountable for crimes but oppose invasion of law abiding citizens privacy

Political Parties on Gun Control ► Democratic:  Reauthorize assault weapons ban, close gun show loophole- keeps guns away from criminals and terrorists by banning assault weapon  Strengthen gun control to reduce violence - should require a photo license I.D., a background check, and a gun safety test to buy a new handgun

Political Parties on Gun Control ► Libertarian:  Affirm the right to keep and bear arms- oppose the requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition  Repeal all gun control laws and regulation of weapons- favor the repeal of laws banning the concealment of weapons or elimination of pocket weapons

Public Opinion Polls ► Before Shootings

Public Opinion Poll ► After Shootingswww.gallup.com

Extra Information PA State Laws ► Permit to purchase, registration of firearms, licensing of owners not required (rifles, shotguns, and handguns) ► Permit to carry required for handguns (but not rifles or shotguns) ► Require criminal background checks on all handgun purchases ► State Constitutional Revision:  “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.” Article I, Section 21. ► Scale of 25/100 on Brady scale. mid-range.  “common sense laws but more needs to be done”

Extra Information Comparative State Laws ► California: Nation’s strongest gun laws, 79/100 on the Brady scale ► Gun dealers must be a CA licensed firearm dealer ► An application for sale must be submitted—contains a description of the buyer and the firearm they are trying to purchase ► CA DOJ conducts a background check on all purchasers ► When buying must present CA Driver’s License, give their right thumbprint, and provide proof of CA residence ► Permit required to have a registered “assault weapons” ► Utah: ► Nation’s weakest gun laws, 0/100 on Brady scale ► No state permit to purchase or possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun ► Background checks required for all purchases unless purchaser has a valid concealed firearm permit ► To obtain firearm permit - $60 and a class from a registered Utah gun safety instructor ► firearm permits are valid in 32 other states, including PA

Visuals

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Works Cited ► "Gun Control - News - Times Topics - The New York Times." Times Topics. The New York Times, 28 June Web. 11 Oct ► Muir, David, and Carmen Perez. "Gun Show Loophole Still Not Closed." ABCNews.com. 17 Apr Web. 11 Oct ► LII – Legal Information Institute of Cornell University. “District of Columbia v. Heller”. Supreme Court of the United States. Web. 11 Oct ► LII – Legal Information Institute of Cornell University. “District of Columbia v. Heller”. Supreme Court of the United States. Web. 11 Oct ► ---. “McDonald v. City of Chicago, Illinois.” Supreme Court of The United States. Web. 11 Oct ► The Supreme Court of the United States. “Syllabus: McDonald v. City of Chicago, Illinois.” Web. 28 June Oct ► The Supreme Court of the United States. “Syllabus: McDonald v. City of Chicago, Illinois.” Web. 28 June Oct ► Lichtblau, Eric. “Lax State Gun Laws Tied to Crimes in Other States.” The New York Times. Newspaper, accessed on Web. 26 Sept Oct New York Times. Newspaper, accessed on Web. 26 Sept Oct &st=nythttp:// &st=nyt

Works Cited Continued ► The National Rifle Association Institute for Legal Action. “Firearms Laws for Pennsylvania.” Web. Feb Oct ► The National Rifle Association Institute for Legal Action. “Firearms Laws for Pennsylvania.” Web. Feb Oct ► ---. “Firearms Laws for California.” Web. July Oct ► ---. “Firearms Laws for California.” Web. July Oct ► ---. “Firearms Laws for Utah.” Web. May Oct ► ---. “Firearms Laws for Utah.” Web. May Oct ► The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Brady State Scorecard: California. Web. 12 Oct ► The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Brady State Scorecard: California. Web. 12 Oct ► ---. Brady State Scorecard: Pennsylvania. Web. 12 Oct ► ---. Brady State Scorecard: Pennsylvania. Web. 12 Oct ► ---. Brady State Scorecard: Utah. Web. 12 Oct ► ---. Brady State Scorecard: Utah. Web. 12 Oct ► Katharine Ham, Mary. “Meet Otis McDonald: The Man Behind the SCOTUS Chicago Gun Case.” The Weekly Standard. Magazine, accessed on Web. 2 March Oct ► Katharine Ham, Mary. “Meet Otis McDonald: The Man Behind the SCOTUS Chicago Gun Case.” The Weekly Standard. Magazine, accessed on Web. 2 March Oct ► Frosch, Dan. “Utah’s Gun Permit Popular With Nonresidents”. The New York Times. Newspaper, accessed on Web. 5 July Oct ► Frosch, Dan. “Utah’s Gun Permit Popular With Nonresidents”. The New York Times. Newspaper, accessed on Web. 5 July Oct 2010.