Gun Control in the Gun Control in the U.S.U.S.

FirearmsFirearms

1.1. HandgunsHandguns

2.2. RiflesRifles

3.3. ShotgunsShotguns

OwnershipOwnership

Households With a Gun

Adults Owning a Gun

Adults Owning a

Handgun

Percentage  40-45% 30-34% 17-19%

Number 47-53 million

70-80 million

 40-45 million

Crime and Self-Defense Crime and Self-Defense

16,272 murders were 16,272 murders were committed in the committed in the

United States during United States during 2008. 2008.

Right-to-Carry Laws Right-to-Carry Laws

Each state has its own laws regarding Each state has its own laws regarding right-to-carry and falls into one of three right-to-carry and falls into one of three main categories: main categories:

   

1) "shall-issue" states, where concealed 1) "shall-issue" states, where concealed carry permits are issued to all qualified carry permits are issued to all qualified applicants applicants

Right-to-Carry LawsRight-to-Carry Laws

2) "may-issue" states, where 2) "may-issue" states, where applicants must often present a applicants must often present a reason for carrying a firearm to an reason for carrying a firearm to an issuing authority, who then decides issuing authority, who then decides based on his or her discretion based on his or her discretion whether the applicant will receive a whether the applicant will receive a permitpermit

Right-to-Carry LawsRight-to-Carry Laws

3) "no-issue" states, where 3) "no-issue" states, where concealed carry is generally concealed carry is generally forbiddenforbidden

As of January 2012… As of January 2012…

40 states are shall-issue 40 states are shall-issue

9 states are may-issue 9 states are may-issue

ConstitutionConstitution

In the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment to the Constitution In the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment to the Constitution

reads:reads:    

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to security of a free State, the right of the people to

keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

Supreme Court DecisionsSupreme Court Decisions

D.C. v Heller D.C. v Heller

McDonald v ChicagoMcDonald v Chicago

Against Gun ControlAgainst Gun Control

Current lawCurrent law

Crime statisticsCrime statistics

Personal protectionPersonal protection

The LawThe Law

22ndnd amendment gives American citizens amendment gives American citizens the right to bare arms the right to bare arms (est. December 15, 1791)(est. December 15, 1791)

The The National Firearms National Firearms act makes it act makes it unlawful for a person to have a firearm unlawful for a person to have a firearm that they are not properly registered tothat they are not properly registered to

Background checksBackground checks

The LawThe Law

Under the Under the Brady Act Brady Act (February 28, 1994), you cannot own a gun if (February 28, 1994), you cannot own a gun if

you:you:

1. Were convicted of a crime punishable by being in prison for 1. Were convicted of a crime punishable by being in prison for more than one yearmore than one year

2. Are a fugitive from justice2. Are a fugitive from justice

3. Are addicted to, or illegally use, any controlled substance3. Are addicted to, or illegally use, any controlled substance

4. Have been ruled mentally defective by a court4. Have been ruled mentally defective by a court

5. Are an illegal alien living in the United States unlawfully5. Are an illegal alien living in the United States unlawfully

6. Received a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed 6. Received a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces Forces

ETC…ETC…

Crime IncreaseCrime Increase

Illegal guns = illegal tacticsIllegal guns = illegal tactics

Illegal tactics = more crimeIllegal tactics = more crime

Since the outset of the Florida right-to-carry law, the Florida murder Since the outset of the Florida right-to-carry law, the Florida murder rate has averaged 36% lower than it was before the law took effect, rate has averaged 36% lower than it was before the law took effect, while the U.S. murder rate has averaged 15% lower while the U.S. murder rate has averaged 15% lower

• Since the outset of the Texas right-to-carry law, the Texas murder rate has averaged 30% lower than it was before the law took effect, while the U.S. murder rate has averaged 28% lower

ProtectionProtection

Protect themselvesProtect themselves

No protection from governmentNo protection from government

Pro Gun ControlPro Gun Control

People rarely actually need to use guns for People rarely actually need to use guns for self defense self defense – According to the NCVS, guns are only used According to the NCVS, guns are only used

defensively about 100,000 times each year, defensively about 100,000 times each year, and I’m sure in some of these cases they and I’m sure in some of these cases they aren’t even really necessaryaren’t even really necessary

– Also says that guns are much more likely to Also says that guns are much more likely to kill an innocent person (in the house) than a kill an innocent person (in the house) than a thief or intruderthief or intruder

Pro Gun ControlPro Gun Control

Keeping a gun in the home actually Keeping a gun in the home actually increases chances of violenceincreases chances of violence– A study by the New England Journal of A study by the New England Journal of

Medicine concluded that having a gun in the Medicine concluded that having a gun in the household increases the chance of homicide household increases the chance of homicide by 2.7 and the chance of suicide by 4.8by 2.7 and the chance of suicide by 4.8

Pro Gun ControlPro Gun Control

Countries such as the UK, Japan and Countries such as the UK, Japan and Australia ban guns and have significantly Australia ban guns and have significantly lower gun crime rates than the USlower gun crime rates than the US

Violence is associated with guns, guns Violence is associated with guns, guns promoted, violence promotedpromoted, violence promoted

Pro Gun ControlPro Gun Control

Moderation is always goodModeration is always good– nobody needs a high power assault weaponnobody needs a high power assault weapon– If it becomes harder to be able to buy a gun If it becomes harder to be able to buy a gun

(more background checks), the likelihood of (more background checks), the likelihood of bad natured people buying them has to go bad natured people buying them has to go down somewhatdown somewhat

Pro Gun ControlPro Gun Control

Currently in 33 states, people can buy Currently in 33 states, people can buy guns at gun shows WITHOUT a guns at gun shows WITHOUT a background checkbackground check

Interest Groups Pro Gun Interest Groups Pro Gun ControlControl

Children’s Defense Children’s Defense – Thinks that gun control has to do with Thinks that gun control has to do with

protecting the children of the USprotecting the children of the US– 3,184 children died from guns in 20063,184 children died from guns in 2006

Coalition to Stop Gun ViolenceCoalition to Stop Gun Violence– Promote banning guns but know that is not Promote banning guns but know that is not

completely realisticcompletely realistic– Try to do everything to put more control on Try to do everything to put more control on

gunsguns

Republican ViewpointRepublican Viewpoint

Republicans as well as presidents such as Republicans as well as presidents such as George W. Bush agree with the individual George W. Bush agree with the individual right to own a gun.right to own a gun.

ReasoningReasoning

Libertarian ViewpointLibertarian Viewpoint

Libertarians as well as Republicans are Libertarians as well as Republicans are against gun control.against gun control.

They believe it is an outdated and They believe it is an outdated and unnecessary prohibition effort.unnecessary prohibition effort.

ReasoningReasoning

Democratic ViewpointDemocratic Viewpoint

They want to protect the 2They want to protect the 2ndnd amendement amendement right, and keep firearms out of the wrong right, and keep firearms out of the wrong hands. hands.

Reauthorize the assault weapons banReauthorize the assault weapons ban

Close the gun show loopholeClose the gun show loophole

Want ID required at purchase, background Want ID required at purchase, background check and a gun safety testcheck and a gun safety test

Reduced gun crime by 35% since 1992Reduced gun crime by 35% since 1992

Public Opinion PollPublic Opinion Poll

VideoVideo

Gun Control

CartoonCartoon

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

Do you think there should be gun control Do you think there should be gun control in the U.S. today?in the U.S. today?

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

Which political party’s views do you most Which political party’s views do you most agree with?agree with?

QuizQuiz

What is the Libertarian Viewpoint on gun What is the Libertarian Viewpoint on gun control?control?

Which bill gave details to “background Which bill gave details to “background checks”?checks”?

Is Obama for or against gun control?Is Obama for or against gun control?

What decision was made in the What decision was made in the

D.C. v. Heller trial?D.C. v. Heller trial?