Civil Liberties The second Amendment Gun Law in

Civil Liberties The second Amendment: Gun Law in America Forensics September 3, 2013 1

Objectives: SWBAT • Identify the key parts of the second amendment • Introduction to the gun rights debate 2

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 3

Second Amendment A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, State the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed 4

Second Amendment A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, State the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed The current interpretation of the amendment leans heavily on the second clause. 5

Gun Law in America: Brief Chronology • 1939: SCOTUS upholds the National Firearms Act • A 2 applies to weapons w/ “reasonable relationship” to militias • 1960’s: Rise in crime/ assassinations lead to stricter federal laws • 1968 – Gun Control Act: Bans sale to criminals, “mental defectives, ” etc. • 1976: DC bans new handgun registrations • 1977: National Rifle Association leadership replaced with “hardline gun advocates” 6

Gun Law in America: Brief Chronology • 1980’s: Federal Gun laws begin to be relaxed • 1986: Firearm Owners Protection Act • Eases federal sales laws • Gunshow loophole • Bans national firearms registry • 1990: Assault Weapons Ban • 1993: Brady Bill • Five day waiting period • 2008: SCOTUS overturns DC gun ban • 2010: SCOTUS overturns Chicago gun ban 7

National Gun Registry • Should all gun owners be forced to register in a national database? • On your own paper: • 1) Summarize the pro/ con arguments • 2) Do you feel that registration prevents ownership? Is it a violation of the second amendment? The right to privacy? • 3) Your opinion: should gun owners be forced to legally register on a federal level? 8

The Structured Academic Controversy • A: The person sitting next to you is your partner • B: You will now have four minutes to discuss with your arguments with your partner. You are trying to create the best possible argument you can. • C: You will now have 4 MINUTES to argue your case to the other team • Team B, you are not talking, you are listening and making notes • D: Team B, you will now have 3 MINUTES to ask clarifying questions – CHALLENGE THEM! • E: Reverse 9

Building Consensus • Each team has presented their best argument, now work together at your table to build a consensus • One person will write the consensus of the table • One page, all names • The Consensus will be structured as followed: • • We believe __________ Because ____________ However, the opposing side is right in ________ But we still feel that __________ 10