Harvard University Gun Control and Gun Ownership by State Questions Question 1 – Gun Ownership by State There are drastically different rates of gun owners

Harvard University Gun Control and Gun Ownership by State Questions Question 1 – Gun Ownership by State
There are drastically different rates of gun ownership by state. Alaska is over 60 % and Rhode Island is under 6. Looking at this map of the U.S., list three observations you have about rates of gun ownership in the U.S.
Discussion Question 2 – Gun Control
Most of our discussion is about why we do not have more gun control. But the key policy debate is whether or not it would actually would work to reduce the incidence of gun violence in the U.S. Looking at this short article, assess whether you think gun control would actually work to curb gun violence. This author does not think it would do much, do you agree with the author that most gun control measures would not really work? Explain.

https://time.com/4100408/a-criminologists-case-against-gun-control/

Discussion Question 3 – Trump and Immigration
Many think Donald Trump rode the immigration issue to the White House. What is your reaction to Trump’s immigration rhetoric in the three videos? And even if you do not like it, why do you think it may have been such a successful campaign issue for him?
Discussion Question 4 – “The Wall” and “the Dreamers.”
Please review the two short articles below? Do you agree with the policy positions stated? Explain.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-11-12/daca-supreme-court-trump-dreamers

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/building-the-wall-would-be-so-worth-it/2018/01/09/ff603f42-f562-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html Today’s Agenda
Section 8. The U.S. Government in Action
The policy making process

48. Why don’t we pass more gun control legislation?

49. Why is immigration such a hot-button issue?

Finals Study Guide . . .
48. Why don’t we pass more gun control legislation?
Gun deaths by comparison . . .
Access is easy . . .
 https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/firearm
s/tactical/ar-15-rifles/
Big differences in gun culture by state
Discussion
Question 1 – do
you see any
pattern in high,
medium and
low gun
ownership
states
Coverage of mass shootings is what has
really raised the gun control issue . . .
Public opinion on guns . . .
Policy Proposals on guns

Ban Assault Rifles

Ban Large magazines – no more than 10 rounds in a gun

Ban “bump stocks”

Mandatory background checks for all gun sales

Increase the length of waiting periods to buy guns

Increase the number of categories of people prohibited from getting guns
(i.e., mental health issues, police tagging, etc.

Put serial numbers on bullets so they could be traced to the buyer

Others . . . .
So why no action on guns?
 Serious
philosophical divide over
citizen rights and the meaning of the
2nd amendment.
 A powerful and focused interest group
with no opposing rival.
A divide and broad acceptance of the 2nd Amendment
Support for the
NRA.
They grade all
politicians – here
are the grades of
U.S. senators in
2016
Why has the NRA been so powerful?
Key Terms:

Collective Action Dilemma

Free – Rider Problem

Crux: more committed and focused interests are groups are
more successful

See reading for today:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/19/taking-onthe-n-r-a
But would gun control even work?

Read or reread these two short articles for today:

https://time.com/4100408/a-criminologists-case-against-gun-control/

https://www.thoughtco.com/liberal-arguments-for-gun-control-3325528
Discussion Question 2 – post response on Brightspace
Sum up

Why no gun control . . . ?

– History of guns and the 2nd amendment make reform
difficult.

– General desire for more limits on guns by the public.

– But these limits are beaten back by a very powerful,
focused and successful special interest.
49. Why is immigration such a hot-button issue?
President Trump ran on this issue, and many
analysts attribute his victory to this approach
 Trump
on immigration:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYVtB-33aNg
(announcing his candidacy)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLMlCMbhNdk
(accepting the nomination of the Republican Party)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqQXp1PnvsU
(campaign speech on immigration)
View these three short videos and then answer discussion question 3 on Brightspace
Family separation policy at the border
has gotten a lot of attention
High-Profile cases of crimes committed by
people in the country illegally fuel much of
the opposition to immigration
Recent History of Immigration Policy
U.S. history of immigrants – part of the American Dream
– Lore of the Statue of Liberty
–
1986 – Reagan signs Immigration Reform and Control Act
Control Act (Amnesty and Border Security together)
– 2006 – President Bush tries and fails to reform immigration
–
–
–
2010-2016 – President Obama tries and fails to reform
immigration
2017 – Trump becomes President on Immigration Platform
Key terms and policy issues in the debate
over immigration.

Legal immigration
Key Distinction in the law:

Illegal immigration
Policy Debates:

Improve border security on the Southern Border – build a wall

“pathway to citizenship” – create a process for people not in the country legally
to gain legal status

Sanctuary cities

Border Separations – see article on Trump policies

Dreamers and DACA
Discussion Question 4 – post to Brightspace requires a response to these articles:
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-11-12/daca-supreme-court-trump-dreamers and
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/building-the-wall-would-be-so-worth-it/2018/01/09/ff603f42-f56211e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html
Why such a hot button issue?
Security
 Economics
 Racism
 Other . . .

Take a look at the range of public opinion
attitudes on immigration questions:
http://pollingreport.com/immigration.htm

Sum up . . .Why such a hot button issue?
 Because
no action has been taken in over
three decades so the perceived problems
appear unsolved.
 Immigration issues touches on questions of
security and race.
 Some deep divisions among the electorate on
which policies to pursue.

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