University of Houston Law Center



Class 8, 2/11 — Gun Control [Second Amendment] DEBATE

Total Time Allotment: 55 minutes

Learning Outcomes and Goals:

1) Teacher will attempt to get the students more involved in conversation through the use of classroom debate.

2) Students will discuss the second amendment, its historical significance, and potential interpretations.

3) Students will generally understand the concept of the right to bear arms, while working on their oral advocacy skills.

4) Students will consider the pros and cons of the right to bear arms in America, culminating in a class-wide debate with Teacher acting as Moderator and Mr. Shaw acting as Judge.

Methodologies Used: highlighted in yellow.

Needed Materials: paper, writing utensil, PowerPoint, research from last class, a grading rubric for Mr. Shaw, half sheets of paper for the class writing assignment, and rewards for the winning team.

[5 minutes] Brief Recap of Last Class: Give the students a few minutes to refresh their memory regarding their research and to discuss their strategy with their teams.

[45 minutes- at least] The debate will begin issue by issue. I will act as Moderator and Mr. Shaw will ultimately rule on each question.

The 2nd amendment:

1) What does the 2nd amendment really mean and who holds the right to bear arms?

2) Has society changed since the 2nd amendment was passed? (1791). Does this matter and how does it affect your arguments?

3) Has our technology changed? Should this matter? Colonial rifles v. nuclear bombs or machine guns.

4) What are ‘arms?’ Can they include such things as clubs, knives, and bombs?

5) Should certain ‘arms’ be completely forbidden no matter what? Which arms should be legal or illegal to own or carry?

Public Safety:

6) How does your side’s position promote public safety?

7) Should the public be concerned about increased gun violence or crime?

8) What is your response to the argument that gun control laws help protect children and families (i.e. prevents accidental gun deaths)?

9) Should individuals be allowed to open carry guns if they are 21 and have passed the shooting test/background check?

a. Would you attempt to decrease the gun holder’s age?

b. What if there was no background check? (like in private sales)

Protecting the Innocent:

10) Should we allow guns on college campuses (in the classroom)?

11) What is your response to past shooter attacks on campuses?

12) What about allowing teachers to be armed (only)?

13) Does the right to bear arms extend to elementary schools?

Psychological Evaluations:

- Background, True Story: Charles Whitman took a stockpile of guns and ammunition to the observatory platform atop the 300-foot tower at the University of Texas and proceeded to shoot 46 people, killing 14 people and wounding 31. Whitman killed both his wife and mother the night before. He was eventually stopped when courageous Austin police officers charged up the stairs of the bell tower to subdue him. Whitman, a former Eagle Scout and Marine, began to suffer serious mental problems after his mother left his father in March 1966. On March 29, he told a psychiatrist that he was having uncontrollable fits of anger. He purportedly even told this doctor that he was thinking about going up to the tower with a rifle and shooting people. Unfortunately, the doctor didn’t follow up on this red flag. On July 31, Whitman wrote a note about his violent impulses, saying, “After my death, I wish an autopsy on me be performed to see if there’s any mental disorders.” 

14) Should individuals be required to pass a psychological evaluation before getting a gun?

15) How could gun control or a lack of gun control prevent these kinds of dangerous situations?

[5 minutes] Announcement of debate winners!

Conclusion: After this week, you have learned:

❑ How to conduct research,

❑ How to formulate ideas as an individual and as a group,

❑ How to be an effective oral advocate,

❑ The various interpretations of the 2nd amendment, and

❑ The pros and cons of the current gun control debate.

[5 minutes] Writing Assignment- IF there is time, I will have the students write 1 paragraph (to turn into Mr. Shaw for a grade) regarding what they learned about the 2nd amendment and/or the current gun control debate in America.

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