Gun Control

Guns are responsible for over thirty-three thousand deaths in the United States annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About two-thirds of these gun-related deaths are suicides. The United States leads the world with more gun-related homicides and suicides than any other country, according to a 2016 study conducted by the American Journal of Medicine. In 2014, the CDC reported that 11,008 of the 15,872 homicides committed in the United States that year involved a firearm. Of the 42,826 suicides reported that year, 21,386 involved a firearm. These statistics have inspired efforts at the federal and state levels to enact gun control legislation to reduce crime and violence. (Opposing Viewpoints)

• Is the United State’s gun-centered culture responsible for an increase in shootings?
• Will outlawing handguns make the United States any safer?
• Globally gun control laws are very strict and gun crime is very low - should the United States consider what works for other countries?
• Should the Second Amendment be adjusted for the times?
• Is an individual's right to bear arms more important than the safety of the general public?
• Do gun shows promote the use of guns? Should cities ban gun shows?
• How has the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act of 1994 affected gun laws?
• Should gun rights be controlled by the states or the federal government?
• Explain "Smart Gun" technology and the pros/cons of making it a mandatory feature.
• How does permitting licensed guns on college campuses in Florida affect the campus safety?
• How does "Stand Your Ground" laws intersect with gun violence?