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Using
NewsHour Extra Feature Stories Story: Supreme
Court Decides to Hear D.C. Gun Law Case, 11/26/07 Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. What has the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to do about the ban of handguns in Washington, D.C? 2. What is the specific law in question? 3. How did the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit rule on the DC handgun ban? On what did it base its conclusions? 4. When did the Supreme Court last hear a big gun rights case? 5. Explain the difference between the "individual" interpretation of the Second Amendment and the "collective" interpretation. 6. Explain the positions of gun control advocates and gun rights advocates. How might a decision impact each group's viewpoint? 7. How might the makeup of the Supreme Court impact this case? Discussion Activity (more research might be needed): 1. Pretend you are a member of the US Supreme Court. Research the specific DC law and arguments both for and against the handgun ban. What do you think? How would you decide this case? In which camp does your opinion fall? 2. What are the gun laws in your city or state? How do they compare to the DC law? 3. Looking to the history of the United States, why do you think the issue of gun control is so important to so many Americans? Cite specific historical references in your answer. 4. What is the international perspective on this issue? Where are there similar debates over gun ownership? Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site. |