1. Getting the Word Out
Special interest and political advocacy groups play a significant role in the national gun debate. Organizations, such as the National Rifle Association and Americans for Gun Safety, actively promote their points of view on firearm laws through a variety of means. Have students conduct research on and list prominent associations representing supporters and opponents of gun control legislation. California State University-Chico provides a summary of some of these organizations. The DMOZ Open Directory Project gives links to both Pro-Gun Rights Organizations and Anti-Gun Rights Organizations. See also NOW's selections from the gun control debate for some of the arguments advocated by these organizations. Divide students into small groups, each representing one association. Instruct them to design a media campaign that promotes its perspective on gun control and rights.

2. From State to State: A Look at Gun Control Legislation
Firearm laws vary across the nation. Have students work in pairs to research and chart gun legislation in two or three states. A good starting point is the Open Society Institute's study, A Comparative Survey of State Firearm Laws, which outlines categories related to gun laws and safety issues, such as licensing and purchasing age requirements. Create a wall-sized chart that lists the states and the gun law categories on which students can log their findings. Have students compare and contrast the cumulative data to determine how states rank in terms of gun safety and discuss whether the federal government should put in place standard firearm regulations by which states must abide. For additional information on gun control legislation, see NOW's summary of proposed gun laws currently under consideration.

3. Gun Laws: The Constitutional Debate
At the core of legal cases involving firearms is a debate about the interpretive nature of the Second Amendment. When can people legally carry guns? What aspects of gun laws might violate constitutional rights? NOW's selections from the gun control debate provides various perspectives on these questions. To further explore such issues and help students recognize ways the Second Amendment can be viewed in different circumstances, have students review several court cases to identify common constitutional threads in court decisions. A summary of cases supporting gun control is provided by the Violence Policy Center. Pro gun rights cases are listed by the Second Amendment Foundation. Other suggested case source: The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

4. Youth and Firearms
Is there a relationship between gun laws and gun violence among youth? Invite students to compile data about youth gun violence in the U.S. and identify laws that are meant to curb youth purchases and use of firearms. Based on the data collected, how effective are such laws? Since they have been implemented, what is the rate of gun-related casualties among the nation's youth? Have students also review NOW's excerpts from the gun control debate and summary of proposed gun legislation and explain whether they think gun regulations promote or prevent violence. See also these information sources specifically on youth violence: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; The Future of Children: Guns and Youth Violence; In the Mix: Gun Violence; and the Online NewsHour's Violence and the Young.

About the Author
Michele Israel has been an educator in varied capacities for over 20 years. As founder and director of Educational Consulting Group, Israel currently serves non-profit and educational institutions, providing services including strategic planning, curriculum development, and project management, produces learning materials and writes articles for companies such as the Public Broadcasting Service, Education World, and CNN/Turner Learning.