Recent Supreme Court rulings about the right to carry guns in Washington, D.C. and Chicago are reverberating around the country, and in California, it's still unclear what effects the rulings will have. The Supreme Court left many questions about specific gun laws unanswered, since it ruled against gun bans in some cases but upheld other gun control laws like those involving felons or firearms on public property.
Gun rights advocates say the Supreme Court's rulings mean the Constitution's Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, must be upheld across the country. But others say the rulings are more nuanced, especially when it comes to selling or carrying guns in public places. One California law bans selling firearms on public grounds in Alameda County. The law was passed after a shooting occurred at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, but the law is expected to be challenged in court now that gun rights advocates have the backing of the recent Supreme Court rulings.
Gun control advocates, as well as many members of the police force, are especially worried about a new trend in California: people visibly carrying unloaded handguns in public. Policemen say that if they are confronted with someone who's carrying a gun, they have to analyze whether that person is a threat, and it's difficult to do so when more and more people are carrying guns casually.
Quotes
"Guns are always dangerous. And you never know when that's going toturn on you. If we have greater control on the guns, greaterregulation on the guns and in the public realm, the chances of uscoming in contact with that gun become fewer." - Ken James,Emeryville, Calif. police chief
"The Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment is an individualright. You don't have to be a member of a militia. And then they alsoextended that right as enforceable against state and localgovernments. So, the Second Amendment applies across the country." -Don Kilmer, gun show attorney
"The major obstacle to the passage of -- of gun control laws is notthe Second Amendment. It's really the political will, and publicopinion, and dealing with the power of the gun lobby." - JulietLeftwich, Legal Community Against Violence
Warm Up Questions
1. What does the Second Amendment of the Constitution say?
2. What do the terms "gun control" and "gun rights" mean?
3. What is the Supreme Court's role in government?
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think about people's right to openly carry unloadedguns in public? Do you think it should be upheld? Why or why not?
2. Which person interviewed for this video do you most agree with?Why? Who do you most disagree with?
3. Why are people in California looking at Supreme Court rulings inChicago and Washington, D.C.? How might those rulings be applied tothem?
Additional Resources
High Court Rules Against City Gun Ban
Supreme Court Rules Individuals Have Right to Own Guns
