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Task

Listening activity: Gun Control

Listen to two American teenagers discussing the issue of gun control.
Skulpturen "Non-Violence" av Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. Foto.
"Non-Violence" av Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. Image: Giorgio Galeotti, Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd / Restricted right of use

The Right to Bear Arms

"We, the people" are the first words of the American Constitution and democratic ideals are the cornerstone of all American institutions. The strong belief in the individual rights of the people has in many ways become a founding principle and the role of the Government is to secure that these rights are guaranteed for the people. The Second Amendment of the Constitution, which was ratified in 1791, states: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right for the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Listen to Ian and Sam, two American teenagers, discussing the issue.

Ian and Sam Talking about Guns for Protection

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Audio: Jon Sandnes / CC BY-SA 4.0
  1. What is meant by “residential settings”, and why is it mentioned here?
  2. Why, according to Ian is the weapon legislation problematic?
  3. Why do they talk about “different parts of America”?
  4. Can anyone buy a gun, or are there any regulations and restrictions?

Discuss:

  1. How is the United States different now than it was when the Second Amendment was written?
  2. Why don't the Americans change their weapon legislation when so many people are killed by hand guns every year?