Role-play
Divide the class into 4 groups. Each group is given a role card. Take time to prepare before you meet your “opponents” in a debate for and against gun control.
You should also choose one person who can act as the host of the show. His/her task is to make sure that each group is given the same chance to express its opinions, and that all group members participate.
Group 1: NRA
You are a member of the NRA and you strongly oppose any form of gun control. Your task is to find out:
- More about the NRA, what they stand for and how they argue
- Why many Americans believe owning a gun is a human right
- Why many Americans fear a strong government, and what this has to do with gun ownership
- What the NRA believe are the best strategies for reducing gun related homicides
Group 2: The Police
You represent the police. You see the consequences of guns in society every day. Your task is to find out:
- Statistics and numbers that show the number of killed and injured every year
- What kind of guns that are used
- Information about different state legislations, and different crime rates in different states
- Where the challenges are from the police’s point of view
- What the police can do to reduce the problem
Group 3: The Brady Campaign
You support the Brady Campaign and work for stricter gun legislation in the USA. Your task is to find out:
- What the Brady Campaign and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence stand for and how they work
- Facts about the consequences of guns in American society
- Why the Second Amendment is no longer relevant in today’s American society
- What the best strategies are for reducing gun related homicides
Group 4: Historian
You are an historian with a special interest in early American history. Your task is to find out:
- The background and consequences of the Second Amendment
- Why the Founding Fathers included the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights
- How the Second Amendment can be interpreted
- Why guns are so important for Americans, from a historical point of view
Resources
Brady Campaign
Everytown
The National Rifle Association
Second Amendment Foundation
US Constitution Online