Young Guns

Guns are a part of American history, heritage and legend. The right to bears arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment. But what happens when children have access to guns?

Everyday in this country, 14 American children and adolescents die in gun-related homicides, suicides, and accidents (National Center for Health Statistics, 1996). How do we prevent our children from dying at the hands of other children with guns? Is the answer in education; teaching children how to use and respect firearms? Or is it in legislation and gun control? These questions mirror the larger debate on gun control in the United States' debate that involves the tension between life in modern America and the American heritage of gun ownership.

Young Guns would be useful for classes on American History, American Culture, Civic, Criminal Justice and Ethics. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

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1. Guns have always been a part of the American heritage. Discuss the role of guns in American history.

2. Is American culture violent? Is it more violent than other cultures? Does our culture promote gun use among children?

3. Although adults are usually the owners of guns, children are more likely to shoot someone with a gun than an adult. Why?

4. Discuss the relationship between illegal drugs and guns.

5. What is our "hunting heritage?" How does this heritage complicate the issue of gun control?

6. If it is illegal to sell guns to children, where do children get guns?

7. Our culture has been called a "gun culture." What does this mean? Do you agree? Why or why not?

8. Every sport or group has their own ethics. What are ethics? What are hunting ethics?

9. Another boy shot Michael Harris. How did this shooting change Michele Harris' life? Will his life ever be the same? How will his life be different? How will his family's life be different?

10. Officer Russ Alsbrooks of the Houston Police department patrols some of the city's mean streets. Does Alsbrooks violate police procedures? If so, how? If he does, do you think he was justified? Why or why not?

11. How is America's obsession with guns affecting our children?

1. Create a poster promoting handgun safety for children.

2. Write an essay or moderate a debate on gun control and the right to bear arms.

3. What are the gun laws in your state? Do you feel they are too lenient? Too stringent? What would you propose to change existing laws? Write a letter to one of you city's elected officials explaining your position and what you would like to see them do to change existing laws.

4. Find an article that tells a story about someone being shot. How did it happen? Could it have been prevented? What would you have done in the same situation? What would be the appropriate punishment for the person committing the crime? Were the police involved? What did they do?

Primary Sources

• Second Amendment: A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Air Dates

• August 06, 2003
• October 22, 2003