R e q u i r e d R e s o u r c e s
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
• Textbook: Chapter 10, 11 • Lesson • Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)
I n i t i a l P o s t I n s t r u c t i o n s
Consider one of the following current social issues – or one of your choice:
• Gun violence • Racism • Economic inequality • Sexism • Violent crime • Immigration
For the initial post, address the following:
• State your position on one of these issues – are you for, against, or neutral? Explain why. Avoid vagueness or ambiguity in your response. Make your position very clear.
• Examine how you have formed that opinion. o How well do you think you know the facts? o Do you know and understand statistical information that applies to the
issue? o Do you think you have formed your opinion using only System-1
thinking, or have you applied System-2? o What part have heuristics, cognitive bias, and dominance structuring
played in how you have formed your opinions?
The initial post is not about how “correct” your position is; it is about how you arrived at your position on the issue. This discussion requires application of metacognition – thinking about how you think.
W r i t i n g R e q u i r e m e n t s
• 1 page only • Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside
source)
• APA format for in-text citations and list of references
Gun violence
Introduction
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for Americans under age 30. It’s also one of the most preventable forms of death. We know how to keep guns out of the hands of people at risk for violence, but we don’t have a good solution for preventing gun violence once it starts happening. In this article, we’ll explore what causes gun-related deaths and injuries and how we can reduce them through public health approaches like focusing on mental health services or enforcing existing laws prohibiting violent behavior by those who shouldn’t have access to firearms in the first place.
What is gun violence?
Gun violence is the use of guns to kill people. It can be a public health issue, a public safety issue and it can also be considered a criminal justice issue.
In 2015 alone there were over 30 mass shootings in America. This means that there were over 350 deaths by gun violence that year alone. Over half of those who died were under 35 years old and two-thirds were men or boys under 25 years old.*
Gun violence in America
Gun violence is a serious problem in America. It’s also preventable and curable, but we don’t have the right policies in place to do so.
The good news is that gun violence can be prevented by making sure people who are at-risk for it don’t have access to guns. This means not just restricting access to firearms but also educating people about health risks associated with living with untreated mental illness like schizophrenia or depression; ensuring that those suffering from these conditions receive support services like medication management programs; advocating for better funding for community health centers where patients can get care without having to pay out of pocket–you know, basic stuff like making sure everyone has clean water on their lawns instead of drinking from the street!
Gun violence in the United States
Guns are the most common cause of death for children, and they’re also a major cause of death among women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), guns are responsible for more than 33,000 deaths each year in America:
Gun violence is disproportionately deadly for young people. In 2015 alone, more than 1 million children aged 0-17 were victims of unintentional firearm injuries–including 551 deaths resulting from assault rifles or shotguns.
Cops are killed by guns 2x more often than civilians–and most cops aren’t armed with body armor or other protective gear when they encounter an active shooter situation!
The impact of gun violence on children
Gun violence is one of the leading causes of death among children in the United States. There are many reasons why a child may be shot, but it’s important to remember that children aren’t always targeted by gun violence–they could be killed by another family member or friend who knows their whereabouts.
In 2016 alone, nearly 5 million children were exposed to gun violence at some point during their lifetime. Half of all gun deaths happen while they’re present at home with their parents or guardians; another third occur while traveling in vehicles with adults who own guns (including police officers).
The public health approach to reducing gun-related death and injury
The public health approach to reducing gun-related death and injury is a comprehensive approach that seeks to reduce the incidence of gun violence. It includes a focus on prevention, intervention, and gun safety.
The public health approach recognizes that there are multiple causes for firearm injuries and deaths in the United States. While it is true that some people may have criminal intent when committing acts of violence using guns (such as gang members or terrorists), many others who use firearms do so without any malicious intent whatsoever–including law enforcement officers who are accidentally shot during training exercises or accidental shootings by family members who were trying to protect themselves from an intruder at home.
It is possible to reduce gun deaths
The public health approach to reducing gun-related death and injury includes measures that are both preventative and reactive. Preventative measures include policies that protect the public from dangerous people, like background checks on all gun sales, safe storage laws (like locking guns in a separate location when not in use), increasing education about gun safety for children, programs that teach people how to properly handle firearms safely.
Reactive measures include finding ways to reduce access to illegal guns through better enforcement of existing laws as well as enforcing bans on certain types of weapons such as assault rifles or large capacity magazines (like those used by mass shooters).
Conclusion
Gun violence is a serious public health problem in the United States. It is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and injuries each year, and it disproportionately affects low-income communities and people of color. In addition to its impact on individual lives, gun violence has broader societal implications including increased rates of incarceration–and therefore inequality–and decreased social mobility in our country.