Should Assault Weapons Be Banned Again?

1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with these essential questions: In what ways does technology improve our lives? Is the right to keep and bear arms in the U.S. an individual or a collective right?

2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether Congress should pass a law banning the sale of assault-style weapons to the general public. The issue is timely because President Biden has called on Congress to institute such a ban.)

• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Ari Davis is a senior policy analyst for an organization that works to end gun violence. Courtney Orange is the communications coordinator for an organization that advocates for gun rights.) 

• Analyze Davis’s view. (Davis argues in favor of banning the sale of assault-style weapons to the general public. He says that assault weapons are the go-to weapon for mass shooters, and therefore, that banning these weapons will save lives, just as the earlier ban saved lives.)

• Analyze Orange’s view. (Orange argues against banning assault-style weapons. She says that such a ban would infringe on our Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. She says that evil people are the problem, not guns, and that banning assault-style weapons would make people less safe as they would be less able to defend themselves against evil people with guns.)

4. Writing Prompt
In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate
Should assault weapons be banned again? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate. 

6. Vote
Go online to vote in Upfront’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.