On Friday all five of my classes participated in Socratic Seminars about Gun Control.  That’s roughly 140 students. 

Highlights:

-It was Unanimous that there needed to be stricter adherence to current laws.

-It was nearly unanimous that universal background checks should be required.

-Mental health issues were a little more sticky.  Some students had concerns that someone that might have had depression is the past would be denied the ability to purchase.

-About ten percent of my students wanted to ban all guns and repeal the 2nd Amendment.

-It was unanimously agreed to that teachers should not be armed in a classroom.

-However there was support for more Campus police officers and/or arming campus supervisors.

-Some students did not realize that our current campus policer officer is armed.

-A majority of students seemed to have no problem banning assault weapons while seeming more divided in regards to handguns.  Most students seemed to not have a problem with ownership of rifles and shotguns.

-The discussions were positive, never really contentious, and showed that the major sticking points revolve around why people are engaging in gun violence and at what point to limit or eliminate access to certain types of weapons.

-The most intriguing quote of the day was from one of my Norwegian exchange students; “It doesn’t do any good to compare statistics between the United States and other countries because in the United States, people like guns.”  It wasn’t said as a negative statement, simply a matter-of-fact statement.