Gun Control Legislation Moves Forward In Congress

One day before the anniversary of the Parkland school shooting, the House Judiciary Committee approved two new measures requiring stronger background checks for gun buyers. It was the first Congressional hearing on gun control since 2007. The new Democratic majority in the House is expected to pass the bills, but the Republican-controlled Senate is expected to reject them. In the year since 14 people were slain in Parkland, at least 1,149 children and teenagers died from shootings, according to reporting by about 200 teenage journalists across the country.

Class discussion: Some Parkland survivors have been leading campaigns and large demonstrations for more gun control. Do you think they will be successful? Why or why not? Has the Parkland school shooting had any impact on you and your opinions? The day after the Parkland anniversary there was a mass shooting in Illinois. Do you feel safe in school and out in public? Does having a gun in your house make it safer or more dangerous? How do the nearly 40,000 gun deaths a year in the United States compare with other countries? What do you think about gun control?