Reverse Outline
Title: Gun Control Resolution: Finding a Common Ground in Mental Health Screenings and Background Checks
Thesis Statement: Though they will not resolve the whole gun violence issue, mental health evaluations and criminal background checks will reduce the frequency of gun related crimes by making it harder for criminals to legally obtain guns.
Topic Sentences:
Satel, Sally L. "Enforce Mental Health Laws, Don’t Add to Them." NY Times Room For Debate. NY Times, 17 Jan. 13. Web. 9 Nov. 15
National Instant Criminal Background Check System. (2013). Congressional Digest, 92(3), 14-17.
Fox, “Crackdown on Illegal Gun Trade”
"Gun Control." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2015): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Benn Swann Debates Gun Control On RT. Perf. Ben Swann, Jill Stein, Richard Feldman, and Leah Gunn Barrett. Benn Swann Debates Gun Control On RT. Ben Swann, 14 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
Jaffe, D. J. “Require Therapists to Warn Authorities of Danger.” NY Times Room For Debate. NY Times, 29 May 14. Web 9 Nov. 2015.
Oppositions:
- Most likely, conservative Republicans will oppose the notion of stronger background checks and mental health screenings, out of a fear of “having their guns taken away.”
- The Democratic liberals may agree with mandatory mental health screens
- American people are innocent until proven guilty. Mandatory mental health screens would be unconstitutional, as they would infringe upon US citizens’ 4th amendment right. Mental health screenings should be mandated only to those who have lost their right to practice the 2nd amendment, in the efforts of regaining their right after rehabilitation and a lengthy amount of time maintaining a clean record.
- However, our suggested legislation will work to enforce laws that will keep guns out of the hands of those with malicious intent, while protecting the rights of responsible gun owners. Perhaps another method of reducing gun related crimes would be to increase stricter punishment on those convicted of making straw man purchases. Despite our differences in beliefs, in order for other gun control issues to start moving toward each other on the sliding scale, we all need to meet somewhere between criminal background checks and mental health screens.