In the last few years we have witnessed a series of tragic mass killings.  And note that the US has the highest per capita murder rate of the developed nations.   On a typical day, there are about 30 gun related murders & 162 people wounded by firearms in the country, based on the most recent figures from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.  On top of that, another 53 people kill themselves w/ a firearm each day, according to the CDC.

What is to be done? 

Below is a list of proposed solutions:

1.  Ban assault weapons 
2.  Ban assault weapons & require owners to turn in assault weapons 
3.  Ban large clips 
4.  Universal background checks in gun stores, at gun shows, & also between private sellers & buyers 
5.  Prosecute those who attempt to buy a gun illegally 
6.  Prosecute 'straw sales,' ie those sales to people who buy guns for others 
7.  Put armed guards in all public places where many people gather, ie from schools to movie theaters to malls...
8.  Put armed teachers in schools 
9.  Ban gun sales to more people w/ mental health issues 
10.  Increase availability of mental health treatment for everyone 
11.  Reduce violence in video games 
12.  Reduce violence in other media 
13.  Reduce crime in general 
14.  Reduce poverty
15.  Legalize some drugs 
       Other:  

Your task is to determine what can be done to reduce gun violence.  

1.  Choose solutions from the list above, or write your own.  (Do not waste time critiquing those solutions you don't think would work).

2.  Give the pros & cons of each proposed solution you make.  Try to give realistic analyses by proponents & opponents.  

3.  Use your social insight:  will violence continue to escalate?  Will people learn to live w/ it?  How?  etc?