Think about the Second Amendment. What comes to mind? I think about something other than the constitutional language of the Second Amendment but about the connotative connections. I think about the layered nature of the “gun rights” argument and how my students take in the cacophonous rhetoric surrounding the national discussion on the “right to bear arms.”
As with any controversial topic, our job as teachers is to teach the facts and allow our students the space to explore their reactions to those facts in meaningful yet respectful ways. The topic of gun ownership and gun violence is no different. Because the arguments on this topic can be complicated and highly emotional, tackling this topic from an objective and factual lens is necessary. Doing so through the study of a recent Supreme Court case on gun ownership, the most significant Supreme Court ruling in over a decade is the perfect place to start.
Many well-known Supreme Court cases throughout American history are instantly recognizable by name to the average person. However, many cases of great importance are not common knowledge. So is the case for New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, INC. v. Bruen. The case, initially filed in lower courts in 2020, made its way to the Supreme Court in the fall of 2021, with a decision announced in June 2022.
Like any major Supreme Court case, the trial and judgment were complex and—I’ll say it—lengthy. If I asked my students to read and analyze an official ruling, they would be overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information and legal jargon to decipher.
COURT CASE SUMMARY DEBATE SECOND AMENDMENT
However, this resource accurately and clearly articulates the major points of the case, the trial, and the aftermath. Having an accurate timeline allows students to think critically about the arguments made and the potential impact on the world around them.
This case covers the issue of concealed carry permits in the State of New York. I’ll be honest, this was not a case I knew a lot about before reading through this information. Yet, gun rights and gun violence are topics that arise in my classroom every year due to the rise of school shootings in the last decade. Students want to learn and talk about issues that directly affect them, and unfortunately, this issue has infiltrated their lives. But, students also need structure in how they talk about these issues. This resource provides just that.
In my classroom, research is a skill practiced throughout the entire school year. Providing your students with the breakdown of this case could lead to several extension projects. Students could find cases related to the one covered and compare and contrast the events, trials, and judgments. They could write an argumentative response to the ruling. They could create a similar presentation on a case of their choosing.
The possibilities are abundant because this teaches them to study important topics and events objectively before developing an informed opinion on the issue.
GUEST BLOG POST BY Casey Sigerman
Casey Sigerman has taught 11th and 12th grade English for over seven years, teaching both AP Language and Composition and AP Literature and Composition. She has a BA in English with a focus in Secondary Education from Texas State University, and an MA in English Literature with a certificate in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has two teaching certificates from the state of Texas, including an ESL certification as well as an ELAR 8-12 certification.
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Linda Jennifer
