Obama Outlines New Gun Policy

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/us/politics/obama-to-ask-congress-to-toughen-gun-laws.html?hp&_r=0

Discussion Outline: I understand that some parents may not want to speak about guns with their kids. But I like introducing sometimes complex topics that my kids will learn about one day anyway. This way we can discuss it in an environment in which I can control what they are learning about guns, and can impart values while they are still receptive.

• Summary for Parents: President Obama today unveiled his new gun policy, which he will seek to introduce through legislation in the weeks ahead. In short, his new policy will seek several things, in response to the CT school shooting last month:
• A new ban on military assault weapons and the amount of rounds that can be used
• there will now be a required criminal background check for all gun sales. Previously, gun buyers could avoid background checks by buying guns at gun shows or from private sellers. Until now, nearly 40% of all gun purchases have been sold without background checks because of this loophole.
• Police officers will be able to crack down more on background checks; mental health records will be merged in the system as well.
• He is adding a new director of the bureau in charge of enforcement (vacant until now)
• How I would explain this topic to kids:
• In the United States, we have a constitution, a book of rules for how everyone must live in America. In the constitution there is a rule that certain grown ups are allowed to have guns to protect themselves from soldiers. Some people believe this rule means everyone should be allowed to have guns. This has caused some problems of people using guns in the wrong way. 
• Why is it bad to have your own gun? What could happen? 
• In other lands, like in England, no one is allowed to have gun, not even police officers. What does this mean in England in terms of safety? (Much safer there; no gun violence)
• What would you do to make our land safer from guns? 
• President Obama has a plan to make our land safer from guns, especially from bad guys getting guns. Paraphrase above article.
• Some kids may say we need guns to protect ourselves because a bad guy may have a gun. Answers could be: (1) we are safe; we live in a safe land; we go to schools protected by security; (2) we have the police to protect us (you can practice 9-1-1). A good book to read is Dr. Seuss' The Butter Battle Book, about how everyone arming themselves isn't the solution.