Milestone 1:
H.R. 7910 Protecting Our Kids Act
Jamie Ivey
Regent University
September 4, 2022
Introduction to Topic
The protecting our kids act is a federal act that is currently still being talked about among the government as it has been approved by the house, but still has yet to pass the senate. There have been so much violence with guns over the past few years that is has caused kids at such young ages to experience terrible things. This act was created “to provide for an increased age limit on the purchase of certain firearms, prevent gun trafficking, modernize the prohibition on untraceable firearms, encourage the safe storage of firearms, and for other purposes.” (Protecting our Kids act)
Concept Questions
1. What are the relevant rules guiding the policy?
a. This policy is still being discussed as it has passed the house, but seems to be still in the process of going through the senate.
b. Since it was introduced by Representative Nadler on May 31st, 2022 it has passed the House of Representatives and is now in the hands of the senate and if passed by the senate it will then go to the president and if passed by the president it will become a law.
2. Are those rules effectively enforced?
a. Yes the rules are effectively enforced
3. Is there a romance – reality disconnect in the policy? In other words, do people seem to expect a much more “public spirited” outcome than is realistic?
a. I would have to say yes and no when it comes to this concept question. I say this because gun control has become very big thing in our nation today. This is due to the multiple mass shootings that have happened in our country. Some people would see this as taking their gun rights away, but others will see it as protecting their kids from such violence.
4. What is the collective action the policy is supposed to accomplish? Or is there one? Is the policy designed to favor some over others? Be sure to distinguish between actual results and rhetoric.
a. The collective action policy for this act is supposed to accomplish the diminishing of deaths due to gun violence. Many states throughout the country have seen so much death due to gun violence.
b. The policy is not designed to favor some over others as there may be some disagreement in the country about gun control, but this bill doesn’t take guns from everyone it just makes people have more safety measures and procedures when owning a gun.
5. Is there a special interests involved? Who? Are they successful?
a. The first group I would say is interested in this policy would be the youth in our country today. These are groups of kids who have lost family to gun violence or have experienced it for themselves. Many groups of youth participated in a study about gun control. For example one question asked them if they felt like gun control laws would have an affect on mass shootings. This is their response; “Most respondents (468 of 757 [62%]) believed that gun control laws could decrease mass shootings (“Yes!! They would make it harder to get guns right away, or at all if u have a record of crime or instability”). However, one-third of respondents (247 of 757 [33%]) felt that gun control laws would not be enough to affect mass shootings.”( JAMA Pediatr)
b. The parents of the children would be another party interested in this policy. I include them in this because they are also affected if this policy is passed or not. They have lost loved ones to gun violence or even just might agree that gun control needs to be taken more seriously in this day of age.
c. The third party would be those who oppose the idea of gun control. I included them because this gives an inside on how people who think gun control is going to take their rights away that was given to them by the 2nd amendment of the United States Constitution.
Why is important to learn about this topic
This topic I believe is so important to learn about with the way our country is now due to the many mass shootings that have happened within the past two years. There has been so much gun violence that was not brought to light in later years that now it has become so increasingly alarming it hard to not look past. “Tragedies, like school shootings, and the righteous anger that they generate, have brought gun violence to the forefront of national dialogue.” (Andrew Goodman Foundation) The school shootings have caused it to where certain states have procedures that are taught like fire drills to students in case they are the next school to experience a mass shooting.
Project Outline:
I. Introduction to protecting our kids act
II. Considering the Context surround the issue
a. What is the Status Quo?
b. Has public opinion on this issue evolved
III. Who are the Interested Parties?
a. Children
b. Parents of the Children
c. Those who oppose gun control
IV. Final evaluations and recommendations
References:
"Text - H.R.7910 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Protecting Our Kids Act." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 9 June 2022, http://www.congress.gov/.
Van Sparrentak M, Chang T, Miller AL, Nichols LP, Sonneville KR. Youth Opinions About Guns and Gun Control in the United States. JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(9):884–886. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.1746
“We Need Sensible Gun Legislation Now.” Andrew Goodman Foundation, 4 Apr. 2019, andrewgoodman.org/news-list/need-sensible-gun-legislation-now/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmdGYBhDRARIsABmSEeMuqpgKI15U5f8D0hHhXj71rS5-vrzcPy5qxMn5Eh8I5JEgRv-YLjMaAqOFEALw_wcB.