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FNS-40 Contest Entry: Teaching Firearms Facts

By Dan Zimmerman on November 25, 2013

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By Mr_B_ As a public school teacher try to remain !holly unbiase" in my instruction# Not only is this a position that have ta$en pro%essionally, but also on a personal level# %eel it is my "uty to remain as impartial as possible !hen "iscussin& contentious issues# 'iven the current political climate, one o% the more controversial matters to "iscuss is %irearms la!s an" re&ulations# My %avorite course to teach is (ontemporary )orl" ssues# *he curriculum in this class len"s itsel% to bein& incre"ibly topical # # # +ince school starte" in Au&ust there have been countless ne!s stories concernin& %irearms lea"in& to many class "iscussions an" "ebates# *he stu"ents in my class are very "iverse in both bac$&roun" an" personality , the best thin& a teacher coul" as$ %or in a current events course# -ere is a brea$"o!n o% the ei&ht stu"ents in my class. Student A: 1/0year0ol" %emale# 1ery bri&ht an" an incre"ibly &oo" !riter# +he is !ell0spo$en an" $no!s ho! to $eep a "iscussion &oin& !ithout belittlin& those she "isa&rees !ith# Motivate" by her "esire to learn ne! thin&s# 2aci%ist "ue to reli&ious belie%s# Student B: 130year0ol" %emale# 4uite la5y an" inattentive, but has a hi""en &i%t %or elo6uence in her !ritin&# +he is very !ill%ul an" not open to chan&in& her opinion, !hen she has one# Student C: 150year0ol" male# +6uirrely $i"# 7i$es )) history# Both parents serve" in the military %rom mi" 80s to present# (onservative in almost all social issues an" still learnin& to e9press his political min"# -e &ets his opinions %rom mom an" "a" !ho &et theirs %rom :o9 Ne!s# Student D: 130year0ol" %emale# :orei&n e9chan&e stu"ent %rom Austria# +pea$s very &oo" ;n&lish <an" 'erman o% course=# >ea"s (NN online# )ell rea"# -as a har" time un"erstan"in& some i"iosyncrasies o% rural America# Student E: 1?0year0ol" male# -as an outstan"in& min" %or science, particularly physics# 1ery rational in his opinions# 7i$es sports an" %itness# -i&h achievin& in aca"emics an" seems to en@oy school# Student F: 1/0year0ol" male# >e"nec$# 1ery >e"nec$# )or$s !ith cattle an" "rives a ri"iculous pic$up to school# )ears co!boy boots every "ay# An more than one occasion he has implie" that Abama shoul" "ie# 1ery la5y in school# Does the bare minimum, even i% he is intereste" in the topic#

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Student G: 1?0year0ol" male# 7oves %ootball an" the B8ers# +o%t spo$en, but !ill spea$ up i% he %eels li$e he can contribute somethin& uni6ue# -ar" to rea" at times, but very $in" an" polite# Student H: 1?0year0ol" male# :orei&n e9chan&e stu"ent %rom taly# +pea$s "ecent ;n&lish, but can rea" an" !rite it very !ell# )ell verse" in !orl" history# 1ery liberal in his principles, but ironically &ot place" !ith a host %amily that is analo&ous to +tu"ent :# *his smor&asbor" o% in"ivi"uals, !ith their assorte" opinions an" i"eals, brou&ht about an ama5in& "ialo&ue !hen it came to the topic o% %irearms# *he small class si5e also %acilitate" the intimate an" personal nature that every teacher "esires %or his or her class# Ah, almost %or&ot to intro"uce mysel%# am a 230year0ol" male# &re! up %armin& !ith my %amily on the upper &reat plains o% the Cnite" +tates# am a li%elon& %irearm o!ner an" enthusiast# love huntin& an" tar&et shootin&# have ha" my conceale" carry permit %or BD years an" !ish coul" carry in the classroom# "isli$e Abama %or his "isre&ar" %or the C#+# (onstitution, not %or bein& Ea secret Muslim born in Fenya#G (an you see !here remainin& impartial !ith these stu"ents coul" be a challen&eH A%ter several small &un0relate" "iscussions in class at the be&innin& o% the year "eci"e" to @ust teach a !hole unit, !hich aptly title" EA -istory o% :irearms in Cnite" +tates#G )e !oul" start at the American >evolution an" !or$ our !ay to present "ay# )hen plannin& the lessons %or this unit %orce" mysel% to $eep opinions at bay an" %ocus on %actsI the col", har", usually0borin&0to0most0 people0especially0teena&ers %acts# )hat surprise" me !as the positive response %rom my stu"entsI they !ere on boar" %rom the start, even the chronically la5y ones# % you are a teacher, or have ever been in a classroom !ith apathetic teena&ers, you can un"erstan" my ama5ement at this# A%ter the %irst lesson, !hich covere" the technolo&y behin" 1?th century mus$ets an" their use in battle "urin& the American >evolution, +tu"ent A sai", E tJs so !eir" to learn about &uns this !ay in school# Csually teachers @ust lecture about lovin& or hatin& them#G *he rest o% the stu"ents "escribe" similar e9periences that other teachers ha" put them throu&h in previous classes# -earin& this really upset me as an e"ucator# *he purpose%ul in"octrination o% youn& min"s, no matter ho! !ell0intentione", can be e9tremely "an&erous# t is my responsibility as a teacher to &ui"e stu"ents alon& the path to!ar"s learnin&, critical thin$in&, an" problem solvin&, not &oa" them "o!n the route that "eem the best# see this too o%ten in the "ebate over &un control, an" both si"es are &uilty o% it# *he amount o% propa&an"a an" misin%ormation that is sprea" to the i&norant masses is ha5ar"ous to the intellectual conversations that nee" to ta$e place# )e must %ocus on the truth in or"er to e"ucate# $ept this sentiment in min" as !e pro&resse" throu&h this stu"y o% %irearms# n the ne9t lesson !e "iscusse" the "ra%tin& o% the Bill o% >i&hts# !rote the +econ" Amen"ment on the boar" in its entirety , all 2/ &lorious !or"s# rea" it alou" to the class an" then as$e" them several 6uestions. )hy "i" the :ramers use these particular !or"sH Di" they only mean a state0 sponsore" militiaH Does this apply to all %irearms or @ust mus$etsH then sat bac$ an" observe" as their min"s churne" an" a lively "ebate arose in my classroom# +i"es !ere 6uic$ly chosen# +tu"ents : sai" that everyone shoul" have &uns, not @ust the militaryI people nee" them to "e%en" themselves# +tu"ents B an" ( concurre" an" brou&ht up e9amples o% %irearms bein& use" throu&hout history to protect the !ea$ an" "isen%ranchise"# +tu"ents A, D, an" - retorte" sayin& that technolo&y %rom the late 1/00s !as no!here near !hat it is to"ay an" that the :oun"in& :athers !oul" not !ant machine &uns in everyoneJs possession# +tu"ents ; an" ' %loate" aroun" the mi""le o% the aisle an" as$e" 6uestions to $eep the "ebate &oin&# :rom here they branche" o%% to varyin& topics, all the !hile $eepin& it mo"erately polite# t !as a @oy to !atch them actively en&a&e" in civil "iscourse# *he subse6uent lessons covere" the %ollo!in&. -untin&, a"vancements in %irearm technolo&y, short bio&raphies o% Bro!nin& an" +toner, National :irearms Act o% 183B, 'un (ontrol Act o% 183?, school shootin&s, N (+, an" current %irearm le&islation in the Cnite" +tates# *hrou&hout the unit they ha" various pro@ects an" essays to complete, !hich they en@oye"# ;ven +tu"ents B an" : turne" most o% their assi&nments in on time# Ane o% the more li&hthearte" moments "urin& all o% this occurre" !hen +tu"ent - as$e", E-o! many %irearms can a person o!n in the Cnite" +tatesHG simply replie" that there is no limitI i%

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someone !ante" 13, 100 or even 500 they coul" o!n them as lon& as they ha" the money to support such an e9pensive hobby# n a thic$ talian accent he sco%%e", E)hy the hell !oul" you nee" 100 &unsH n taly you can only have 5#G +tu"ent : pipe" in sarcastically, EBecause this is KMericuh, thatJs !hyL )e "onJt put limits on %ree"om#G )e all lau&he" %or a moment, but both +tu"ents D an" - still coul" not believe the pervasiveness o% %irearms in America# )hile their opinions "i%%ere" sharply !hen it came to bac$&roun" chec$s, ma&a5ine capacity la!s, an" automatic !eapons, one o% the issues that everyone in the class "i" a&ree on !as the absur"ity o% short0barrele" ri%le an" short0barrele" shot&un re&ulations# *hey conclu"e" <throu&h their o!n rational thou&ht, mi&ht a""= that the la!s !ere institute" !ith %ear in min" instea" o% lo&ic# smile" to mysel% an" "reame" o% the "ay !hen a particular teacherJs salary mi&ht be hi&h enou&h %or him o!n several +B>s# en"e" the unit !ith a constructe" response <3 type" pa&es= to the %ollo!in& 6uestion. E'iven all that you have learne", !hat is the best solution %or stoppin& violent crime in the Cnite" +tatesHG *he responses to this 6uestion !ere as !i"e0ran&in& as my stu"entsJ personalities, but !hat please" me the most a%ter all !e "iscusse" !as that their ar&uments !ere supporte" by %actual evi"ence# *he pro0&un stu"ents pointe" out that mass shootin&s almost al!ays ta$e place in areas that "o not allo! people to conceal carry# *he &un control a"vocates brou&ht up stu"ies that sho! that a ma@ority o% Americans are in %avor o% more ri&orous bac$&roun" chec$s# Met the one thin& that every stu"ent use" in their essay , somethin& , an" probably most Americans, a&ree !ith , !as the nee" %or increase" %un"in& an" support %or people su%%erin& %rom mental health problems# *hey all earne" passin& &ra"es# <Althou&h +tu"ents B an" : turne" their papers in late an" only receive" an ?0N=# n the en" they learne" somethin& ne! an" en@oye" teachin& the material# *here !as a spar$ o% e9citement in their attitu"es to!ar"s each lesson# *hey actually strove to remove some i&norance %rom their lives an" "i" not %i&ht me every step o% the !ay, as certain stu"ents are liable to "o# *here !as somethin& special in e9clu"in& my biases %rom these lessons# !as able to e9amine the %acts behin" the numerous aspects o% this enormous "ebate an" relay that to my stu"ents# reali5e" that !hile many o% the roots o% my opinions concernin& %irearms are comprise" o% emotion, those roots are ent!ine" in a rich soil o% "ates, statistics, court cases, an" a thou&ht0provo$in& history that is !orth "i&&in& up an" runnin& oneJs %in&ers throu&h in or"er to uncover the truth#

48 Responses to FNS-40 Contest Entry: Teaching Firearms

Facts
BDub says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.15

)ell "one# 'oo" rea"# 4uestion. )hat !ill you "o %or a livin& once you are !ee"e" out o% our e"ucational systemH
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Steve says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.53
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7A7# +a" but true# *he !orl" nee"s more teachers !ho impart the s$ills o% lo&ic an" critical thin$in& to their stu"ents# Cn%ortunately, it seems li$e theyJre the ones least li$ely to survive such a politically correct <i#e# hostile= environment#
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A-Rod says:

November 25, 2013 at 15.32

/on#"&erm Gun &est Up,ate' Arsena1 S/R"10) (!% A9) F:S"40 7ontest 2ntr.' Gun Review 4 3rownin# H Gun Preview' 7entur. Arms U7"; Gun Review' 31ac< Rain 8r,nance 3R8"PG11"18

*eachers @ust cannot !in , attac$e" on one si"e %rom the Democrats !ith that political correctness you mentione" an" attac$e" by >epublican because lo&ic an" reason "o not &o !ith thier a&en"a as set by the reli&ious ri&ht!in& o% the >epublican base# t ta$es a special person to be a teacher in this "ay an" a&e# My hat is o%% to them#
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DanRRZ says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.1?

r1c* on Gun Review' Ru#er SR"()* 3 on >uote o? the 0a.' A11 He @s Sa.in# @s Give Gu 7hance Anon in 7& on 0ai1. 0i#est' Si#ns 5 Si#na1s 2,itio 0u<e o? Sharon on Ran,om &hou#hts About -RA :a<e, 2="7ops

'reat !rite up, an" e9cellent lesson topic# *his ma$es me miss teachin&#
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Roll says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.35

Ah, an acutal EteacherG, you are better than some o% the other -+ teachers iJve seen# A lot o% the !or$ Jve seen my neices an" nephe!s &iven is EbusyG !or$ that is only some!hat relate" to actual learnin&# mean, ho! much can one learn %rom a colorin& boo$ an" cross!or" pu55lesOan" yes this is -+#
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Rich Grise says:

November 25, 2013 at 1/.B8

(olorin& boo$s are pretty obviously a bit @uvenile %or hi&h schools By that a&e you shoul" be learnin& "ra%tin& or the E%ine arts#G But thin$ usin& cross!or" pu55les is a &reat i"eaL attribute part o% my vast vocabulary an" my Erootin& out o% in%ormationG s$ills to "oin& cross!or" pu55les# tJs e"ucational an" %un simultaneouslyL My Mom an" Da" &ot me Estealth e"ucationalG toys , toys that !ere %un, but so !ell0conceive" that "i"nJt even $no! at the time that they !ere Ee"ucational#G :or e9ample, remember as a to""ler sittin& on the $itchen %loor playin& !ith a stealth e"ucation toy !hich calle" a Enumber !ei&her#G t !as a simple plastic balance scale, !ith a stoc$ o% plastic numerals !ith proportional !ei&hts# A), the J1P !ei&he" one unit, the J2P t!o units, an" so on up to the J8P, !hich !ei&he" in at nine units# *hat !as all there !ere, an" obviously there !as no 5ero# I0D +o learne" basic arithmetic at the a&e o% about 3Q or B# Jm not &ettin& a "ea"0tree ne!spaper these "ays, an" really miss the +un"ay NM *imes pu55le# Mr_B_, $eep up the &oo" !or$L
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William Bur e says:

November 25, 2013 at 18.10

7ate#ories
Ammo As< Fo#horn A&F 3usiness

cannot attribute my vocabulary s$ills to cross!or" pu55lesI Jve al!ays -A*;D the &o""amn thin&s#
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!ot So "##$ says:

November 25, 2013 at 23.11

7ompetition 7oncea1e, 7arr. 7rime an, Punishment 0e?ensive Gun Use o? the 0a. 207 ?or 776 2,itoria1s 2ntertainment

No, cross!or" pu55les !ere not nearly as ba" as the "amn !or" searches# ts )hereJs )al"o !ithout the slapstic$ humor# 0 e"ucational value, an" they ta$e %orever#
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William Bur e says:

November 25, 2013 at 23.13

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)or" searches# :or AM*>AF ri"ers, an" nobo"y else#

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Roscoe says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.B0

Guns ?or 3e#inners Han,#uns Historica1 House<eepin# Huntin# @ Am A Gun 8wner @rresponsib1e Gun 8wner 9irsten +o. 6eiss

Mr B impresses me as a teacher !ho !oul" "o !ell !ith almost any stu"ent teachin& almost any topic# *han$s %or sharin& your e9perience#
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%&ratemime says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.B5

/aw an, 8r,er -e,ia -i1itar. :ews :RA :RA 7onvention 8pen 7arr. Persona1 0e?ense

teach at the colle&iate level, speci%ically national security a%%airs !ith more o% a international %ocus than a "omestic one# ;ven so have my stu"ents "iscuss current events as a part o% the "aily curriculum an" !e have spent a &oo" amount o% time on "omestic issues li$e %irearms an" crime# t has been %ascinatin& listenin& to these colle&e seniors !or$ throu&h <or not= issues li$e this# love pro""in& them !ith the $in"s o% 6uestions you presente" to your class# also have ma"e sure to ma$e it clear !hat my biases are as !e "iscuss these topics so they $no! !here am comin& %rom as present in%ormation an" can account %or that bias as they listen to me an" %orm an opinion on !hat present# !oul" encoura&e you to "o the same, i% possible, an" be open !ith your stu"ents about ho! you vie! the !orl" an" then encoura&e them to challen&e that un"erstan"in&# +ince am not see$in& tenure or even lon&evity in this current @ob "o have that %ree"om an" un"erstan" i% you are see$in& to sustain this as a career that mi&ht not be an option#
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Errant'enture"" says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.B/

&rainin# 5 &echniAue Uncate#oriBe,

Mi&ht be a !inner here# can see !hy they a""e" a pri5e an" e9ten"e" the "ea"line# *he %irst %e! entries !ere Emeh,G but no! the 6uality is pic$in& up# Jm "iscoura&e" as to my o!n chances no! Fu"os to you %or "oin& !hat an e"ucator is suppose" to "o# *hou&h am "isheartene" to thin$ o% a current events class only havin& ? stu"ents, t!o o% them %orei&nO$in" o% spea$s to the apathyRi&norance o% the American stu"ent population# J" be intereste" in pressin& the talian on !hy 5 ma$es sense as the limit# Jve &ot %our &uns alrea"y, an" "onJt even have the spectrum o% !eapons close to covere"# Ane snubbie revolver, one automatic pistol, one pump 12&a shot&un, one overRun"er 20&a shot&un# n his talian !orl", Jve only &ot room %or one more# hate to thin$ about havin& to %ill the &apin& hole in my collection <no ri%leL= !ith @ust one %irearm# >i&ht no! Jm loo$in& to &et a smaller caliber semi0auto an" a lar&er caliber bolt action, but %inances "ictate patience#
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(aul W says:
November 25, 2013 at 15.1B

Meah, my entry is %eelin& increasin&ly outclasse"# Ah !ell, itJs been &oo" to &et to rea" stu%% %rom other perspectives#
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scoutino says:

November 25, 2013 at 13.3B

DonJt loo$ %or sense in &un control la!s# -ere or in ;urope# believe in taly military calibers are ille&al , such as 8 mm#
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nathanredbeard says:
November 25, 2013 at 1B.53

Din& "in&L )eJve &ot a !inner hereL ;9cellent, sir# !ish our Ee"ucationG system !as "esi&ne" to attract more li$e yoursel%#
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(aul B says:
November 25, 2013 at 15.05

)oul" there be more o% this stripe in the class room# Most "o not teach critical thin$in& li$e this i% at all#
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Ral%h says:
November 25, 2013 at 15.10

2retty &oo", but about your E>e"nec$G stu"ent S s he stupi"H s he boin$in& his 1B year ol" cousinH Does he have horsesh1t on his bootsH Ar "i" you @ust %or&et those parts o% the stereotypeH
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A)man says:
November 25, 2013 at 15.B2

Methin$s you may be thin$in& o% the stereotypical )1 Ehic$G there# Jm a re"nec$ an" "onJt even !ear co!boy boots#
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Ral%h says:
November 25, 2013 at 13.5/

thin$ you may have misse" my point# My ba"#

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A)man says:
November 25, 2013 at 1?.3B

No, mine !as sarcasm# My ba"# William Bur e says:

November 25, 2013 at 13.B1

t certainly is a liberal stereotype, isnJt itH let it pass, but it !as &oo" to brin& it up#
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G&u*&+& says:
November 25, 2013 at 1?.30

(onsi"erin& ho! many re"nec$s $no! !ho are prou" o% bein& a re"nec$ an" !ill rather publicly a"vertise it, Jm not sure i% it is al!ays as pe@orative a term as you thin$#
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,att in F- says:
November 25, 2013 at 1?.31

+ometimes !ish !as a little more re"nec$#

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William Bur e says:

November 25, 2013 at 18.13

t "epen"s a lot upon your intention, !ho you are sayin& it o%, !ho you are sayin& it to, an" !ho you are sayin& it about# t !as use" pe@oratively, in my opinion#
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,ar !. says:
November 23, 2013 at 00.25

Ane o% the most popular son&s on the ra"io !hen !as in colle&e in the +outh,may still be %or all $no!,!as a son& that be&an. EAn" itJs up a&ainst the !all re"nec$ mothers, mothers !ho have tau&ht your sons so !ell# heJs 3B an" "rin$inJ in some hon$ey ton$,, @ust $ic$inJ hippiesJI asses an" raisinJ hell#G >e"nec$s are prou" to be re"nec$s# An" then there !as that >an"y Ne!man <very un 2#(#= son& about re"nec$sO#N+:)
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William Bur e says:

November 23, 2013 at 00.30

A hippie <really a re"nec$ hippie= son&, !ritten by the &reat >ay )ylie -ubbar", an" ma"e %amous by Terry Te%% )al$er# Rich Grise says:
November 23, 2013 at 01.05

Jm sure most o% you have hear" o% Te%% :o9!orthy# -e "oes a 30 minute stan"up on Eyou mi&ht be a >e"nec$ i%OG But !e also alrea"y $no! the pro%essional o%%ense0ta$ers are sic$ in the hea"# Evan says:
November 23, 2013 at 08.18

s it impossible that his stu"ent actually !as as he "escribe"H $no! plenty o% re"nec$s that %it !hat he put %or!ar" pretty !ell, "oesnJt mean itJs %a$e# +ometimes people "o %it the stereotype, itJs !hen you apply the stereotype to an entire &roup that you are "oin& the !ron& thin&#
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,ar says:
November 25, 2013 at 15.2B

>eally interestin& rea"# *he $i"s are luc$y to have you# "onJt remember ho! my teachers approache" the topic o% &un o!nership# A% course, bac$ then it !asnJt the hot potato it is no!# 2lus, "onJt remember a lot about my schoolin& %or various reasons#
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/n+ says:
November 25, 2013 at 15.25

*- +# >i&ht here#

EO!hile many o% the roots o% my opinions concernin& %irearms are comprise" o% emotion, those roots are ent!ine" in a rich soil o% "ates, statistics, court cases, an" a thou&ht0 provo$in& history that is !orth "i&&in& up an" runnin& oneJs %in&ers throu&h in or"er to uncover the truth#G *he !orl" nee"s more people !ho thin$ li$e this# 'oo" !ritin& an" &oo" teachin&, Mr# B# 'ive this man his pistol#
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0he -ast ,arine out says:

November 25, 2013 at 15.B/

)hen !as in hi&h school !e ha" a ri%le ran&e in the school basement an" a%ter school shootin& club , supporte" by the D(M an" N>AO *o"ay that is &one , so also in most history O 'la" !e still have a %e! li$e this manO#but he !ill be !ee"e" out in timeO# this is a ba" time %or male teachers tooOOO
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1a2D says:
November 25, 2013 at 15.50

)hat, are you teachin& the brea$%ast clubH -ope you "i"nJt hurt your shootin& han" pattin& yoursel% on the bac$#
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Charlie 3ilo says:

November 25, 2013 at 15.58

(urious !hy a teacher coul"nJt a%%or" a +B>H *hey really arenJt any more e9pensive than a normal ri%le# )ith the ri&ht amount o% patience an" bar&ain huntin&, parts can be %oun" %or less than EretailG# *he only %i9e" an" unavoi"able cost is the U200 ta9 stamp# *hat bein& sai", the reality is, itJs entirely a%%or"able# -o!ever, all in all, this is probably my %avorite submission thus %ar#
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1us Bill says:

November 25, 2013 at 13.01

canJt "eci"e !hether youJre "escribin& e"ucational para"ise or learnin& nirvana# Bravo , e9ceptionally !ell "oneL (arry on#
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1ethro says:
November 25, 2013 at 13.21

Jm callin& B+ an" %ail# A public school class !ith ? stu"entsH A multi !ee$ pro@ect on %irearmsH )here is this i"yllic public shool !ith %un"in& to support Every "iverseG ? stu"ent classes an" no Zero *olerance policyH Cnbiase" my %oot# >e"nec$, reallyH Drives a ri"iculous pic$up an" !ears co!boy bootsH -as Eimplie" that Abama shoul" "ieGH *hen thereJs the Es6uirrelyG conservative $i" !ith military parents !ho not only !atch :o9 Ne!s but E&et their opinionsG %rom it# Tust another e9ample o% the state o% Kmo"ernJ e"ucation# 7et the stu"ents KteachJ themselves an" vali"ate "iametrically oppose" conclusions !ith a passin& &ra"e# -o!

pro&ressive# *o top it o%% the e9ercise culminates in a non0se6uitor# 'iven all that theyJve Klearne"J EO !hatJs the best solution %or stoppin& violent crime in the Cnite" +tatesHG -uhH thou&ht the class !as EA -istory o% :irearms in the Cnite" +tatesGH Ne9t, the history o% the cro!bar an" the best solution to bur&lary in the Cnite" +tates#
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Ri+ht4ouAre3en says:
November 25, 2013 at 13.B?

&otta a"mit, my B+ meter is %lashin& a bit too# +eems Etoo per%ectG %or reality# *he %irst thin& that set it o%% !as the ? $i" class# My !i%e teaches hi&h school math an" has 2?035 $i"s in each o% her 5 classes# Also, the i"ea o% coverin& a topic li$e this !ith enou&h time to complete multiple pro@ects an" essays seems e9tremely unli$ely# Bravo i% it actually happene" the !ay you calle" it, but Jm not really buyin& it#
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Charlie 3ilo says:

November 25, 2013 at 1/.1B

Jm &uessin& itJs in a more rural part o% the country, &iven some o% the $ey in"icators in the !ritin&# Ne9t, itJs not uncommon in rural settin&s to have lo! numbers o% stu"ents in a class# -ec$, in one school in Fansas that !as slate" to atten", there !ere 35 in the entire &ra"uatin& class# en"e" up bac$ east, in my previous school "istrict, !ith ?00D in my &ra"uatin& class# Jm &uessin& your !i%e teaches in a suburban or urban area# +imply because the environments are "i%%erent, "oesnJt mean the piece is B+# J" propose that itJs possible that instea" o% %ocusin& on all the stu"ents, a %e! !ere selecte" %or the purposes o% the article# can only surmise this because, itJs more li$ely an" 6uite possibly, an easier rea"# t coul" also be that only a select %e! !ere use", since the rest !ere too plain or too similar to those EcoreG mentione" in the article, or perhaps those !ere the most vocal or maybe even the best $no!n to the author teacher# :rom bein& a stu"ent, as !ell as teachin&, can tell you that speciali5e" elective courses &et a bit more lee!ay in !hat they can teach or cover in terms o% curriculum#
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William Bur e says:

November 25, 2013 at 13.3?

'reat article# appreciate your raisin& such issues !ith your class# By the !ay, +tu"ent BH n my opinion, she has the most potential o% them all, an" is the most li$ely to become a truly e9traor"inary person, an" maybe a !i"ely0respecte" one#
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1onathan -- Houston says:

November 25, 2013 at 1/.B3

secon" the motion %or b#s# an" %ail# Fept your biases in chec$ in the class %ull o% $i"s %irst encounterin& the sub@ect in schoolH Mou canJt even $eep biases in chec$ in here be%ore !ell e"ucate" a"ults !hoJve live" these i"eas an" "one serious thin$in& about them %or "eca"es# *a$e the characteri5ations o% the Epro0&unG $i"s. re"nec$ an" la5y, inattentive an" intransi&ent, s6uirrely an" conservative by parrotin& :o90!atchin& parents !ho alle&e"ly cannot thin$ %or themselves <ho! !oul" you $no!H= >e"nec$ is a nasty racial an" cultural

slur# notice nothin& similar !as use" to "escribe the talian or the paci%ist !ho support %urther in%rin&ement# *he issues are ri&hts an" %ree"oms, so the position is pro0%ree"om, not Epro0&un#G *he counter position is anti0%ree"om, not Epro0&un control#G Mour biase" labels couch the issues in terms o% an inanimate ob@ect an" obscure the inherent moral clarity involve"# 7etJs loo$ at those anti0%ree"om $i"s# *heyJre characteri5e" as bri&ht an" polite, !ell spo$en an" !ell rea", !ell verse" an" e9pressive# :unny ho! !atchin& :o9 Ne!s means one re&ur&itates conservatism, but rea"in& (NN ren"ers one !ell rea"# :unny ho! conservatism is merely EpoliticsG, but liberalism is principle"# :unny ho! the status o% spree shootin& site" as le&ally &un %ree 5ones shares cre"ibility status as %act !ith the vie! that most Americans support e9pan"e" bac$&roun" chec$s# Most Americans cannot articulate !hat current bac$&roun" chec$s entail, let alone !hat nebulous proposals %or e9pansion mi&ht loo$ li$e# +o that counterpoint har"ly 6uali%ies as a %act, %or bein& incapable o% any universal "e%inition or i"enti%ication# !ill &ive you one cre"it. at 23 an" bein& a conceale" carrier %or BD years, you "rove me to &o loo$ up minimum license a&es# e9pecte" it !as 21 every!here, e9cept 1?D %or military# Apparently it can be 1? across the boar" in a %e! states, inclu"in& ones in the area !here you &re! up# +o thatJs an in%ormational ta$e0a!ay# *he rest, thou&h, reveals a bias on your part that you have not be&un to notice, let alone to mana&e# 'ive this &uy an :N, an" itJll either en" up in a &un Ebuy bac$G bin, or be use" as a prop in a MA ' commercial bemoanin& easy access to &uns an" title" E(lose the nternet ;ssay (ontest 7oopholeLG
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/n+ says:
November 25, 2013 at 18.3?

Mote, beam# 2ot, $ettle#

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!ot So "##$ says:

November 25, 2013 at 23.25

-e !as &ivin& a 6uic$ summary o% the $i"sJ personalities, their vie!s, an" their per%ormance in school# -e !asnJt @u"&in& them# )oul" you have pre%erre" he @ust &ive us some letters an" leave it at thatH
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William Bur e says:

November 25, 2013 at 23.33

a&ree# Much a"o about nothin&#

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Cameron says:
November 25, 2013 at 1?.53

*his cement my "ecision to enrol in a teachin& pro&ram < &oo" on you %or %i&urin& out your career early=
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Scot says:
November 25, 2013 at 18.B3

*he stu"ents !ho brou&ht up the 6uestionable %actoi" that most Americans support bac$&roun" chec$s !ere not ans!erin& the 6uestion pose" to them# Cnless they actually inclu"e" some substantive content e9plainin& ho! to re"uce <stoppin& is unrealistic= violent

crime in America they shoul"nJt have &otten a passin& &ra"e on that 6uestion#
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Silver says:
November 25, 2013 at 21.01

A&ree"# tJs possible to still have open "iscourse !hile also correctin& stupi" claims# At the very least, the teacher shoul" have as$e" !hy the stu"ent believe" that the emotional opinion o% a ma@ority shoul" be &roun"s to trample the ri&hts o% others !hen the (onstitution !as speci%ically "esi&ne" to prevent that#
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!ot So "##$ says:

November 25, 2013 at 23.1/

really !ish !e ha" a lesson li$e this a %e! years a&o !hen !as in school# live in n"iana, an" !hen bou&ht my %irst %irearm, "i"nJt $no! that there !as no &un re&istration here# @ust assume" there !as#
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Anon&mous says:
November 23, 2013 at 0?.2B

*his !as a really &oo" rea" to me# *his man "eserves the :N+0B0 %or the %ollo!in& reasons. 1= *his !as a really &oo" rea"# 2= -e teaches a history o% %irearms O n classH O n a schoolHH 3=# ;ven i% his post !as liberal pro&ressive &arba&e <!hich it is not= -e shoul" be &iven a pistol because he is an e"ucator# A%ter he e9perience" the @oys o% %irearm sports an" shootin& he may "i& a little "eeper an" %in" the truth about its purpose an" the %ree"om that %ollo!s it# *henO -e may ta$e this !ith him to the classroom# ;very e"ucator shoul" be &iven a &un#
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Rich says:
November 23, 2013 at 10.18

have been very luc$y# !as a secon"ary science teacher, a commercial charter pilot !hen !as not teachin&, an" a%ter retirement a certi%ie" state real estate appraiser# ha" been aroun" &uns %rom "ay one on a %amily %arm# As my e9periences &re! !as able to ac6uire a number o% %irearms inclu"in& ta9 stamp N:A automatic %irearms# am !ritin& this to say that "o not hesitate to invest in : N; %irearms an" $eep them in pristine con"ition# *hey are amon& the best %inancial investments one can ma$e# % your !i%e or partener starts &ivin& you any problem !ith your spen"in& on %irearms su&&est you "o !hat "o# tell her loo$ aroun" this house an" property an" pic$ one item she purchase" that can be resol" %or as much as or many times more than she pai" %or itH am still !aitin& %or an ans!er# have never ha" any %urther 6uestion on my %irearm purchases#
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