Public Forum Case Outline: Affirmative (Pro)

Writing the Constructive

Opening: Are there any negatives to keeping guns away from criminals and psychopaths?

We affirm that the US should require universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers
of ownership.
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Definitions:
Universal Background check- all firearms transactions in the United States to be recorded and go
through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and check every aspect of their
life such as medical conditions like mental disorders

Negatives- bad things

Keeping guns away- not allowing any access to guns

Criminals- any person who has committed a crime in their life

Psychopaths- people with severe mental disorders

1. Main Argument One: No proper rules for GUNS

a. (Sub point A) Point: The inspections are not thorough
i. Evidence: A man with an expired driver license bought an AR 15 by just filling
out paperwork and handing him the expired license.
https://thetab.com/us/2016/06/14/i-was-able-to-buy-an-ar-15-in-five-minutes-198
ii. Explanation (it’s the “So What”): This is the AR-15, the same weapon the
gunman in Orlando used to kill 50 people It was also the weapon used in the
massacres at Sandy Hook, the Aurora movie theatre, Umpqua Community
College, and San Bernardino. All of those people that performed those acts of
terror had either a mental illness or a criminal background.
b. (Sub point B) Independent not professional sellers do not require a background
check
i. Evidence: “However, unlicensed, private sellers are not required by federal law to
run background checks on individuals purchasing firearms.” Said by Mirami
Valdere who has been a writer for South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The Bradenton
Herald, The Boston Globe and a Boston Spanish-language publication, El
Planeta, but this is not necessary because it is a well known fact in the gun
buyers community.
ii. Explanation (it’s the “So What”) You should not be allowed to just sell guns to
people without having a background check for example my neighbor bought a
gun for his son who is a convicted felon. People say that there is a gun show
loophole which is that you can buy a firearm at licensed dealer without a
background check but this has been proven false many times. The Federalist
proved this to be false.

2. Main Argument Two: Protection

 a. (Sub point A) Point: Protecting the citizens
i. Evidence: According to 2013 US News, “Currently, 40 percent of firearm
purchases originate from private sellers – from gun shows, online or unlicensed
firearms dealers – that don't require a background check on buyers… An
individual suffering from suicidal depression can walk into a gun show and buy a
handgun, but may struggle to access mental health services.”
ii. Explanation: Anyone coming out of prison or has any type of criminal record is
able to simply walk into a private gun show and buy a gun. Anyone who is
mentally unstable can do the same. These private shows not requiring
background checks can lead to dangerous people with power weapons.
b. (Sub point B) Point: Protection for the gun sellers
i. Evidence: The shooter from the recent Las Vegas shooting purchased guns
from 2 Nevada gun shops. He passed the all the required background checks.
ii. Explanation: If we require more universal background checks for example
mental state, we could possibly reduce the gun violence in this country. There is
a correlation with states that have universal background checks with lower crime
rates. A lot of people believe that it is the seller’s fault for these shootings, when
in reality it’s the system that the sellers are regulated at. Even if the seller
performed a background check on the buyer, it’s not regulated to the extent to
where it should. If someone wants to buy a gun, there could be one seller that
denies them do to their background, and another seller could freely give this
same person a gun.
3. Main Argument Three: Inconsistency
a. (Sub point A) Point: Each seller has inconsistent requirements
i. Evidence: “as many as 40% of all gun purchases are conducted without a
background check” -Obama, 2013
ii. Explanation: With the large amount of private sellers, background checks are
not used in many cases because they are not required. If we keep every state at
the consistency of universal background checks, then we at least have a record
of all guns sold, and the history of everyone who owns one. This is the most we
can do to prevent bad people from owning weapons that are meant primarily to
kill.
b. (Sub point B) Point: Most gun purchases have background checks but they
don’t happen 100% of the time
i. Evidence: I could a sell a gun to my neighbor and the government wouldn't know
anything about it and then if I go buy a gun at the gun show I have to sit there
and wait for 45 minutes to get a background check
ii. Explanation: We know that in this example there is nothing the government can
do. But the more we can do, the less violence there could be. Do strict driving
laws keep ALL idiots off the road? No but it still decreases the likelihood of an
unsafe driver, and at the end of the day that's all laws like this can do. So if gun
laws are at the very least consistent, we it's the most we can do to keep
everyone safe.
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Closing Statement:
Restate your position. Example: Therefore, my partner and I support the Resolution that states that
the US should require universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers of ownership.
Note: all the negation needs to do is disagree with the resolution and tell why.

https://pf.millennialsd.com/2017/09/26/resolved-the-united-states-should-require-universal-
background-checks-for-all-gun-sales-and-transfer-of-ownership-bibliography/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/09/texas-church-shooting-background-
check-breakdown-highlights-federal-gun-record-problems/847947001/

https://www.csgv.org/issues/universal-background-checks/

http://lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/background-checks/universal-background-
checks/

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/03/us/how-mass-shooters-got-their-guns.html+

https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/05/24/congress-owes-it-to-gun-victims-to-pass-
background-check-legislation

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/oct/11/seth-moulton/have-background-
checks-been-unequivocally-shown-re/