Stop Gun Violence: Step 2: Compare and Evaluate Case Studie
Vigil, Boulder, CO
Step 2: Analyze and Evaluate Case Studies
Boulder, CO
You can click on any of the slides to explore them in more depth.
2.1. Overview of Step 2: Analyze and Evaluate Case Studies
In Step 2, the objective is to understand, analyze, and evaluate selected gun violence case studies with a primary focus on the impact of institutional discrimination on these case studies. Then you will have the opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings about one of the case studies.
2.2. Step 2 Questions
How are these case studies similar? How are they different?
How does institutional discrimination affect the victims of gun violence?
2.3. Step 2 Democratic and Academic Competencies
Understand, Analyze, Evaluate
- Understand the different types of gun violence in specific situations.
- Analyze the impact of gun violence in these case studies.
- Compare the impacts particularly with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and sexual preference.
Understand Impact of Institutional Racism on Gun Violence
- Analyze and evaluate the impact of institutional discrimination by race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual preference, or religion on who becomes the victims of gun violence.
2.4. Introduction to Individual and Institutional Discrimination
In trying to understand gun violence, it is also important to analyze the effects of various types of institutional discrimination on the victims of gun violence. What impact does race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual preference, and religion play in these case studies and more broadly across our country?
2.5. Explore Case Studies of Gun Violence: Facts, Videos, and Articles
Below we will review six case studies of different types of gun violence: the Columbine school shooting in 1999, the police shooting of Laquan McDonald in Chicago in 2014, the Parkland school shooting in 2018, the Highlands Ranch STEM High School shooting, the Capitol Insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and the Atlanta Spa Shooting on March 21, 2021. After reviewing outlines of these studies, you can click on the photos to explore and analyze them in more depth. .
Case Study #1: Columbine Shooting (April 20, 1999)
Location: Columbine, Colorado, U.S.
Date: April 20, 1999
Target: Students and staff at Columbine High School; and first responders
Attack type: School shooting, mass murder, murder–suicide, arson, attempted bombing, shootout
Weapons:
- Intratec TEC-9 Mini
- Hi-Point 995 Carbine
- Savage 67H pump-action shotgun
- Stevens 311D double barreled sawed-off shotgun
- 99 explosives
- Four knives
Deaths: 15 (including both perpetrators)
Injured: 24 (21 by gunfire)
Perpetrators: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Motive Inconclusive
Case Study #2: Chicago Police Shooting of Laquan McDonald (Oct. 20, 2014)
Location: Chicago, IL
Total number of deaths: 1 (Laquan McDonald)
Shooter: Officer Jason Van Dyke
Perpetrator: Officer Jason Van Dyke
Trial: September 17–October 5, 2018 Verdict: Second-degree murder (guilty); Aggravated battery with a firearm (guilty); Official misconduct (not guilty)
Sentence: 81 months (6.75 years)
Case Study #4: Highlands Ranch STEM High School (May 7,2019)
Location: Highlands Ranch, Colorado, U.S.
Date: May 7, 2019
Target: STEM School Highlands Ranch
Attack type: School shooting
Weapons:
- Glock 21 .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol
- Beretta M9 9mm semi-automatic pistol
- .357 Magnum Taurus Revolver
- Ruger 10/22 .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle
Deaths: 1
Injured: 8
Accused: Devon Erickson
Convicted: Alec McKinney
Case Study Case Study #5: Capitol Insurrection (Jan 6, 2021)
Domestic Violent Extremism (DVE)
Date: January 6, 2021; 2 months ago
Location: United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Caused by:
Opposition to the results of the 2020 United States presidential election
Donald Trump's and his allies' false claims of 2020 presidential election fraud
Right-wing extremism in the United States
Goals:
Disrupt, delay, and overturn the Electoral College vote count in favor of Trump
Pressure Congress and Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election of Joe Biden
Methods:
Demonstration
Civil disorder: rioting, vandalism, looting, assault
Political subversion: propaganda (big lie), conspiracy, intimidation, incitement, legislature takeover
Resulted in:
Failure to overturn the presidential election; delay of counting electoral votes by several hours; resumption of presidential transition leading up to the inauguration of Joe Biden
Second impeachment of President Trump
Deaths: 4 protesters, 1 police officer
Injuries:
Unknown number of rioters injured, at least five rioters hospitalized
At least 138 police officers (73 Capitol Police officers, 65 Metropolitan Police Department officers) including at least 15 hospitalized
Damage: Extensive physical damage; offices and chambers vandalized and ransacked; property stolen; $30 million+ for costs of repairs and security measures
Charged: 390 and increasing
Case Study #6: Atlanta Spa Shootings (March 22, 2021)
Mass Shooting
Location: Atlanta and unincorporated Cherokee County, Georgia, United States
- (first shooting, unincorporated Cherokee County)
- (second shooting, in Atlanta)
- (third shooting, in Atlanta)
- (suspect captured, in unincorporated Crisp County)
Date: March 16, 2021
Target: Spas and massage parlors
Attack type: Mass shooting, shooting spree
Weapons: 9mm semi-automatic pistol
Deaths: 8
Injured : 1
Motive Under investigation
Accused: Robert Aaron Long
2.6. Analyze One Case Study in Depth
After reviewing the case studies above, choose one of the case studies to research in more depth. In particular, explore whether institutional discrimination played a role in the incident you are studying.
2.7. Introduce Yourself and Your Thoughts and Feelings About One of the Case Studies
After you have completed exploring one of the case studies in more depthj click on the button below and go to Flipgrid where you will introduce yourself and explain your thoughts and feelings about the case study you chose to focus on.
2.8. Next Steps
In this Step 2, you have reviewed six case studies of gun violence and one in more depth with a particular focus on the impact of institutional discrimination on who becomes the victims of gun violence. Then you explained your thoughts and feelings about one of the case studies on Flipgrid.
In Step 3, you will analyze the statistics and facts related to gun violence.
In Step 4, you will listen to these stories again and this time reflect on the values that helped them survive and cope with gun violence. Then you will share your own stories about gun violence or stories you have heard and which have deeply affected you, focusing on the important values in those stories.
In Step 5, you will listen to speeches and proposal advocating ways to stop gun violence.
In Step 6, you will then develop your own proposal and present your speech for stopping gun violence.
In Step 7, you will listen to the speeches of your classmates and seek to take their points of view as you respond to their proposals.
Finally in Step 8, you will coordinate and integrate these different points of view, synthesize these different proposals, and cast your votes (take a survey) where you rate the different proposals.
Revised 3/27/2021.