Purpose of the project
We began our topic by looking for a topic relatable to everyday life that addressed a danger faced by all of us on a regular basis. Immediately the Sandy Hook shooting came to mind. This was an issue that was fresh in our memories, and it got us thinking about the various aspects of gun control we’d never before considered. As local Queens residents almost all of our lives, we’d never seen an actual gun be fired, and we asked ourselves a simple question- “why?” Why were we so protected against gun violence, while in Connecticut, unlicensed boys had easy access to guns? What caused our state laws to develop so differently? What were common federal laws that the states have to abide by? Finally, the Second Amendment can be interpreted in different ways, and we wanted to observe its role in gun control cases through American legislative history, as well as observe the impact gun control had on statewide and nationwide politics.
The research process was long and painstakingly difficult, but it was rewarding in its entirety. Our local college’s library was thoroughly checked, and we used their databases to look up more information and find primary documents. We visited the National Archives for workshops on how to conduct research properly, and we made New York Public Library accounts and used the plethora of information and primary sources they had to offer. A documentary workshop at The Museum of the Moving Image also helped us with understanding political ads and editing our documentary. Our interviews were conducted through video calls, face-to-face visits, and phone calls, and we contacted many individuals and organizations. The few that responded took time to answer our questions and they helped guide us through the research process. For example, when we viewed the documentary Freedom Summer, we had the opportunity to connect with the director. Our original documentary for the National History Day competition is integrated throughout the site, with substantial additional information, but the basis of the original project was necessary in order to conduct this one.
There is a confusing dilemma presented by exploring the rights and responsibilities part of gun control; it is a “choose the lesser of the two evils” or a “choose the most appropriate reaction fitting to the time” type of situation. On one hand, the rights of the citizens cannot be restricted too heavily- this could cause increased governmental power and a lack of rights. On the other hand, guns are dangerous and life threatening and it is the government’s responsibility to make sure that they are distributed and carried responsibly. By completing this project we wished to shed light on both sides of the issue of gun control.
The research process was long and painstakingly difficult, but it was rewarding in its entirety. Our local college’s library was thoroughly checked, and we used their databases to look up more information and find primary documents. We visited the National Archives for workshops on how to conduct research properly, and we made New York Public Library accounts and used the plethora of information and primary sources they had to offer. A documentary workshop at The Museum of the Moving Image also helped us with understanding political ads and editing our documentary. Our interviews were conducted through video calls, face-to-face visits, and phone calls, and we contacted many individuals and organizations. The few that responded took time to answer our questions and they helped guide us through the research process. For example, when we viewed the documentary Freedom Summer, we had the opportunity to connect with the director. Our original documentary for the National History Day competition is integrated throughout the site, with substantial additional information, but the basis of the original project was necessary in order to conduct this one.
There is a confusing dilemma presented by exploring the rights and responsibilities part of gun control; it is a “choose the lesser of the two evils” or a “choose the most appropriate reaction fitting to the time” type of situation. On one hand, the rights of the citizens cannot be restricted too heavily- this could cause increased governmental power and a lack of rights. On the other hand, guns are dangerous and life threatening and it is the government’s responsibility to make sure that they are distributed and carried responsibly. By completing this project we wished to shed light on both sides of the issue of gun control.