Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 5, 6
- Lesson: Read this Week’s Lesson which is located in the Modules tab
- Initial Post: minimum of 2 scholarly sources (must include your textbook for one of the sources). Follow-Up Post: minimum of 1 scholarly source for your Follow-Up Post.
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:
Option 1: Briefly discuss your state’s laws regarding gun control and its impact on healthcare.
Option 2: Many experts see the media as biased and more like infotainment. In fact, many people have turned to social networks as an outlet for news instead of CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN and other news stations. Do you see this as an issue? Do you see the news as biased or unbiased? Should there be more restrictions on the news stations?
Be sure to make connections between your ideas and conclusions and the research, concepts, terms, and theory we are discussing this week.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
• Respond to at least one peer.
• Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
• Include a minimum of 1 scholarly source meaningfully to demonstrate much depth. A scholarly source can include your textbook, assigned readings, or additional scholarly research.
Writing Requirements
- Minimum of 2 posts (1 initial & 1 follow-up)
- Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside source) for your Initial Post, and 1 scholarly source for your Follow-Up Post.
- APA format for in-text citations and list of references
Grading
This activity will be graded using the Discussion Grading Rubric. Please review the following link:
Course Outcomes
CO 2: Relate the articles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to specific issues or cases regarding freedoms and their rights as citizens.
CO 5: Critically examine evidence to support well-reasoned arguments.
CO 6: Critically analyze the American political environment and issues relating to present day using primary and secondary sources.
Due Date
Due Date for Initial Post: By 11:59 p.m. MT Recommended by Wednesday
Due Date for Follow-Up Posts: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday
Posts must be on two separate days.
Jul 15 3:59pm
Reply from Omonigha Ayewa
Option 1
A number of gun control laws have been passed by Washington state with the intention of improving public safety and lowering gun violence. These laws forbid the sale of firearms with large capacity magazines, limit assault weapons, and require background checks for all gun sales, including those conducted in private (Krouse, 2015). Furthermore, extreme risk protection orders have been put into place in Washington, enabling family members or law enforcement to request the temporary removal of a person’s firearms if they are considered a threat to themselves or others. Gun storage must be done safely according to state regulations in order to avoid unintentional harm and illegal access. These laws are part of a larger movement to enact laws that balance the protection of public health and safety with the nuances of Second Amendment rights (Greenberg & Page, 2018).
These gun control measures have a big effect on healthcare. These laws are intended to lower the number of gun-related injuries and fatalities by restricting access to firearms for high-risk individuals and encouraging safer storage methods. Consequently, this can lessen the strain on the medical systems that handle trauma treatment, emergency services, and long-term rehabilitation for victims of gunshots. In addition, the focus on preventive measures is consistent with public health approaches to injury prevention, which in the end results in a safer community and better general health outcomes.
References:
Greenberg, E. S., & Page, B. I. (2018). Struggle for democracy, 2018 elections and updates edition (12th ed.). Pearson.
Krouse, W. (2015). Gun Control Legislation in the 113 th Congress. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R42987.pdfLinks to an external site.
Jul 15 12:56pm
Reply from Jinjin Chen
Hi. Class,
The increase in people using social media as a primary news source reflects larger technological and societal transformations that are, for the most part, unavoidable. With the advent of the internet and the proliferation of smartphones, information consumption has become more immediate and accessible. Social media platforms, by their nature, amplify this by allowing real-time sharing and commentary. However, this convenience comes with notable concerns. Primarily, social media often lacks the rigorous editorial standards found in traditional news media, leading to the rapid spread of misinformation. Additionally, because these platforms are based on algorithms, users often see news that supports what they already believe, which could lead to echo chambers. According to Masip et al. (2020), recent academic discourse raises concerns about the negative effects of internet technologies on democratic societies, particularly the risk of reduced exposure to diverse political viewpoints, and less tolerance towards opposing opinions.
Furthermore, the question of media bias is not straightforward. News, whether delivered via traditional outlets like CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, or through newer platforms, often carries the biases of those who report it. This can stem from political affiliations, corporate interests, or the personal inclinations of journalists and editors. Such biases are not merely a result of modern media but have been intrinsic to journalism since its inception. However, the concentration of media ownership and the need to attract higher viewership can exacerbate these biases, turning news into ‘infotainment’—a blend of information and entertainment designed more to engage viewers than to inform them impartially.
Given these complexity, restricting news outlets may reduce bias, but also raises questions about censorship and press freedom. A better approach may be to teach the public media literacy so they can identify biases and critically evaluate sources. Supporting independent and diversified news sources may also promote a more balanced media environment and a more educated population.
Reference:
Masip, P., Suau, J., & Ruiz-Caballero, C. (2020). Incidental Exposure to Non-Like-Minded News through Social Media: Opposing Voices in Echo-Chambers’ News Feeds. Media and Communication (Lisboa), 8(4), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v8i4.3146
Jul 15 9:29am
Reply from Michael Gue
Option 1: Briefly discuss your state’s laws regarding gun control and its impact on healthcare.
In the great state of West Virginia we have some of the most lax gun laws in the country. The 2nd amendment, a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. The state is ranked 23rd in gun violence in the country. On an average in the state of West Virginia we have 322 people die of gun violence and 788 wounded (Everystat,org 2023). When looking at how many people died from gun violence the number is extremely high, when I further investigate the numbers include suicides by firarms. By including suicides into gun violence it really skews the numbers, with an average of 225 people committing suicide using a firearm. And out of the numbers given above it also counts the accidental/unintentional shootings, with West Virginia having 253,955 hunting licenses sold in 2021 (247wallst.com,2023), just to have an idea of how many people are in the woods with the potential to have firearms.
Living here all my life I think the issues in this state are not related to the state’s law regarding gun control, but also we have a mental/drug problem in the state. The only people that are affected by gun laws are the people who follow the law. Criminals do not obey the gun laws. When looking at states and cities like Chicago, California, Washington D.C., which has some of the most strictious gun laws in the country and they have some of the highest gun violence in the country. It shows that gun laws do not work.
Working in the two biggest cities in the state and different hospitals I do not feel that the gun control laws affect the population in this area. Nearly every home in the state has a firearm and many have been exposed to one, several from an early age. I think if we could expose children at a young age with the proper education we would not be having the situations we have in the country as we do. People having propeller education of the functioning and workings of a firearm can help prevent accidents/incidents. And thus help the burden of the healthcare system for caring for people who have injuries related to guns.
References:
Everystat.org., May 2023, Gun Violence in West Virginia, Everystat.org. https://everystat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/G…
Stebbing, S., August 23, 2023,. How Many Hunters West Virginia has, and How It Compares to Other States, 247 Wall St.
Jul 14 6pm
Reply from Candie McGurgan
Option 1: Briefly discuss your state’s laws regarding gun control and its impact on healthcare.
The Second Amendment protects the right of Americans to bear arms (Greenberg & Page). In West Virginia, one can carry a concealed deadly weapon without a concealed carry permit. Before 2016, the law required West Virginians to have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The impact this loose gun control has had on the healthcare system is evident. According to Lundstrom et al. (2023) since 2016, West Virginia homicides and gun-assisted suicides have increased by over forty-five percent, and more law enforcement have been either killed or injured. Recently, two local state troopers were serving a warrant to an elderly man. They knocked on the front door of the man’s home, to be met with gunfire. One state trooper lost his leg below the knee. It is illegal in West Virginia to carry a gun on school property or into a courthouse, anywhere else is open game. In January of last year, a bill was passed in the West Virginia House of Delegates that would allow tactical medical professionals the right to carry a gun. West Virginia is becoming the Wild, Wild West. While shopping at our local Wal-Mart it is common to see people with handguns on their waistlines. People’s tempers are short, and I worry about guns being used to solve disagreements over the price of tomatoes. In conclusion, with gun laws becoming less restrictive, it means job security for me as a nurse, unless I become an accidental victim while shopping at Wal-Mart.
Lundstrum, E. W., Pence, J. K., Smith, G. S. (2023) Impact of a Permitless Concealed Firearm
Carry Law in West Virginia, 1999-2-15 and 2016-2020. American Journal of Public
Health, 113(11), 1163-116. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307382Links to an external site.
Greenberg, E. S., & Page, B. I. (2018). The Struggle for Democracy, 2018 Elections and
Updates Edition (12th ed.). Pearson Education (US).
https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/books/9780135246849Links to an external site.
Jul 14 5:38pm
Reply from Deona Dunlap
Deona Dunlap
POLI330N
Professor Ephlin
14, July 2024
Impact of West Virginia’s Gun Control Laws on Healthcare
West Virginia’s gun control laws are a critical aspect of public policy, with potential implications for healthcare professionals and patient outcomes. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), West Virginia’s current regulations include provisions for background checks, firearm possession, and restrictions on certain types of weapons. These laws directly intersect with healthcare in several ways. Firstly, access to firearms can influence rates of injuries and fatalities due to gun violence, which healthcare providers must manage and treat. Understanding the legal framework surrounding firearm ownership helps healthcare professionals navigate patient care effectively, particularly in emergency and trauma settings where such injuries are prevalent. Secondly, mental health considerations are crucial. West Virginia’s laws may impact the screening, assessment, and intervention protocols healthcare providers implement for patients at risk of self-harm or harm to others involving firearms. Effective collaboration between law enforcement, mental health professionals, and healthcare providers is essential to mitigate these risks. Healthcare facilities must adhere to state laws regarding firearm safety education, reporting requirements for injuries related to firearms, and protocols for patient counseling and support. These regulations ensure compliance with legal standards while promoting public health and safety. In conclusion, West Virginia’s gun control laws significantly influence healthcare practices by shaping patient care protocols, addressing public health concerns related to gun violence, and supporting efforts to enhance safety and well-being in our communities.
References
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (2024). State laws and published ordinances – Firearms (35th ed.). Retrieved from https://www.atf.gov/firearms/state-laws-and-published-ordinances-firearms-35th-editionLinks to an external site.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
Edited Jun 23 9:48pm
Reply from Mary Ephlin
Option One:
Option one asks you to discuss your state’s gun control laws. Do these laws impact healthcare in your state? Before you begin to write, you may want to research your state here:
Option Two:
The other option for discussion this week is to discuss the bias of the media. Before you begin to write, consider the following:
You may choose to write on either topic. Remember to use an outside resource in the main post, which needs to be on or before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Please remember to label your intial post as either “option 1” or “option 2.”
Don’t forget to look over the discussion rubric as a reference when you are writing your discussion posts. If you have any questions, please post in the Q&A forum or email me!
Let’s get started!
