David Kopel
The Cato Institute
Dr. Crystal Clarke
Psychologist, Executive Coach, Consultant
Katie Fahey
The People
Dr. Aman McLeod
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Alyssa Donovan
University of Michigan Student & Activist
Dr. Nina Agrawal
American Medical Women's Association
Dr. Quentin Holmes Sr.
Grambling State University
Tremayne Edwards
Alliance for Gun Responsibility
In order for our deliberation to be fact-based and balanced, we have organized an bipartisan advisory board of experts for and against the proposals. They lend their expertise to ensure that our briefing materials are fair, accurate, and comprehensive.
The Advisory Board
The United States is experiencing a crisis of violence. Guns are now the leading cause of premature death for American children, teens, and young adults.
DELIBERATIONS.US: Reducing Gun Violence is an hour-long deliberation on three proposals for addressing gun violence in America.
You’ll be a part of an hour-long discussion on a specially designed video chat app. On this platform, you’ll be assigned to a small, diverse group of fellow Americans. In this group, you’ll learn how about the issue, three of the proposals for changing it, and the arguments for and against those proposals — arguments approved by our bipartisan advisory board of experts.
A public health and safety approach to this problem could lead to large and small interventions, from neighborhood interventions to public education campaigns.
Under a policy and law, some have proposed more gun control measures, while others believe that the solution lies in expanding gun rights.
A culture and society approach understands how American culture and gun ownership are deeply intertwined.
Deliberation for Education
Our deliberations are designed to be integrated into both high school and university-level courses in civics, government, and history. The discussions and briefing materials cover policy proposals, historical context, and pro/con arguments concisely and accessibly for students in high school* and beyond.
Educators should assign the pre-deliberation survey, which includes the briefing videos and booklet, and post-deliberation survey to be completed as homework. The one-hour deliberation can be completed inside or outside of class.
For assistance integrating our deliberations into your classroom, reach out to us at contact@deliberations.us or (202) 455-6309.
*For privacy reasons, those under the age of 13 cannot participate.
2. Before the deliberation, you'll complete a survey, sharing some information about your demographics, politics, and views on the proposals (Why do we collect your data?)
3. At the end of the survey, you'll review our fact-based and balanced briefing materials, which have been approved by an expert, bipartisan advisory board.
4. When the deliberation is scheduled to begin, you'll log onto the platform where you'll be sorted into a small discussion group optimized for political and geographic diversity. The platform will then guide you and your fellow Americans through the deliberation.
5. After the deliberation, you'll complete the survey again, sharing what you think of the proposals after you've discussed them (Why do we collect your data?).