LINK FOR ASSIGNMENT: https://everystat.org/

Everystat (Everytown for Gun Safety)

EveryStat Database (Every Town for Gun Safety) Worksheet

I realize that gun control and second amendment debates and the policies regarding these issues can be divisive. The goal here is not to create an atmosphere of divisiveness or debate, but rather for students to practice how to locate, use, and interpret data to better understand the basis for statistical information discussed in your textbook and used in public policymaking.

Take your time when using the interactive tools. You will be using filters to search data; this requires a bit of patience to try different combinations of filter choices to see what kind of information you can find.

1.The EveryStat link takes you to the

"Explore" page.

2.In the navigation bar at the top, click on "Methodology." A reputable database should always provide their methodology, meaning the source of their data and the methods they used to calculate data. You can simply scroll through this briefly so that you know to look for methodology whenever you are researching a topic on a database.

3.Return to the "Explore" page.

4.Scroll down to the interactive map showing shaded dots for each state. Keep the "Select a state" drop-down menu on "United States" for now.

5.Interactive Map:

a)Use the tabs at the top of the map: "gun deaths," "gun injuries," & "economic costs" in combination with various filters on the right side of the map. Try multiple combinations. For each tab and filter combination that you select, you'll see national statistics on the right.

QUESTION: What are some statistics that you think could be useful in shaping public policy?

b)You will also see the dots that represent each state change as you select each tab and filer combination. Use the bar below the map for explanation of the light to dark shades for each tab (gun deaths, gun injuries, & economic cost).

QUESTION: What are some regional differences that you noticed in the map?

c)Next, select the tab over the map that says "Gun Deaths" and the filter on the right that says "all gun deaths." Then, click on some of the dots that represent various states to see statistics of the gun death rate in that state and how it compares to the national average, as well as where that state ranks nationally. (Remember that the rate of gun deaths is a more meaningful statistic than the total number of deaths because it's weighted for population).

d) Return to a national view of the map either by choosing "United States" from the "select a state" drop-down menu above the map or by clicking on the outline of the map with "US" in the middle.

e) Choose any two states that you would like to compare. (You will be working with these two states for the remainder of the project). Then, click on each state in turn.

QUESTION: Which two states did you select? What statistics appeared to the right of the map for each state for: rate of gun death per 100,000 people, how that rate compares to the national average, and how each state ranks nationally for rate of gun deaths in the US?

6.Now scroll down to the "Deeper Dive" section to gather more statistics for the two states that you have selected. Scroll to the graph "Gun Deaths Over Time" for each of your two states. You can toggle between states at any time by simply clicking on the "Select a state" drop-down menu.

QUESTION: What does the graph and the accompanying text reveal about change over time in each of the two states? How does each state compare to changes nationwide?

7. Next, scroll down to the section, " Explore the Data Further." Sometimes policymakers attempt to address an overarching policy topic, like gun control, while others focus more narrowly on a particular policy that addresses one piece of a larger issue/problem, such as red flag laws, safe storage, or mental health initiatives. Data and statistics can help to suggest or clarify areas that need the attention of public policymakers.

Under "Explore the Data Further," you will see three demographic categories: Race/Ethnicity, Gun Violence Among Children & Teens, and Intimate Partner

Homicide. Click on the + sign to expand each demographic category and to see how each of your two states compares to the national average. (Remember that you can simply go to the select estate drop-down menu to toggle between states).

QUESTION: Did any of the information in these three demographic categories suggest to you a possible focus for policymaking relating to guns in either of your two states?

8. Next, in the navigation bar at the very top, click "

Search the Database."

a)Scroll down and you will see that every state is listed in order of gun deaths per 100,000 people from highest to lowest.

b)At the top of this database in the blue section you will see three drop-down menus. Click on the first drop-down menu, "All States" & select your two states.

c) Keep the second drop-down menu set on "All Firearm Deaths" because that will make it easier to notice changes when you make various selections in the third drop-down menu.

d) Now click on the third drop-down menu: "All Races and Genders." Select various demographic combinations of race and gender to observe how the statistics in the bar for each state change according to selections that you make.

QUESTION: What data do you think could be important from this database in shaping public policy?

9.Now, you are going to explore gun laws for these two states. In the navigation bar at the top, click on "Explore." Once on the Explore page, scroll down to the section "Further Research and Resources." In this section, under "Everytown Gun Law Rankings," click"Learn More."

a)Scroll down and view the chart that lists states in order of gun law strength. As you scroll down, compare "Gun Law Strength" on the left in blue with "Gun Violence Rate" on the right in red.

QUESTION: What overall trend/correlation do you observe between gun law strength and the gun violence rate?

QUESTION: Can you find any states that seem to be exceptions to this overall trend? (Exceptions can indicate other factors that might influence the gun violence rate).

b) Next, scroll to the top & hover over "Explore by State" at the top right. Scroll down and click on one of your two states.

c) You will see the heading "Gun Laws in state."

Under that heading, click "Compare," which will take you to a page with the heading "Compare State Gun Laws."

d) On this page, you will now see two columns. The first column should already show the name of one of your two states.

e) Click the name of the state in the second column (not the down arrow) to access the drop-down menu to add your second state.

f) Once both of your states appear side-by-side as column headings, scroll down through the list of gun control policies to see how your two states compare. (This is also a good example of how an overarching policy topic can be broken down into many more focused and specific policies).

g) Select a policy from the list that interests you and click on it.

QUESTION: Which policy did you select and how many states have adopted this policy?

The question above is an important one for policymakers. Remember when you read about federalism and the legalization of marijuana as well as same-sex marriage? Federalism can complicate policymaking when it comes to issues like gun laws, but state decisions regarding policies can also influence other states.

CRITICAL THINKING/FINAL ANALYSIS

1.QUESTION: What similarities and/or differences stood out to you for the two states that you chose?

2.QUESTION: Which statistics do you think would be most important/useful for policymakers in your two states for crafting public policy regarding guns & why?

3. QUESTION: What is your opinion of the organization and utility of the database and the interactive tools?