What do you think is contributing to what experts say is a sharp increase in shootings and other assaults?
What do you think could be done? Have you followed news of recent shootings in Brooklyn, South Carolina, Sacramento and elsewhere? How have you reacted to these stories? Are you concerned about what The Morning newsletter recently described as a growing crisis of violence in the United States? What do you think is contributing to it? How concerned are you about violence in America? Have you been following stories about the shootings in Brooklyn, South Carolina and Sacramento mentioned in this article? What about other headlines chronicling trends in violent crime like the tide of attacks on Asian Americans? How have you reacted? Do you think there has been an increase in violence in your own community in recent years? For example, in your school or in other places where you spend a lot of time? What makes you say that?
Mr. Lopez compiles data and news stories into a narrative that violence is a persistent trend in America right now, then offers several potential explanations for why. Do you agree with his interpretations? Which of the explanations offered in this piece, if any, seem most plausible to you? Why? What do you think of the argument made in the piece that one of the reasons for violence is “a growing sense of social discord and distrust” among Americans? Have you observed this yourself since the beginning of the pandemic? Do you agree that “as Americans lose faith in their institutions and each other, they are more likely to lash out — sometimes in violent ways”? Why or why not? What do you think should be done to reduce violence in the United States? Spencer Bokat-Lindell outlines several proposals in this Debatable newsletter in the Times Opinion section. Which, if any, do you think could work? Why? Part of what Mr. Bokat-Lindell examines is the role of policing and the idea that “the crime-reduction benefits of more police spending have to be weighed against its downsides, including negative interactions with the public, police violence, mass incarceration and further erosion of public trust.” What role, if any, do you think the police should play in the reduction of violent crime? Why?
Mr. Lopez compiles data and news stories into a narrative that violence is a persistent trend in America right now, then offers several potential explanations for why. Do you agree with his interpretations? Which of the explanations offered in this piece, if any, seem most plausible to you? Why? What do you think of the argument made in the piece that one of the reasons for violence is “a growing sense of social discord and distrust” among Americans? Have you observed this yourself since the beginning of the pandemic? Do you agree that “as Americans lose faith in their institutions and each other, they are more likely to lash out — sometimes in violent ways”? Why or why not? What do you think should be done to reduce violence in the United States? Spencer Bokat-Lindell outlines several proposals in this Debatable newsletter in the Times Opinion section. Which, if any, do you think could work? Why? Part of what Mr. Bokat-Lindell examines is the role of policing and the idea that “the crime-reduction benefits of more police spending have to be weighed against its downsides, including negative interactions with the public, police violence, mass incarceration and further erosion of public trust.” What role, if any, do you think the police should play in the reduction of violent crime? Why?
