Behind the Scenes of Public Speaking

Informative Speech Outline

by Ashley Mengwasser

The speech of significance is the first graded speech in our public speaking class. The purpose of the speech is to raise awareness about your topic and why it is important to your audience. The significance of your topic might include social, economic, political, ethical, or other factors. For example, if you were researching domestic violence in Georgia, you might find there are significant physical, emotional and economic reasons for pursuing this topic.

The speech of significance is very short, 3 — 4 minutes. Therefore, you must stay focused on two or three reasons the topic is important. The speech must be concise. Later, in the informative and persuasive speeches, you will develop your main points in depth.

Finally, let me suggest that you approach the speech of significance with this goal in mind: at the conclusion of your speech, the audience wants to know more about your topic.

As you listen to the speech of significance, try to identify the basic elements of a speech from the outline below.

Introduction
- Attention Getter
  - Reading through the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on July 6, 2008, I noticed the headline "High Noon at Hartsfield." Airport chief Ben DeCosta and Representative Tim Bearden were displayed as dueling cowboys above a photograph of Gary Cooper in the 1952 classic High Noon. You dont need to be a fan of those wild Westerns to understand that, well, this means, trouble, son. These gentlemen are disuputing whether concealed firearm carry is allowed in Atlantas airport under a new bill, House Bill 89. DeCosta, an opponent of the bill, says no, because the airport is considered a public gathering under the new law, but Bearden, a supporter and HB 89s author says yes, the airport is fair game.
- Thesis
  - Georgia House Bill 89 is undoubtedly one of the most controversial pieces of legislation to clear the Georgia General Assembly during the 2008 session.
- Motivation
  - Because the bill impacts those of us who ride pubic transit, visit state parks, or dine in local restaurants, we can expect a new experience each time we set foot outside our homes.
- Preview
  - In order to fully understand the controversy that surrounds House Bill 89, I will first describe what this law actually does. Then, I will outline the reasons supporters stand behind House Bill 89, and conclude with the reasons opponents deem the bill a legislative mistake.
Body
- To begin, what is House Bill 89 designed to do?
  - Although HB 89 is officially called the Employee Privacy and Business Security Act, the bill actually pertains to the carry of concealed firearms. To help you understand how HB 89 regulates gun carry, I will describe where concealed carry is allowed, where concealed carry is prohibited, and, lastly, I will explain the only part of the bill that actually does relate to business.
    - With House Bill 89, licensed citizens are now permitted to carry their weapons into restaurants, state parks, and on public transit, where carry in purses and under jackets would be permitted. Consuming alcohol while dining constitutes a misdemeanor. (Transition: While allowing concealed firearms in more places than before, the bill still outlaws carry in certain places.)
    - The bill prohibits concealed carry at places prohibited by federal law and at public gatherings, defined in section four of the bill as athletic and sporting events, churches or church functions, political rallies, publicly owned or operated buildings), and places which derive less than 50% of their food and beverage sales from the sale of food.
    - When it comes to carrying at places of employment, employers may not condition employment to prohibit an employee from entering the parking lot when a firearm is locked and out of sight in the trunk, glove box, or other compartment. The bill also provides that employers are not liable for damages resulting from the transportation, storage, possession, or use of a firearm. (Transition: With the understanding that House Bill 89 is a concealed carry law, lets examine what supporters and opponents are saying about the bill.)
- Advocates of HB 89 support the bill for a number of reasons.
  - First, supporters claim that House Bill 89 will enhance public safety.
    - ) State Senator John Douglas, the legislator responsible for amending the bill to include mass transit and restaurants, believes the bill will allow citizens to step in to preserve public safety when police officers are simply unavailable.
      - In his editorial on House Bill 89 at JasonPye.com, Senator Douglas cites several instances, including the Virginia Tech shooting, and a shootout at Lubby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, TX, in which legally armed citizens could have kept students and customers safe with their weapons until law enforcement arrived.
  - Second, advocates of the bill argue it has the power to deter crime.
    - Representative Tim Bearden’s belief that the bill will lead to a safer society is cited in the article "Gun Bill Draws Support" on the Valdosta Daily Times website.
      - Representative Bearden states, "Crime would definitely decrease if the criminals did not know who was armed before choosing a victim."
      - Bearden’s attitude comes from the controversial study "More Guns, Less Crime" by Chicago Professors John Lott and David Mustard which found that expanded legal carry by law–abiding citizens deters crime.
      - In the Fall ’99 issue of American Law and Economics Review Authors Ayres and Donahue point out Lott and Mustard’s finding that between states that must issue permits to law-abiding citizens (Ŏshall issue states") and states that may issue permits ("may issue states"), violent crimes in shall issue states are substantially lower. Thus, more guns, less crime.
- While advocates cite public safety, crime, and the rights of business owners in support of the bill, opponents criticize the legislation on these same grounds.
  - First, opponents perceive the bill as a threat to public safety.
    - In her online interview at What’s Goin’ On.com, Alice Johnson, founder of Georgians for Gun Safety claims the bill "does nothing to promote community safety or responsible gun ownership." Although extending the right of gun ownership, the bill does not account for the responsible execution of that right, as Georgians with permits still face no training requirement in order to carry a concealed weapon.
  - Second, opponents of HB 89 contend that instead of deterring crime, this legislation will invite more.
    - a) The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police fears that the new bill will increase Georgia’s crime by extending gun rights to "an absurd level."
      - The article "House Approves Concealed Gun Bill," on ajc.com cites Frank V. Rotondo, executive director of the association, expressing his opinion that HB 89 will have the ultimate effect of occasioning more killings of both police officers and innocent civilians.
  - Finally, opponents view the bill as an affront to the rights of business owners.
    - Business leaders from the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce dispute that the bill deprives business owners of their most fundamental rights.
      - The chamber’s website called the bill a "government grab of private property rights," expressing that the language takes away from business owners the decision of if, when, and how firearms may be introduced into the workplace and gives it exclusively to the government.
Conclusion
- Summary
  - Although advocates and opponents of House Bill 89 disagree about whether the bill’s influence will be positive or negative, both sides at least recognize that public safety, crime, and business owners are sure to be impacted.
- Closure
  - As we wait to see who will shoot first and who will miss the mark in this showdown between DeCosta and Bearden at Hartsfield, we can at least better understand why these cowboys are bringing the heat.

Bibliography

Ayres, Ian, and John J. Donahue. "Nondiscretionary Concealed Weapons Laws: A Case Study of Statistics, Standards of Proof, and Public Policy." American Law and Economics Review 1 (1999): 436-70. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. Agnes Scott College, Atlanta. 2 June 2008 <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?inde x=0&did=638285811&srchmode=1&sid=2&fmt=10&vinst=prod&vtype=pqd&rqt=309&vname=pqd&ts=12 18387334&clientid=28201>.

DeCosta, Ben, and Tim Bearden. "High Noon at Hartsfield." Atlanta Journal-Constitution 6 July 2008: E1+. "DeKalb Chamber of Commerce: Tell Senators NO to section 3 of HB 89." Home Town DeKalb 11 Jan. 2008. 20 June 2008 <http://www.hometowndekalb.com/opinion/dekalb-chamber-of-commerce-tell-senators-no-to-sec.shtml>.

Douglas, Senator John. "Editorial on House Bill 89." Editorial. JasonPye.com 17 Apr. 2008. 18 June 2008 <http://www.jasonpye.com/blog/2008/04/editorial_on_hb_89.html>.

Georgia Chamber of Commerce. "DeKalb Chamber of Commerce: Tell Senators NO to Section 3 of HB 89." Home Town DeKalb. 11 Jan. 2008. 18 June 2008 <http://www.hometowndekalb.com/opinion/dekalb-chamber- of-commerce-tell-senators-no-to-sec.shtml>.

Hernandez, Kelli. "Gun Bill Draws Support." Valdosta Daily Times.com 10 Mar. 2007.18 June 2008 <http://valdostadailytimes.com/archivessearch/local_story_069001002.html>.

Johnson, Alice. "Georgians for Gun Safety: The Other Side of the Mountain!" What is Goin' On? 1 June 2008. 18 June 2008 <http://www.whatisgoinon.com/podcast/2008/06/01/georgians-for-gun-safety-the-other-side- of-the-mountain/>.