Mohammed Islam
Source Based Essay
Gun Violence in America
Gun violence in America has recently became more of a major headline issue in our daily news. America struggles to keep a safe environment throughout the states while allowing guns to be owned to its citizens under the second amendment of the constitution. This debate has divided many individuals based on their opinions on gun control. There are many factors that contribute to the complexity of this debate and these four sources take certain positions on the issue.
This open web source, America’s unique gun violence problem, explained in 17 maps and charts found online at vox.com explains America’s issue of easy access to guns. It is explained using multiple maps, charts, and other statistics. This source emphasizes how it’s not the fact that America has more crime compared to other countries, but that crimes in America are more lethal. This has to do with accessibility to guns in the United states as well as gun laws throughout the states. Statistics provided helps us understand that more guns are available and accessible in America more than in other countries. This source highlights that gun deaths outnumbered deaths caused by AIDS, drugs, and terrorism combined in the USA. This source highlights key statistics to better understand America’s gun violence issue.
This open web source is published on Vox, an American news website. As this article is on a very controversial topic Lopez seems the have a critical stance towards the issue. This is evident based on the authors tone. This ties in with the article’s audience. The audience is people who don’t know about Americas gun debate and people who want a better understanding of the issue. This is easy to tell from the titles second part “explained in 17 maps and charts”. This makes it welcome for people to read to learn about this topic. The article uses many charts and a video to help the audience understand the topic as well as have them view the issue from Lopez’s side.
The purpose of this article was to teach his audience that the root of gun violence comes from the easy access to guns in America. It states, “But America’s relationship with guns is unique in another crucial way: Among developed nations, the US is far and away the most homicidal — in large part due to the easy access many Americans have to firearms.” The language used throughout the article shows that he is trying to prove this claim he has. The genre in hand is article on a public editorial. This source provides information and at the same time expresses his opinion. Vox is an opinion-based website and it is clear his purpose is also trying to get his audience to view the issue the way he does.
The magazine article, Good Worker With a Gun, by Patrick Krey highlighted the key points of a situation that occurred at a roofing business. A man named Kevin Bruzos came in and drew his gun attempting to shoot employees at the roofing business. There was a worker who was a concealed-carry permit holder at the time of the incident. He drew his gun and shot the suspect as soon as he saw him. This is a story of a “good guy with a gun.” A lot of the time you hear about gun violence on the news and people use these events to help build a better argument.
Patrick Krey writes for other pro-gun Americans. He states, “The mainstream media allowed one shooting story recently to fly below their radar, perhaps because it supported the contention that a “good guy with a gun” can help prevent gun violence.” This shows Krey’s negative attitude towards gun control. This also helps illustrate the purpose for this text. The purpose of the text is to take a shot at the mainstream media for not broadcasting this incident. He uses this incident to back up his pro-gun argument. The authors stance is argumentative because he clearly takes a pro-gun side in this debate. The genre of this source was magazine article as the article was brief and informal.
This news article, Gun violence in the US is a human rights crisis: Amnesty by AL JAZEERA states that the ongoing issue in America about gun violence has become a human rights crisis. The article supports its claim in a logical way using data and current events in the United States. The article states, “Of the 38,658 firearm-related deaths that year, nearly 23,000 were suicides and more than 14,400 were homicides, Amnesty said.” The numbers involved with gun violence in America are outstanding. The article mentions how a call for stricter gun laws have been more apparent especially after many recent horrific events have taken place such as mass shootings in concerts, schools, and churches. In addition, it also states how gun violence is intertwined with racial discrimination. Young black men are more targeted then white men when it comes to gun violence. Lastly, it mentions background checks are another factor to Americas gun violence. The article seems to be putting pressure on the U.S. government for not passing, as the article stated “meaningful” gun laws.
This news article’s audience is more than just the people of America, but also to others around the world who don’t acknowledge Americas gun control issue. Gun violence in America is an issue that caused the deaths to many people and it outstanding when compared to other countries. It is evident by the title as well. When AL JAZEERA named Americas national situation a “human rights crisis”, it calls out to the rest of the world. This news article exposes Americas issue and implies that America needs help. The purpose of this article was to blame the government for not helping resolve the issue with any major changes. “Despite the huge number of guns in circulation and the sheer numbers of people killed by guns each year, there is a shocking lack of federal regulations that could save thousands.” This also suggests that the author also wants to call for action to be taken.
Due to the language used throughout the article it was evident that the author had a passionate attitude towards this subject. It’s clear that he is against the U.S. government as he states, “”For many gunshot survivors, the mental, physical, emotional, familial and financial consequences of their injuries shape their lives irrevocably,” the report said, adding that the toll gun violence has is a “public health crisis of astonishing proportion – with remarkably little government response”. The authors stance here is against the U.S. government.
This scholarly source, Up in Arms About Gun Violence, introduces a new perspective in Americas gun violence debate. Rather than looking at the government and legislation to help resolve this issue, it’s important we look at the root of the cause. People who commit these violent attacks are usually deemed mentally ill. However, it’s not mental illness that triggers these actions but the risk of dangerous behavior in a person that needs to be focused on. Spreading awareness about mental wellness can help prevent these types of events from occurring. Studies show violent behaviors suggesting harm to others and to oneself has been apparent in suspects of gun violence. If people can catch on to these signs and behaviors, many incidents can be prevented. Yes, changed legislation may help but the issue of gun violence in America goes beyond rules and regulations.
This genre of this source is peer reviewed academic journal. Her audience is educated people of America who want a better understanding of the gun violence issue from a medical standpoint. This is because the author published this as a part of her research study. In addition, Onieal also tries to reach people who are willing to help the issue. She offers a different perspective of the debate, a health perspective. This ties in with O’nieals purpose as well. The purpose of this piece was show that by noticing certain behaviors can help prevent gun violence tragedies. It states in the article, “Whatever your political stance on the issue of guns, surely we can all agree that it is a problem that more than 549,000 acts of gun violence occur each year.” This illustrates the author didn’t seem to take a specific position in the writing but still shows a compassionate stance towards the subject as she is against gun violence.
These sources have different purposes as well as different audiences to serve. These audiences are based on different platforms used by the authors. The authors write in order to get the reader to understand their purpose and see the topic the way they do. These articles use a lot of similar and different techniques to help develop their rhetorical situation. What is similar between multiple sources are that they are informational. With the information provided they try to have you view gun control of their side. Teaching, giving statistics, and data seem to be an effective way in which they persuade you. It seems that these articles rely heavily on logos, ethos, and pathos by providing information, using numbers and data, and reminding us of the tragic events that took place.
Al Jazeera. “Gun Violence in the US Is a Human Rights Crisis: Amnesty.” GCC News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 12 Sept. 2018, www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/gun-violence-human-rights-crisis-amnesty-180912162309907.html.
Lopez, German. “America’s Unique Gun Violence Problem, Explained in 17 Maps and Charts.” Onieal, Marie-Eileen.
“Up in Arms About Gun Violence.” Clinician Reviews, May-June 2018, p. 7+. Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A541891792/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=AONE&xid=b39028ef. Accessed 23 Sept. 2018.
Vox, Vox Media, 29 June 2018, www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/2/16399418/us-gun- violence-statistics-maps-charts.
