GUN CONTROL
The Rhetorical Debate
“IF THE LEFT GAINS POWER THEY WILL DEMOLISH THE SUBURBS, CONFISCATE YOUR GUNS AND APPOINT JUSTICES WHO WILL WIPE AWAY YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS.”
Trump, 2020
“THERE’S NO NEED FOR IT, AND YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS ARE IN NO WAY VIOLATED [WITHOUT THEM],” BIDEN SAID. “I THINK THERE’S NO COMPROMISE. THIS IS ONE WE HAVE TO JUST PUSH, PUSH, PUSH AND PUSH AND PUSH.”
Biden, 2019
"Trump speaking at NRA-ILA leadership forum." Bustle, 2016 https://www.bustle.com/articles/180229-donald-trumps-anti-gun-control-stance-flies-in-the-face-of-his-vow-to-protect-cities
“Image of Joe Biden.” The New York Times, 2019 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/us/politics/joe-biden-2020-president.html
“THE PROBLEMS ARE MORE BROADLY DELIBERATIVE IN NATURE—A FAILURE OF RHETORICAL LEADERSHIP ON THE PART OF OUR ELECTED LEADERS; PROPAGANDA AND DEMAGOGUERY BY WELL-FUNDED SPECIAL INTERESTS; A CULTURE OF JOURNALISTIC MALPRACTICE THAT PRIVILEGES THE POLARIZED EXTREMES; AND THE FRAMING OF THE ISSUE AS A MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS VERSUS PUBLIC SAFETY. AS A RESULT, OUR LEADERS ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAILURE TO ACT, AND THE PUBLIC GOOD HAS BEEN HELD HOSTAGE TO SPECIAL INTEREST POLITICS.”
Hogan & Rood, 2015
THE ISSUE
The debate over gun control is not a new argument. For many years, there have been those who support and those who oppose gun control. What has reignited the debate in the past was the increase in mass shootings over the past few decades. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence reports that “on average, 32 Americans are murdered with guns every day.” (Lunceford, 2015) Mass shootings and other violent acts of this nature, fuel anger and distress, pushing many to question the need for firearms in our society, while others see these incidents as a reason to remain armed.
“Image of body language in a debate.” TED, 2015 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/us/politics/joe-biden-2020-president.html
THE DISCOURSE
Democrats argue to tighten restrictions on gun purchases and ownership, in hopes that it will prevent mass shootings and decrease regular gun violence.
On the other hand, republicans are against tighter restrictions on guns and owners, arguing their right of self-defense established by the second amendment.
As Americans, it is important for us to understand both sides of these arguments, why gun violence happens, and what can be done to prevent future shootings. For many reasons, we have not been able to come up with this solution to gun violence in America.
“Rally against gin violence.” Mass Live, 2016 https://www.masslive.com/news/2018/03/anti-gun_violence_rally_planne.html
WHAT'S HAPPENING
It is not our leaders failure to act, it is how they are communicating. Neither party is handling this issue well. Both sides continuously attack one another and in result, achieve nothing. It is not the policy that they are arguing. Instead, they argue about identity and rather if the policy is supported by them. The language used when debating with each other is neither useful nor productive. If our leaders would use more constrained language, base their arguments on relevant evidence and be responsible when making inferences, ongoing arguments around polices could be better avoided resulting in an actual methodical debate.
COULD THIS BE WHY?
The demagoguery that continues being used by our political leaders is fueling fear, hatred and bringing out the worst in people. Both sides are to blame for lack of incivility and reactive rhetoric when it comes to the gun debate. Demagoguery tells us that we are not wrong, we are right about our decisions and we are the victims, which is what both parties believe to be true. Rather than debating policies, we instead see it as “us versus them” and decide not to listen.
“Image of colleagues arguing.” Independent, 2017 https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/8-things-successful-people-do-when-they-don-t-someone-a7749496.html
We need to learn how to engage with others who have opposing arguments, hear their opinion and let them know our opinions are not indefinite. We must be open minded to other opinions and come up with ways to compromise in order to resolve the issues at hand. As long as our political leaders continue to use the same rhetoric when arguing “policy”, the issue of gun control will also continue to remain same.
“Image of solution.” Youngstown State University, 2018 https://ysu.edu/news/creative-problem-solving-workshop-nov-28-williamson
Citation of Images
"Trump speaking at NRA-ILA leadership forum." Bustle, 2016 https://www.bustle.com/articles/180229-donald-trumps-anti-gun-control-stance-flies-in-the-face-of-his-vow-to-protect-cities
“Rally against gin violence.” Mass Live, 2016 https://www.masslive.com/news/2018/03/anti-gun_violence_rally_planne.html
“Image of Joe Biden.” The New York Times, 2019 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/us/politics/joe-biden-2020-president.html
“Image of body language in a debate.” TED, 2015 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/us/politics/joe-biden-2020-president.html
“Image of colleagues arguing.” Independent, 2017 https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/8-things-successful-people-do-when-they-don-t-someone-a7749496.html
“Image of solution.” Youngstown State University, 2018 https://ysu.edu/news/creative-problem-solving-workshop-nov-28-williamson