Essay Example on Gun Control: Divided Opinions in American Society

Rhetorical Analysis of the Guns and the Souls of America

Are you scared when you hear the word guns? What comes to your mind? Gun issue has been a significant concern in American society because of the heightening cases of shootings that have been happening over the last two decades. Research indicates that there are divisions on whether more laws on gun control or gun rights should be put in place. David Brooks, the author of "Guns and the Souls of America," describes a situation where the laws passed to govern guns allow for increased rights rather than controls. The author explains that it is dreadful to see state authorities passing more laws that have enabled people to sell and own guns easily while people are dying as a result of misuse of the weapon. Brook nuances a situation where innocent people die in different public locations as a result of being arbitrary shootings. He explains that the extreme leniency on gun laws is directly proportional to the epidemic of random shootings. It is evident that laws have favoured gun rights than controls, and as a result, mass killings resulting from shots will heighten.

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Brook's goal is to explore the deplorable state of gun handling and use in America. The author intends to unearth the real situation of the effect brought about by the laws passed by authorities regarding guns. His intention is not only to inform but also to warn the public about the loosening of gun laws. One of these statements is that with every law passed by the authorities, more gun rights are upheld, and this has a direct correlation to the number of shooting deaths in America. Brook compares the effect of gun laws in republican and democratic states. He states that in the sovereign states, there was an increase of 75% on gun rights, while in the democratic countries, the laws do not affect gun shootings implying that with or without lawyers, killings will still be experienced.

The author of the article targets the general public, but his message is majorly communicated to the legal authorities passing laws to govern gun issues in America. A good example showing that his message is targeted to the lawmakers is the question he asks, and he queries, "So why are lawmakers responding to mass killings by loosening gun laws?" (Brooks New York Times in October 2017. p.27). The question is rhetorical, and this implies that the author is surprised by how the legal authorities do not care about human life and they seem to be passing laws without thinking of the repercussions. Brook points out that the national riffles association overpowers the legislators through malicious campaigns regarding the purchase and ownership of guns. It is one of the concerns that he points out as a failure in the American authorities and the lack of their responsibility for its citizens. The message the author explores is that instead of lawmakers passing statutes to protect the people, it is becoming lenient in allowing people to purchase and own guns.

Brook is not only concerned about the federal authorities who oversee the American issues on weapons, but he narrows down his views to the state level, and he uses states such as Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin, among others. One of the examples he gives regarding leniency on guns is that of Wisconsin, which removed the 48 hours for its residents to purchase firearms. Brook also states that Florida scrapped off the laws that use to make it hard for people to own guns, and this implies that they can easily have access to and use the weapon. One of the most exciting researches is that compared to the previous year's survey indicates that more people are in support of gun rights rather than control a scenario that is not only alarming but also shocking because it means that people are less worried about their safety despite knowing facts about the dangers of more gun rights.

The author uses an acrimonious tone in the article because he is agitated and bitter about gun situation in America. Brook nuances a situation where the souls of America have been put to risk by reckless law makers who pass lenient laws on gun purchase and ownership instead of tightening them given the heightening issues of arbitrary shootings. He explains that the state at which the America people have been put is numbingly common. The article explains that over the past years shooting cases have increased and it should be a reason to make gun laws more stringent but the irony is that more people have access to purchase and ownership of guns. Brook states "....The Atlantic, the five years since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School "have seen one of the most intense bursts of gun legislation in U.S. history." (Brooks New York Times in October 2017. p.27). it is a confirmation that statues have allowed more gun rights than control despite deaths recorded in the past.

Rhetorical appeals

Ethos

The author is an experienced columnist and he is therefore having broad knowledge about both past and current issues affecting the American nation. Brook is an Op-Ed as a columnist in the New York magazine for the last seventeen years and this implies that he has several years of experience and expertise. Besides, he is a lecturer at the Yale University and this means he is a good researcher a reason to give him more credibility in regard to the content in the article. Brook also points about some issues in the Atlantic that touch on the consequences of gun rights in America and this implies that he has done great research to ensure that he gives information that is not only mentioned by a single researcher but others who are concerned with the American weapon situation.

Pathos

Brook also utilizes pathos appeal to persuade his audience because he wants them to feel the emotional pain of losing innocent lives as a result of arbitrary shootings. The author explains that there is a heartfelt cry regarding the increased gun rights because more lives have been lost. Brook states "The pattern is by now numbingly familiar. A lone lunatic murders a mass of innocent people in some public location. There is a heartfelt cry for tighter control on gun ownership" (Brooks New York Times in October 2017. p.27). It is a statement that shows a sentimental state brought out by the killing of innocent people. Brook explains that it is a familiar situation and in this case he expects that laws to control gun use should be tightened by the reverse is true because more gun rights are being put in place by different states. People are killed in public places and this means there is no safe avenue for the people of America as their souls are in danger.

Logos

Similarly, the author uses facts in arguing about his views to convince the audience. One of the logical arguments that he uses is the scenario of gun shootings that took place in sandy hook elementary school. The author explains that it should have been a lesson which would have led to more gun restrictions to be put in place but instead more rights were upheld. The facts from past killings are a reason to convince the audience of the need for more gun control instead of right to purchase and ownership. Brook explains that when logic is used the shooting incident should have been a warning for the legal authorities to take stringent measures to reduce the killings through shootings. Additionally, he uses another logic form a survey carried out but scholars who explain that a single gun incident leads to a 15% rise in gun legislations in different states within one year. He states "...Michael Luca, Deepak Malhotra and Christopher Poliquin of Harvard Business School found that a single mass shooting leads to a 15 percent increase in firearm bills introduced in the same state's legislature within a year" (Brooks New York Times in October 2017. p.27). It is a logic that proves what the legislators are doing in regard to gun laws in America.

Rhetorical Analysis of the Five Lies Our Culture Tells

The situation described by David Brook in the article is that of culture that has been developed by people regarding different issues. The author explains that the American culture has been shaped by individual ways of life. Brook explains that the problems faced by Americans are societal because every individual is going through moments of emotional and spiritual instability. Some of the issues that the author points out include; increased cases of suicide, and mental issues. Brook compares the presidency of Barrack Obama versus that of Trump and explains that that of the former was in decent shape while that of the latter is in a deplorable state because Trump has a repulsive behavior. Brook outlines a couple of lies that people have created based on their culture. One of the lies is that of encouraging the youth that education makes them successful. He also states that another lie is that of people believing that they can make themselves happy.

The primary goal of the article is to explore the ugly truth about the culture of lies that society has developed and its affects generations such as the youths. Brook explores the different lies that people in the society believe and he counters the lies with the truth about the reality of how situations are. The series of lies that people believe in are the things that the author points as shaping a culture of failure and false consolation. Another objective that the author wants to bring out is that bad leadership leads to indecent lives because it forms a culture that is passed down from one generation to another. For instance he states that the youth have been made to believe that education is what brings success yet it is not true and he challenges his audience to inquire from successful people and get the reality. The author explains that the cultural roots of American political problems are the lies that people have believed in for several years.

The tone of the article is ironical because the Brook talks about issues that the society consider important and leads to a progressive life but according to the author they are all lies. The irony is that what American citizens believe to be working for them is only verbal but not practical in this regard it is ironical to believe in lies as building the lives of American people. The form and content of the article correspond and this can be seen by the way the author begins the article by reflecting on the American leadership and then gradually goes into the root causes of political problems in America. The article successfully completes the author's primary objective of unearthing the lies that form the culture of American people. The nature of communication in the article explains that the culture that developed it is that of civilized and enlightened people who can easily point out the issues in a political system.

Rhetorical Appeals

Ethos

The article is written by a researcher and columnist and therefore the credibility of the content is outstanding. The author being and opinion columnist implies that before he gives his opinion he uses different types of information both form primary and secondary sources to make his argument.

Logos

The author also utilizes logic in convincing the audience about his content and it is evident in the way he outlines facts about the two presidential regimes. It is a fact that Barrack Obama led the American nation with a unique style while Trump has also been leading with a different though undesirable style. Additionally, he points out the truth about the real situation of the American people and dismisses the lies that have long been believed. It is a logical that has been explained in detailed by pointing out the lies and giving the counter truth of the issues.