Mass Shootings: It Happened Again Cartoon Represents the Realities of Growing U.S. Incidences - Essay Sample

Introduction

Mass shooting incidences are on the rise in the United States. By the end of 2019, Gun Violence Archive (GVA), which is a nonprofit organization responsible for mass shooting data collection, indicated that there were 417 mass shootings with thirty-one of them being mass murders (Silverstein). According to GVA, for an incident to be termed as a mass shooting, at least four people have been shot exempting the shooter (Silverstein). The Cartoon, "It Happened Again" represents a mass shooting that occurred in Parkland, on 14th February 2018 at Stoneman Douglas School. The incident left 17 injured, and the other 17 dead (History.com Editors). The shooter, Nikolas Cruz, approached the school in a backpack full of magazines alongside his legally bought semi-automatic gun (AR-15). He exited the stairwell and went to the hallway on the first floor, where he continuously fired injuring 13 people and killing 11 others in less than two minutes, and before four minutes, there were one dead and 17 wounded. He successfully left the premise into a Wal-Mart, then took a drink at the subway, and later ended to McDonald's (History.com Editors). Police officer later arrested him. To reduce instances of mass shootings in the United States, there is a dire need to limit access to guns.

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The incident attracted a lot of responses, and one of them was the political Cartoon, "It Happened Again." The Cartoon showcases the aftermath of this shooting. The Cartoon responds to the Kairos of a shooting incidence resulting from an attack from an allegedly mentally sick graduate. The cartoon features angels who are pulling bags filled with prayers but whatever they were praying for reoccurs hence the title, "It Happened Again". The central claim launched by this Cartoon is that regardless of the many prayers and thoughts offered by political leaders after every mass shooting have no impacts. Marlette, therefore, applies ridiculous persuasion via the Cartoon.

The title "It happened again" denotes the occurrences no longer astonish people; there is, however, no change about the state regardless of the happenings. Marlette also uses the Cartoon to send a wakeup call message to the Republicans who, instead of embracing the regulation of guns, they strongly oppose the idea (History.com Editors). On the contrary, they have presumed strong beliefs which have failed in solving the mass shooting tragedies so far. Sadness and regrets are used in evoking audience emotions by using Jesus and the angels to pass the message across.

Moreover, Jesus appears in the Cartoon with a covered face. It is therefore not clear whether Jesus is frustrated, sorrowful, or embarrassed by the actions of the republican leaders. Nevertheless, there is a negative response. The intended audience upholds religion in a conservative manner (History.com Editors). Beliefs are, therefore, evoked when Jesus is used in the picture as he has immeasurable credibility.

Also, the Cartoonist's has used aspects of exaggeration of the weight in bags carrying prayers and thoughts. It helps to emphasize the ridiculous repetitions of the mass shootings. The lines used in the Cartoon are exquisite and shrill; this means that Marlette delivered this message in a nonaggressive tone. There is a level of openness in the space that represents heaven. There are, however, dull and harsh lines that show the level of hostility and aggression among people and the American surroundings.

Marlette, therefore primarily appeals to the political leaders to not only send thoughts and prayers when such tragedies shoot but also arise and act accordingly. He also calls to the government to limit gun accessibility, as that is the only way of solving this crisis. Marlette published this Cartoon in The News Journal, which is one of the prominent newspapers in the United States. The paper is the majorly read in Delaware, Wilmington, and all the surrounding regions. The choice of the magazine will significantly enhance the passing of information to a vast number of people. It will also act as an eye-opener to the people in terms of the ideologies of the leaders that they elect. The Cartoon, therefore, depicts these incidents in line with liberals' beliefs in the need to control gun accessibility. It also gives a negative representation of Republican political leaders who have been opposing gun regulation. The target audience will, therefore, view republicans as irrational for continuously opposing the rule of guns regardless of the rise in mass shooting occurrences.

Conclusion

Marlette criticizes the typical rhetoric surrounding the gun limitation debate. The message is, however, unlikely to resonate with the critiques. The prayers and thoughts that have been sent by the leaders will henceforth be viewed differently. The republican readers might be offended and filled with feelings of ridicule. The liberal readers are likely to embrace the message as a way of unmasking the irony of the leaders, as well as a wakeup call to the real political hypocrisy. It may, however, impact the voting patterns. Although the liberals and republicans may retain their voting patterns, the message is likely to appeal to readers without attachment to either of the parties to vote in a particular manner.

Works Cited

History.com Editors. "Teen Gunman Kills 17, Injures 17 at Parkland, Florida High School." HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, LLC., 6 Feb. 2019, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/parkland-marjory-stoneman-douglas-school-shooting. Accessed 30 Apr. 2020.

Rubinelli, Sara. "Logos and pathos in Aristotle's Rhetoric. A journey into the role of emotions in rational persuasion in rhetoric." Revue international de philosophie 4 (2018): 361-374. https://www.cairn-int.info/abstract-E_RIP_286_0361--logos-and-pathos-in-aristotle-s.htm

Silverstein, Jason. "There Were More Mass Shootings Than Days in 2019." CBS News, 31 July 2019, www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-shootings-2019-more-than-days-365/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2020.