Article on NRA: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/nra-gun-control_n_3192671.html
Background: The NRA stands for the National Rifle Association, an association which focuses solely on the right to bear arms. In the recent controversy over gun laws, the NRA has used their power and money to sway voters into voting for no more gun restrictions. They claim that the right to bear arms is a civil right as stated in the Constitution and that no one has the right to change it.
Picture/Cartoon: The cartoon criticizes the NRA. The cartoon suggests that any resolution to problems are guns. In the picture, many problems are suggested and the resolutions are different guns. The owner, part of the NRA, tells a man, with an evil look, who is looking for marriage counseling to go over there. The dialogue suggests that the guns for that problem are in that area. Also, all the problems shown represent real-life problems that caused people to buy guns and wreak havoc on people. In all, the picture gives readers a sense that the NRA believes guns are the solution to every problem.
Thoughts on Cartoon: The cartoon is very straightforward and represents the viewpoint of many people. There are people who get the feeling that the NRA thinks that guns are the key to every problem. That may just be how they view the organization. However, the cartoon does heavily criticize the NRA, accusing it of things they do not promote. This gives the NRA an even worse name in the community.
Thoughts on Issue: I, honestly, do not believe that this is truly what the NRA wants. No well-known organization would want people to solve their problems with the use of violence and guns. I believe the NRA just wants people to have their right to bear arms protected. In a way, they aren't wrong as guns are used for self-defense. However, just because the right is there, it doesn't mean that people should use guns for other purposes such as massacre. Although people have a right to guns, there definitely should be restrictions in light of recent events. So many deaths have been caused by gun massacres and one way it an be stopped is through proper background checks. This doesn't necessarily deprive a person's ability to own a gun but rather takes safety precautions to keep the people of America safe.
Questions: Will there ever really be a solution to the issue of gun control in our nation?
Has the NRA unfairly used their money and power to sway voters? Your statement implies that they do, but if that's true then it needs support.
ReplyDeleteI think you could go a little deeper in your analysis by focusing on which conflicts the cartoonist has represented. Are they conflicts traditionally solved with violence or no? Why does he/she pick these instead of other conflicts? Instead of "Bullying Prevention" why not "Pest Control"? I think that the cartoonist is purposely being provocative and that we ought to think more on how and why.
Your discussion of who the cartoon is speaking to is overly broad--"people" is not helpful. You should try to make an educated guess about the specific type of audience, based on the message. We know that it is provocative and potentially inflammatory. Is it meant to sway people on the fence about gun control? Meant to insult? Or meant as an inside joke to those who are of the same mind already?
Thoughts section is going in the right direction but needs to be more focused. Same with the follow-up question. If you were arguing in front of a judge about gun control and the judge asked "What circumstances would use of a gun be appropriate, Counsel?" what would you say?