Text- Overall the text is criticizing the gun laws around the world; using many examples from past events and what lawmaking decisions can be made in order to prevent the next shooting.
Reader- This text would appeal to people who are for tougher gun laws undoubtedly. I think the author is trying to envision an audience that has had enough of seeing anyone buying guns that are used for none other than to kill people. Also I feel that the author has a great deal of sympathy to the victims’ families and anyone else who have been affected by gun violence.
Author- Like I said I think that the author cares a lot about the victims’ families; he expresses his outrage to gun stores selling guns to people who have a mental illness. Also the fact that anyone can walk right into a store and buy a semi-automatic weapon without being checked is what bothers the author the most.
Constraints- Undoubtedly as a nation, we saw what happened at Virginia Tech and were stunned by the news of a shooting. I was very angry to hear this news because all of the news stations found the video recordings of Cho Seung-Hui’s final words of anger towards people who he called ‘snobs’ and ‘rich kids’. I don’t think anyone could feel sorry for a person like that when no one bothered him or gave him any reason to be angry. The author of this text probably feels the same way that anybody would.
Exigence- I think the text is a very convincing subject for us to discuss and see what we can do to change or improve gun laws. The author convinces the audience to see his point of view.
Rhetorical Analysis for ‘Shootings’ by Adam Gopnik (2007) in CR page 124-126
