What is President Obama’s Gun Control Plan and how would it affect gun owners.
Thesis Statement:
The United States has one of the highest rates of death by guns in the world. Almost everyone knows of someone that has been affected by gun violence, either self-inflicted or due to the actions of someone else. There are many people and organizations that want an increase in gun control laws in order to decrease gun violence. This paper will examine President Obama’s Gun Control Plan.
PART 2:
SOURCE #1: ENCYCLOPEDIC/REFERENCE SOURCE:
Agresti, James D. & Smith, Reid K. “Gun Control Facts.” Just Facts. 13 June 2016. Web. 4 July 2016.
Is the text timely/recent? Relevant? How do you know?
Yes, it was published in June 2016.
How does the title relate to the text of the source?
It gives a list of gun facts
Who is the author and why are they writing the text?
Who is the targeted audience and why?
No one is targeted. The site just provides facts about guns
What biases exist in the article and why?
There does not seem to be any biases in the article as most of the facts that are provided can be double checked using a bit of research.
What underlying values exist in the argument and support?
There does not seem to be any underlying values in the article, as it is extremely fact based.
What are some assumptions being made (specifically, about audience reception of the message)?
The assumption that is being made is that the American people are unaware of how much guns impact the lives of its citizens.
How is the main claim supported?
How are appeals used (logos, ethos, pathos)?
There is no use of appeals as the source is based on facts.
How are evidence and examples used?
The evidence is used to give information on the usage of guns in America.
What is most useful about this source for YOUR argument? Describe how the source connects to your argument (even if it is in opposition).
The source gives information of guns in the United States that is not based on any agenda.
How does the source support or oppose my own opinions?
The fact that the article is written from a non-emotional point of view and that it contains only facts is important in order to write a non-biased paper on the benefits and limitations of gun control laws. I believe that people have the right to own firearms, however, I also believe that there needs to be restrictions on access of firearms to people who are mentally ill (not all but those who have been institutionalized or have had some sort of issue within a specific amount of time), violent criminals and people who blatantly advocated or threatened violence against others. I believe that it needs to be mandatory that each state has background checks for guns and that it must be required for gun sellers at gun shows to run background checks for gun sales.
Why might someone oppose an aspect of this article?
There is nothing to be opposed to, but if someone, was it would be because the facts do not support their agenda.
12. What other valuable/interesting research is referenced and how can I access it?
SOURCE # 2: Multimedia- News Video
Al Jazeera English. "Inside Story - Can Obama's Gun Control Plan Work?" YouTube. N.p., 5 Jan. 2016. Web. 4 July 2016
The source is relevant because it was first aired in 2016 and it discusses President Obama’s Gun Control Plan
How does the title relate to the text of the source?
The people in the news video discuss whether or not they think President Obama’s plan will work
Who is the author and why are they writing the text?
Al Jazeera English- They are discussing it because it is a relevant news story that affects the lives of millions of people in America
Who is the targeted audience and why?
The targeted audience seems to the gun owners who do not believe there should be any restrictions on guns
What biases exist in the article and why?
The news anchor seems to be fairly balanced in her interviews, even though she does appear to have liberal beliefs when it comes to gun control
What underlying values exist in the argument and support?
Both sides believe strongly in their stance
What are some assumptions being made (specifically, about audience reception of the message)?
The gun advocates are trying to say once again that President Obama is trying to take their guns away
How is the main claim supported?
The three guests speak of whether or not there should be more gun control. The man who wants less uses pathos, while the other two use logos and pathos
The first man makes claims just as “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, the American man speaks of statistics regarding guns used in mass shootings. The man from Finland talks about how gun control laws have affected a number of countries in Europe in the past 10-20 years.
What is most useful about this source for YOUR argument? Describe how the source connects to your argument (even if it is in opposition).
The source talks about the Gun Control Plan and how it would affect gun owners
How does the source support or oppose my own opinions?
The source seems to support my opinion that the current gun laws need to be enforced and new ones put in place.
Why might someone oppose an aspect of this article?
They might oppose an aspect of the article because it does not support their beliefs.
12. What other valuable/interesting research is referenced and how can I access it?
SOURCE # 3: OPPOSITION PDF
Jones, Michael, and George Stone. "The U.S. Gun-Control Paradox: Gun Buyer Response to Congressional Gun-Control Initiatives | Jones | Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER)." Clute Institute Conferences & Journals. N.p., 2015. Web. 4 July 2016
The article was written in 2015
How does the title relate to the text of the source?
The article is about how gun control laws cause a rise in gun sales.
Who is the author and why are they writing the text?
Michael Jones and George Stone, they are writing the article to argue that gun control laws are having the opposite effect of what is intended and are therefore not working
Who is the targeted audience and why?
People who are pro-gun reform. Their agenda seems to be to convince them that increasing gun controls are not beneficial to their cause.
What biases exist in the article and why?
The only bias that exists in the article is that the authors seem to be anti-gun control. However, the facts seem to support what they have written
What underlying values exist in the argument and support?
They are anti-gun control
What are some assumptions being made (specifically, about audience reception of the message)?
There did not seem to be any assumptions being made
How is the main claim supported?
They used logos to support their claim that gun control has the opposite effect than what is intended and therefore does not benefit anyone
They used statistics regarding gun sales at the time that any new gun laws are passed
What is most useful about this source for YOUR argument? Describe how the source connects to your argument (even if it is in opposition).
It shows how gun control laws effect gun sales
How does the source support or oppose my own opinions?
The source neither supports or opposes my own opinion because the facts back up their assertion.
Why might someone oppose an aspect of this article?
The pro-gun control people may not like the article because it contends that gun control laws are having the opposite effect then is wanted.
12. What other valuable/interesting research is referenced and how can I access it?
Adelmann, Bob. “Ammo Shortages: More than Simple Supply and Demand?” The New American. The New American, 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Feb. 2014
Chaddock, Gail R. “Gun lobby: Congress doesn’t have the muscle to pass gun control.”
CSMonitor. Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2013. Web 25 Feb. 2014.
SOURCE # 4: OPPOSITION BOOK
Wilson, Harry L. The Triumph of the Gun-Rights Argument: Why the Gun Control Debate Is Over. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2015. Print.
The book was written in 2015 and it reputes many of the assertions made by people who are pro-gun control.
How does the title relate to the text of the source?
The title tells what the book is about.
Who is the author and why are they writing the text?
Harry L. Wilson is writing the text to correct any false assumptions made of gun owners and gun control laws.
Who is the targeted audience and why?
People who want more gun control laws so that they will support the anti-gun control laws
What biases exist in the article and why?
While many of the arguments he counters can be supported with facts, it evident that he has an agenda
What underlying values exist in the argument and support?
He is an anti - gun control
What are some assumptions being made (specifically, about audience reception of the message)?
The only assumptions being made is that pro-gun control people base their position on emotion rather than facts.
How is the main claim supported?
He uses logos and pathos because he uses logic to appeal to one’s emotions
He discusses and counters with evidence much of what is believed or known by people who support gun control.
What is most useful about this source for YOUR argument? Describe how the source connects to your argument (even if it is in opposition).
The source mostly just gives information on gun control from the viewpoint of those who are against it
How does the source support or oppose my own opinions?
The source clearly opposes any gun control laws which are the opposite of my opinion on the matter.
Why might someone oppose an aspect of this article?
People who are pro-gun control laws will oppose the article because it does not support their agenda and the facts that he uses checks out.
12. What other valuable/interesting research is referenced and how can I access it?
Assault Weapons Ban of 201. S.150, 113th Congress. https:// www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s150/text
SOURCE # 5
Krouse, William J. Gun Control Legislation. Washington: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 2005. Print.
The article was written in 2005 so it could be considered dated. The source gives a list of gun control laws that had been put before Congress up to that point.
How does the title relate to the text of the source?
It discusses the gun control laws that had been in front of Congress
Who is the author and why are they writing the text?
William J. Krouse and he is writing the article to inform the reader of the gun control laws that the Congress has both passes and denied
Who is the targeted audience and why?
Anyone who wants to get information on America’s gun laws until 2005
What biases exist in the article and why?
There does not seem to be any biases in the article
What underlying values exist in the argument and support?
There does not seem to be any underlying values in the article
What are some assumptions being made (specifically, about audience reception of the message)?
There are no assumptions being made only facts
How is the main claim supported?
The article uses logos because it depends solely on fact
The evidence used in the Bills and legislation that was put before Congress
What is most useful about this source for YOUR argument? Describe how the source connects to your argument (even if it is in opposition).
The source gives indication of the Congress stance on gun control and what the laws regarding in are more likely to pass
How does the source support or oppose my own opinions?
It does neither, the only thing it does is to provide an idea of the Congresses likelihood of passing President Obama’s Gun Control Plan
Why might someone oppose an aspect of this article?
There is nothing to oppose it is merely a list of gun control bills.
12. What other valuable/interesting research is referenced and how can I access it?
U.S. Congress, Fast and Furious: The Anatomy of a Failed Operation (Part II of III), Joint Staff Report Prepared for Representative Darrell E. Issa, Chairman, United States House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and Senator Charles E. Grassley, Ranking Member, United States Senate, Committee on the Judiciary, 112th
Cong., October 29, 2012, http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/10-29-12-Fast-and-Furious-The-Anatomy-of-a-Failed-Operation-Part-II-of-III-Report.pdf.
SOURCE # 6
Hummer, Claire. Gun Control in the United States: An Analysis of Federal and International Policies and Applications. Diss. Portland State University, 2016. Portland Web. 4 July 2016
The article was written in 2016 on the topic of gun control in the U.S
How does the title relate to the text of the source?
It tells of how gun control has worked or failed in the past
Who is the author and why are they writing the text?
Claire Hummer-she had written the article as a part of her dissertation
Who is the targeted audience and why?
There does not seem to be a targeted audience
What biases exist in the article and why?
There were no overwhelming biases as the author seemed pretty balanced in her claims
What underlying values exist in the argument and support?
What are some assumptions being made (specifically, about audience reception of the message)?
That the country is predominately made up of people who support gun ownership at any cost and because the nation was founded on the second amendment it is almost impossible to pass laws for gun control
How is the main claim supported?
She used statistics and other resources to support her claims
What is most useful about this source for YOUR argument? Describe how the source connects to your argument (even if it is in opposition).
It helps with the background of gun control in the United States
How does the source support or oppose my own opinions?
The source does not blatantly support or oppose my opinion instead it gives facts that appear to be relevant to my topic
Why might someone oppose an aspect of this article?
They would oppose any aspect of the article that did not agree with their truth
12. What other valuable/interesting research is referenced and how can I access it?
“Brady Law”. Retrieved December 11, 2015, from https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-
regulations/brady-law (2015)
National Rifle Association. "NRA | About the NRA." NRA | Home. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 July 2016. https://home.nra.org/about-the-nra/
