Bryce Vanderyacht
English 105
Diane Goodman
September 19, 2014
Congress is Shooting Blanks As the gun control issue began to heat up a timely find was made, a poem by Carl Sandburg. The first half of the poem reads, “Here is a revolver. It has an amazing language all its own. It delivers unmistakable ultimatums. It is the last word. A simple, little human forefinger can tell a terrible story with it. Hunger, fear, revenge, robbery hide behind it. It is the claw of the jungle made quick and powerful. It is the club of the savage turned to magnificent precision” (Doyle, 2013). This is an incredibly powerful poem that encompasses the terrifying power of a gun. Those who wield it hide behind and rely on its power as they commit horrible crimes. In January of 2008, representative Gabrielle Giffords became yet another victim of gun violence. The democrat from Arizona was shot, point blank, in the head while campaigning outside of a Safeway. This experience has driven the now recovered congresswoman to seek firearm reform. Meanwhile, senators in Washington have been tip-toeing around gun legislation for fear of backlash from interest groups like the National Rifle Association, and the money that comes with them. In 2014 alone, the NRA contributed $626,702 to candidates who are against legislation restricting guns. (National Rifle Association Summary, 2014) Gifford’s close call with death at the hands of a crazed gunman and her past experience in politics have motivated and enabled her to seek reform in not only gun legislation, but in Congress itself. Through the rhetorical elements of logos, pathos, and ethos, Giffords appeals to the audience’s emotions and gains their trust in order to persuade them to join her fight against the stagnation of congress on this important issue.
Gabrielle Giffords is a Tucson, Arizona native, was elected to represent Arizona’s