Fallacies Gun violence Shive
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Fallacies- Gun Violence Fallacies -Gun Violence
Christine Shive
Grand Canyon University COM-362
Courtney Chicvak
04/16/2023
Fallacies- Gun Violence Introduction Fallacies are inaccurate in reasoning, that presents an argument that seems correct (Copi, et al., 2016, pg.105). Social fallacies are often seen during communication, when people are making arguments to align to their beliefs and these arguments have fallacious reasoning, so that they can prove to stand their point. One social issue that has been on topic of many lives, reforms, and arguments is that of gun violence.
Fallacies- Gun Violence The National Rifle Association (NRA) is an organization within America that upholds, supports, and fights for gun rights of the people. This is the Second Amendment, to bare arms, within the U.S constitution bill of rights, as the second right that any U.S citizen has. While the bill of rights was established in 1791, the NRA was established in 1871. This organization is tasked with the proper training, knowledge and use of guns in a safe way. Gun violence has become an issue of recent, with many fatalities and injuries have resulted from one citizen to another. This has brought attention to the NRA, that they need to answer for the increase of these occurrences. Mass shootings, whether in public gatherings or schools of the most tragic degree have happened many times, to often, that the country wants retribution, and action that would prevent other tragedies. The NRA has given statements and arguments that can be fallacious when evaluated thoroughly. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the fallacies of the arguments that have been made the NRA in response to, and not to create more from any misinterpretation of the information gathered by the writer of this paper, and presented in the most unbiased way possible, clear of fallacies. Social Issues
Parkland, Florida, 2018, Stoneman Douglas High School, a shooting occurred. The NRA had to make stances and arguments that would significantly impact Gun laws, and push for reforms of the current legislations. The majority of those arguments were that there would be little to no changes in legislation. The argument that there would be no benefit to the people of the country to change these laws, as the laws are in place for those who follow the laws, and those who would commit tragic acts, would not be impacted any reform.
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Fallacies- Gun Violence The NRA stands by the second amendment, that all citizens have the right to bear arms, and that any reform would infringe those rights. Gun control would take these rights and stifle them or eliminate them. This is not something that the NRA can support and must argue against, successfully, as they are the organization that is entrusted to ensure these rights. Red Herring
Fallacies are seen within these arguments. David Keene, whom is president of the NRA, quoted “The real question that needs to be addressed is not what we do about guns, but what we do to make our schools safer”
(Tarica, 2013, para 12). This the red herring fallacy, as the premise
and conclusion are not relevant (Copi, et al., 2016, pg. 107). The NRA then used another school shooting in another state that would take the focus from the argument to reform gun laws (Tarica,
2013, para 14). Straw Man
The second fallacy notable in the argument Straw Man, by creating an opposing argument that seems in the arguments extreme or completely unreasonable, it gives credibility to their side of the argument. The focus on the inaccurate notions of the opposing side, therefore making it seem
as though it is incorrect to follow that reasoning. The NRA did this when they said that the vigorous background checks that would be preformed on all gun purchases, where to invasive and therefore, an infringement on the second amendment right. These background checks where done, so that the guns that were being purchased where done so by those who were deemed worthy of having them, and therefore, an infringement. Appeal to the Populous
Fallacies- Gun Violence In the argument that these reforms would make the citizens less free, or take away their freedoms, the third fallacy can be seen. The Appeal to populous fallacy, given by Chief executive, Wayne Lapierre, when he presented the “less free” argument. Lapierre is hoping that by giving the citizens the idea that their freedom will be taken or lessened that they will appeal against any movement that does this (Weigel & Berman, 2019). Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
The Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc Fallacy, is one that means that because something happened it
caused everything else that happened. That the cause of the issues is something other than what the actual cause is (Copi, et al, 2016, pg. 107). When the NRA revoked that gun violence was not
the cause for gun reform, and removed it as an overall topic, because the distraction of the causes, and avoidance of topic, this fallacy was notable. If B Happened after A, then A must be the cause. Red Herring- AGAIN
The NRA revisits the Red Herring inaccuracy of reasoning, again, with the actions of the school and cooperation with the government, and the detail to possible perpetrators should have been more, prior to the shooting occurrence. This misleads the topic of gun laws and the reform of them as it is now placed onto the schools’ administrators who should have acted sooner. Conclusion
Many things have taken place that have called for gun violence to be handled, and those calling for these actions are many. Whether it be more extensive background checks, or laws that
would keep guns from ending purchases. The NRA needs to respond. However, in arguments made by the NRA, fallacies can be seen that creates an inaccurate way od reasoning.
Fallacies- Gun Violence References
Copi, I. M., Cohen, C., & McMahon, K. (2016). Introduction to logic. New York, NY:
Routledge. ISBN-13: 9780205820375. Tarica, J. (18 Jan. 2013). The Fallacies of the NRA's Argument against Gun Control.
Weigel, D., & Berman, M. (28 Apr. 2019). NRA Goes on the Offensive after Parkland Shooting,
Assailing Media and Calling for More Armed School Security. The Washington Post, WP
Company.
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