Mass Shootings

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Modern news agencies are supplied the same real life events, yet through opinion based and overarching goal oriented pieces display news differently. With over 294 mass shootings “incidents in which four or more people are killed or injured by backfire,” (Another infuriating, but unsurprising, gun tragedy, 2015) news agencies have discussed many aspects of these events. Depending on the political affiliation of a news agency (conservative vs liberal etc) the editor’s responses vary. In the New York Times article G.O.P. Candidates and Mass Shootings by the Editorial Board, politicians from both parties are analyzed in their gun control policies. As Senator Ted Cruz stated, “We define gun control real simple - that’s hitting what you aim …show more content…
In The Olympian’s article “Boo: School Shooting,” a simplistic, fact based approach is taken. This article states the recent event that happened, and provides readers with a few details regarding the event. “Some survivors said the gunman asked students in a classroom to stand and state their religion before he opened fire, but authorities were still sorting out his motives.” (Boo: School Shooting, 2015) This method of short pieces to explain more complex events is often favored in this century of short media interaction. Many publications solely provide small bits of news, some even being delivered to your daily inbox …show more content…
Some continue to defend weapon legality, such as Ben Carson (running for President as a Republican) stating, “I spent many a night pulling bullets out of bodies. There is no doubt that this senseless violence is breathtaking-but I never saw a body with bullet holes that was more devastating than taking the right to arm ourselves away.” (Republicans Accept Mass Killings. Gun Control Advocates, Get Graphic, 2015) (Ben Carson was a respected pediatric neurosurgeon, and is referring to his days of practicing medicine). This response is bold, and stirs up many emotions, though offers a more visceral explanation which is the goal of such editorial pieces. Other politicians such a Jeb Bush offered their opinions, providing examples of what should and should not be done regarding gun regulation. “A child drowns in a poll and the impulse is to pass a law that puts fencing around pools… you’re imposing on large numbers of people… harder for people to protect liberty.” (Republicans Accept Mass Killings. Gun Control Advocates, Get Graphic, 2015). This statement from Bush fits well in the debate, though is ironic as Bush himself signed legislation requiring pool fences directly after a near

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