The Reduction of Gun Violence A speech by President Barack Obama

The Reduction of Gun Violence 

A Speech by Barack Obama

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobama/barackobamagunviolencereductiondenver.htm

Gun violence is something that has been on the rise lately in the United States. This speech was presented by President Barack Obama due to the rise of gun violence, referring to the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and also the shootings that took place at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.  President Obama felt that he needed to present this speech in order to clear up some of the rumors going around stating that the Government wanted to take away current gun owners Right to Bear Arms. Also, the President's purpose for this speech was to show the public that he did not agree with taking away the right to bear arms for American citizens, instead he wanted to present a logical solution to the reduce gun violence that also leaves American Citizens' right to bear arms in tact. President Obama broadcasted this speech for the public on April 3, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The location that this speech was given was beneficial to President Obama's main point of the speech.   The state of Colorado currently has a similar plan in effect during the time that this speech was broadcasted. So far Colorado’s new gun laws have proven to be successful. Therefore, helped provide support for President Obama's suggested solution. 
The method used for this analysis was NeoAritstelian. First I focused on the Rhetorical Situation, which was the goal for this speech, which I have discussed above. I then analyzed the Presidents speech according to the 5 cannons. The President presented a fair amount of Logos or logic throughout his speech. He did this by providing Colorado's current gun laws as an example as to prove that his suggested plan will be successful. There was also some aspects of Pathos, or use of emotion, presented in the speech. He uses the emotional aspect of wanting to protect our women and children as a means to stress that something needs to be done to reduce gun violence. President Obama also presents aspects of Ethos in his speech. He does this by presenting the point that Colorado has had two of the worst shooting in American History and they currently have a plan in effect to reduce gun violence that involves increased background checks in order to purchase a gun, Also Colorado's plan involves the people to still keep their right to own guns. This information backs up Obama's point that the reduction of gun violence does not have to involve taking the Second amendment away from American citizens. If the states that has experienced the worst shootings in history can allow their residents to still have the right to own guns and yet still reduce gun violence then why can't the rest of America. President Obama's speech was strong and stern, and softened some toward the end. This speech contained factual and logical information, which helped support its original purpose for being given.