Fear Of Gun Violence example essay topic

Bowling for Columbine A documentary by Michael Moore HST 306 Extra Credit Option Kristen Chase A 31358358 Are we a nation of gun nuts or are we just nuts? Violence, easy access to guns, rebellious adolescents, nuclear weapons, racism, fear, warped freedom, and everything that is considered wrong with America today is critically analyzed in the documentary, Bowling for Columbine, created by Michael Moore. This documentary was created following the September 11th tragedy, when two terrorist hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. Moore traveled all over the United States, interviewing typical civilians, and those in the public eye about their thoughts and answers to problems dealing with gun related violence in America. Moore starts out his documentary in the state of Michigan, then visits Colorado, Utah, California, and those in their paths.

The documentary included a lot of interesting clips of critical events in U.S. history involving any type of gun involvement, including the popular reality television show, "Cops", and cartoon "Southpark". Michael Moore does an excellent job of finding a variety of people to display all areas of the spectrum on feelings towards gun control, and doesn't let anything get in his way. No place is too far, and no person is too unreachable, no question is too inappropriate. Michael Moore is from Flint, Michigan. It was surprising to hear him call Michigan "gun country". Before viewing this documentary I had no idea that the amount of guns carried in Michigan was so large.

I always knew that hunting was a popular sport but I didn't realize how easy it was for anyone to purchase a gun, in fact the first subject Moore hit was a bank that when one signed up for a checking account they received a free gun. To demonstrate how easy it is to get a gun, Moore went in the bank, and only an hour later came out with a new gun. The state of Michigan was made famous for its popular Michigan Militia, and its connections with Timothy McVeigh and the Nichols brothers, James and Terry, responsible for the Oklahoma city bombings. McVeigh was executed and Nichols is serving time in prison.

James Nichols, who unlike his brother, was not proven to be related to the Oklahoma City bombings, and was interviewed by Moore on his Michigan farm about his feelings on gun ownership. James sleeps with a fully loaded rifle under his pillow every night because he feels that he is expressing the freedom of his second amendment right to bare arms. He also admits that he like his brother, has created bombs and has the materials to do so on his farm. He ironically later comments that there should be some restrictions on who can get guns because "there are crazy people out there". Crazy people such as himself, I believe! Moore then travels to the town of Littleton, Colorado where the school shooting at Columbine High School occurred.

Included were several disturbing clips of 911 calls from inside the school, and security camera footage from inside the school showing the murders of innocent teenagers. Several people were interviewed, including two girls who were in the two shooters bowling class that morning, hence the movie title Bowling for Columbine. After the brutal shootings at Columbine high school, analysts frantically tried to explain what lead to the actions the two young men, Harris and Kle bold, took that horrible day in Colorado. Many suggested the breakdown of the nuclear family, video games, violent films and television shows, and most of all, music. Marilyn Manson is possibly the most attacked musician in America, accused of having a negative influence on the nation's youth. Moore interviewed Manson when he came to Littleton to give a concert and was heavily protested.

Manson defended himself saying that the boys just needed someone to listen to them and that music was not the reason for the murders. He made an excellent point that on that very day that the Columbine shootings occurred, our president was launching the greatest missile attack overseas in history, yet no one was saying that the president, who has greater influence on the country than Marilyn Manson, a rock musician, was influencing violence in America. Also, Moore took note on the fact that officials were quick to say that music and media were reasons for youth violence, but couldn't something such as bowling, which the two boys did the morning of the massacre have merit to be just responsible for their actions also? This questions the basis of the reasoning for blaming things such as rock music. Soon after the Columbine shootings the National Rifle Association held a scheduled rally in Littleton. Citizens were outraged that the NRA, an enormous promoter of the weapon that had slain so many innocent youths, was celebrating its presence in American life so soon and so close to Columbine.

There were protests and the mayor of Littleton even sent Charlton Hesston, the well known president of the NRA and famous actor, a letter asking for the rally to be cancelled due to the terrible change in events in Colorado. Charlton still persisted and held the rally, saying that he had the right by the constitution to do as he pleased. In Flint, Michigan the youngest school shooting in history, a six year old boy shooting a six year old girl in first grade, sadly occurred. To further aggravate anti-gun activists more, the NRA came to Flint shortly after the grade school shooting and held another rally.

Michael Moore, who himself is from Michigan and a member of the NRA, scheduled an appointment to speak to Charlton Hesston in his mansion. He asked Hesston why he thought that the amount of deaths due to gun related violence was so dramatically higher in the United States than in any other country and Hesston could give no answer. He also could not explain why even though his life was in no danger he had a room full of fully loaded firearms. Moore then proceeded to question how he could come to Flint and Littleton so shortly after their communities were rocked by the loss of innocent youths due to shootings. Hesston got upset and walked away from Moore, completely ignoring his comments and questions.

These were questions that a lot of the population needed to know not only of Charlton Hesston, but the other thousands who have firearms for no reason and have no answers to the escalated gun problem in America. The documentary never actually seemed to find a solution to the problem. Why are there so many more firearm related deaths in America than any other place on this Earth? America has had no more bloody of a history than other leading countries who have a much lower number of gun fatalities per year. Moore suggested things such as easy access to firearms and ammunition and the long standing issue of racism. Americans are living in a state of constant fear he noted.

While in one year the murder rate dropped by 20% the news coverage of violence increased by 600%. Americans are un trusting of their neighbors and many feel they need firearms for protection. Every time you turn on the news there is coverage of rape, robbery, murder, and riots. There is no escaping this worry over protecting oneself and their family. In conclusion, allowing more guns to be accessed in the United States is not making the nation a safer place to live. If having more guns meant more safety, than the nation would not lose so many to gun violence daily.

The right to bare arms is guaranteed the constitution but so it the right to life and protection. In this day these to freedoms we have as Americans seem to be contradicting one another. As history and each day in America continues to prove, gun control is not strong enough. Until people can be free of fear of gun violence there must be an effort made to put an end to the wrongful use of firearms in America. Moore did a great job of presenting a delicate subject to the American people and was deserving of the Academy Award for the project.