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Dustin Spurling

Mrs. Sanders

ENG-111-402

23 Mar 2019

Influence on Gun Ban

In the article “Get a knife, Get a Dog, but Get Rid of Guns”, Molly Ivins speaks about the

original intent of the Second Amendment and its need to be altered. Ivins describes the purpose

of the amendment with quoted facts but disagrees with the current interpretation due to its

original date written over two hundred years ago. There are statements within the article that

argue the problems related to the outdated document and evidence that proves logical reason to

ban guns. Ivins persuasion in this article is explained through ethos, pathos, and logos and to

why guns should no longer be in the possession of todays society.

Ivin’s article includes logos that helps strengthen her argument to abolish gun ownership.

By stating, “It says quite clearly that guns are for those who form part of a well-regulated militia,

i.e., the armed forces including the National Guard.”, Ivins provides factual evidence that guns

should be owned and operated by trained military personnel instead of the common civilian.

Ivins explains that young adolescents and senseless spiritual groups should not be permitted to

possess firearms due to the lack of training and qualification that a “well-regulated militia” has

obtained.

Ivins integrates pathos within the article that helps persuade the readers to believe this

topic is extremely important and needs immediate correction. Ivins states, “I don't know what is
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missing in their psyches that they need to feel they have to power to kill. But no sane society

would allow this to continue.” There is strong implication of emotion and value that encourages

the reader to use ethical reasoning on the issue. There is also the use of insulting comments

toward gun owners that tries to further depress their intelligence. The reader will also notice

Ivins great longing to demolish all guns by saying, “Ban the damn things. Ban them all.” This

statement comes from a personal point of view that displays the writer’s unfathomable desires. It

also includes the use of profanity to additionally expresses the authors emotion.

While reading the article, there may be question on who the writer may be and how they

relate to the matter. Ivins expresses ethos by confirming she is indeed a “civil libertarian”. This

defines the writer as a politically minded individual that believes a person’s rights and freedoms

are over any class of authority or social custom. By further investigating this status claim, Ivins

credibility is amplified due to the numerous notable and politically professional involvements

that also improves the articles support rate. Even though there is a disagreement with the firearm

policy, there is a reassurance of support that is given when Irvin states, “I of course support the

Second Amendment.” This also displays respectable character to the readers and provides

evidence that the writer is a morally decent person.

Within the article, one will notice that the author has incorporated loaded terms that helps

persuade the readers and provides a higher approval of the argument. As Ivins states, “Members

of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia.”, there is negative reference to

people of religious group that own guns. While describing these groups as “wacky”, there is an

assumption that they are odd and peculiar people that should not be trusted to own firearms. It

also influences the readers to agree further with the authors point of view of banning firearms.

Ivins describes another country as “nicely” surviving without an armed society. This supports the
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author’s dispute and additionally inspires the readers dissatisfaction with the current gun laws

that could be similar to other counties.

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Work Cited

Ivins, Molly. “Get a knife, Get a Dog, but Get Rid of Guns” The Short Prose Reader. Muller,

Gilbert and Harvey Wiener. 10th ed., 2003, McGraw-Hill. Accessed: 23 Mar 2019