Summary Of Guns, Campuses And Madness By Frank Bruni

Recently there have been various accounts of shootings occurring on college campuses. In April 2007, there was a shooting at Virginia Tech University that left over 30 dead. In May 2014, there was a shooting at the University of California, Santa Barbara that resulted in over 5 casualties. The most recent of these shootings occurred at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, where nine people were killed. There has been some controversy over whether or not concealed firearms should be permitted in public classrooms. In the newspaper editorial, “Guns, Campuses and Madness”, Frank Bruni describes some of the pros and cons of allowing concealed guns on college campuses. He uses a variety of rhetorical devices in order to portray his message, including

rhetorical questions and ethical appeals.

Rhetorical questions are used to encourage writers to think about the author’s side of an argument.

In this article, Frank Bruni makes people think about why guns shouldn’t be allowed in college campuses. William McRaven, a chancellor at the University of Texas, asks, “If you’re in a heated debate with somebody in the middle of a classroom and you don’t know whether or not that individual is carrying, how does that inhibit the interaction between students and faculty?” (3). By using a rhetorical question, the speaker forces the reader/listener to think about the situation. It forces college students and professors to picture themselves in a similar situation and think about what they would do. Since a rhetorical question often leads to an obvious answer, the author gets his audience to see how allowing guns on college campuses is a bad idea. Frank Bruni, a writer for the New York Times, asks, “Maybe just a few more guns find their way onto campus. Isn’t that a few guns too many, especially in an environment where excessive drinking occurs, among people at an age where anxiety and depression can be acute?” (4). This question causes the reader to think deeper about problems that can occur when guns are mixed with college age people. It makes them think deeper about whether or not having more guns in a college environment is a smart idea. In general, getting people to think deeper, expands their understanding on a certain topic. Rhetorical questions make sure the

reader is listening to what the author has to say and comprehends the points given.

Throughout the article, Frank Bruni quotes a variety of well known or reliable people.

President Obama is quoted asking how more guns will make the world safer (2). Since Barack Obama is the President of the United States, it is his responsibility to look out for our nation’s safety; quoting him lets the reader know that an important political figure, and the head of our country, has considered the events occurring in the nation and made a decision on whether the matter at hand will benefit or cost the nation’s safety. Joan Nueberger, the founder of an advocacy group called Gun Free UT, was quoted about how the possibility of having a concealed weapon in her classroom would make it harder for her and her students’ to debate over certain topics (3). Being the founder of a gun free advocacy group gives her a great deal of authority on the subject of gun violence. She is trusted to know why guns shouldn’t be permitted in classrooms and the threat they pose on college life. Credibility of an author makes it easier for the reader to believe in what the author is saying, and to take his words, ideas and opinion into account. Being reliable allows the readers to not have to worry about whether or not what they are reading is true or completely made

up.
Gun violence has become a major issue and increased increased fear in our nation, with measures being introduced to try and make these conditions/events less harmful. Texas public universities will soon permit concealed firearms in classrooms and on campus. Whether or not these drastic measures will benefit or cost society is being debated with each side presenting valid points. Bruni finishes his argument by saying how the government is being nonsensical by trying to pass a law to permit guns on campuses. Through this and persuasive devices, the importance of guns not being allowed on college campuses is shown.