Media Influence On Gun Violence

America has become better known for its massive amounts of firearm violence, including murder, suicide, and mass shootings. In 2011 there were 467,321 people victim to crimes committed with firearms. An average of 30,000 people are killed by guns each year, and more than 30 people per day are murdered, along with the 268 people shot per day. Half of these deaths are people ages ranging from 18 to 35, and a third are ages 20 and below; making homicide the second leading cause of death within the ages 15 to 24. However, I believe that the reasoning behind these statistics is the easy access to guns as well as how the media displays the violence to be a commonality.
Guns can be purchased in a variety of locations such as Wallmart, K-Mart,
Directly following the tragedy of September 11th, Wallmarts gun sales increased by 70%. This is due in part by the access to firearms but more by the panic spiraling throughout America, which is further provoked by media coverage. Even during times of decreased crime, the televised reportage increased by 600%, leading to an increase of fear. The media gives an impression of an increasing crime rate, along with the idea that crime is more common that it truly is. They also insinuate that the most common victims of gun violence are elderly, women and white people. However, while the media delivers a fearful image of murderers and victims, they portray the police to be more potent than they are; excluding any criticism toward them due to the fact that “90% of media covered crime is solved.”(2) Along with the praise given to police, the media is greatly focused on the United States military which honors people who have encountered heavy combat and severely violent situations. While watching the news, young boys and girls see someone on television that they want to be, which