Wayne LaPierre’s speech on Newtown Massacre
Thomas 1
Greg Thomas
WR 121
Profesor Aurora Del Val
2/14/2013
Wayne LaPierre’s speech on Newtown Massacre
One week after a elementary school shooting rampage that took place in Newtown,
Connecticut, that left 26 children dead. Wayne LaPierre, the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association gave a speech to the media. On December 21st, 2012;
Lapierre stood up and told reporters and fellow viewers that we need to protect our children, by placing armed guards in the schools.To make his case, LaPierre used a number of different propaganda tactics, like name calling, card stacking and blaming to name a few. I believe LaPierre used the blaming, begging the question and to some degree the two extremes fallacy quite effectively to shift the focus from guns and protecting the second amendment
From the beginning of his speech, LaPierre immediately took the focus off guns.
First by using the propaganda technique called stroking or Argumentum ad populum which means “argument to the people” or “telling the people what they want to hear.” A good example would be when he says “Out of respect for the grieving families, and until
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the facts are known, the NRA has refrained from comment. While some have tried to exploit tragedy for political gain, we have remained respectfully silent.” When he said
“some have tried to exploit this tragedy for political gain”(pg 1) I believe the “some” he was referring too, were a few politicians, but mostly the right wing gun control advocates, who immediately started saying Obama was “coming for our guns”, and running out to gun shops to buy assault rifles and ammo. Which I’m sure a lot of people found insensitive.
Another thing I noticed is how LaPierre started out with “out of respect for the grieving families...” By saying these things, LaPierre is very effectively separating himself and the NRA from the politicians and right wing gun advocates he was referring too.
After
Greg Thomas
WR 121
Profesor Aurora Del Val
2/14/2013
Wayne LaPierre’s speech on Newtown Massacre
One week after a elementary school shooting rampage that took place in Newtown,
Connecticut, that left 26 children dead. Wayne LaPierre, the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association gave a speech to the media. On December 21st, 2012;
Lapierre stood up and told reporters and fellow viewers that we need to protect our children, by placing armed guards in the schools.To make his case, LaPierre used a number of different propaganda tactics, like name calling, card stacking and blaming to name a few. I believe LaPierre used the blaming, begging the question and to some degree the two extremes fallacy quite effectively to shift the focus from guns and protecting the second amendment
From the beginning of his speech, LaPierre immediately took the focus off guns.
First by using the propaganda technique called stroking or Argumentum ad populum which means “argument to the people” or “telling the people what they want to hear.” A good example would be when he says “Out of respect for the grieving families, and until
Thomas 2
the facts are known, the NRA has refrained from comment. While some have tried to exploit tragedy for political gain, we have remained respectfully silent.” When he said
“some have tried to exploit this tragedy for political gain”(pg 1) I believe the “some” he was referring too, were a few politicians, but mostly the right wing gun control advocates, who immediately started saying Obama was “coming for our guns”, and running out to gun shops to buy assault rifles and ammo. Which I’m sure a lot of people found insensitive.
Another thing I noticed is how LaPierre started out with “out of respect for the grieving families...” By saying these things, LaPierre is very effectively separating himself and the NRA from the politicians and right wing gun advocates he was referring too.
After