Running Head: Concealed Weapons

Rhetorical Visual Argument:

Concealed Weapons in Universities
Aimee Burciaga
The University of Texas at El Paso

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Figure 1: News cast shows map of place of shooting.

Figure 2: Caution school signal referring to school undergoing shootings.

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Concealed Weapons in the Universities

In the beginning of this decade the number of school shootings sky rocketed making
officials take action and pass new laws. Each of the laws created and/or discussed are meant for
the protection on the alumni in each campus and its staff. In the year 2016 which is only months
away new laws will take effect. 2016 will be the year were guns will be permitted on all
campuses throughout the United States.
The concern is brought upon many as the amount of college shootings take up one-third
of the total shooting only in this decade. Many say that once the laws are passed the shootings
will increase along with the deaths. Not being well informed about decisions made at either the
local, state or federal level is part of the problem. Not knowing about new rules and regulations
means that one is not taking part of making a change. Voting, petitions and propaganda among
other options are crucial to eliminate guns from all college level campus. By eliminating
possible threats the possibility of a shooter encounter may decrease and avoid tragedies such as
the recent one in Roseburg, Oregon.
Figure 1
Figure 1 image shows the Umpqua College in Roseburg, Oregon in the headlines after a
school shooting regarding religion. The image is a great form of information and gives
important details. The location and the reason behind the crime were given which serve the
purpose of informing the public of the breaking news. The news is reliable coming from a good
source such as FOX News which a well-known news cast.
Figure 2

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Figure 2 image shows a gun pointing at a caution signal which are used at school
crossings. The image only gives the idea of a school shooting. No information is provided nor is
a specific topic shown. Credibility is only given to the caution signal given that it is used to
prevent accidents while students and staff are crossing. No form of written explanation is added
to the image to add feeling to it. On the other side the image goes along just fine when added on
a newspaper to add imagery while reading it.
When you see both images side by side there are negative emotions that come along.
Most of the viewers will feel sad and will believe its unfair for crimes like that of shooting to
happen more often now a days. Other viewers make a call to change and act in a positive way to
stop school shootings from occurring more often.
School shootings are tragic yet popular among college students. The way the news is
spread is important in order to change the system and create better ways of equal protection.
Although the topic does seem impossible to achieve there are ways to help prevent the
unexpected. Supporting local, state, or federal organizations ask a form of help may be the
ultimate remedy. Many are still unaware of forms in which they may add support to help out
while other are unaware of the overall situation. The form the news is carried out to the public
and the way is portrayed if the beginning to acct for change. One image may save lives and
prevent more shootings from occurring in the years to come.

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References
(Feernanda, 2015)
(ABC News, 2015)
(K12 Academics, 1700-2015)