Sandy Hook Elementary

http://www.cagle.com/page/9/?cat=9

Team Member Name: Emily Lindley

Publication: The Cagle Post Date: 08/30/2013

Cartoonist: Bill Day U.S./International

Title of cartoon: “The Truth and Nothing but the Truth” Cartoon: # 15

What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?

In the cartoon a revolver is filled with six figures in place of bullets to represent deceased victims from the Sandy Hook shooting. The diseased bodies are in the cylinder that is in the shape of a white government building. There is a NRA marking on the handle of gun that is highlighted with red to make the organizations name stand out compared to the rest of the cartoon. 

The context is symbolism and analogy. The two persuasive techniques combine the regulations of the NRA and government gun control to the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. The symbol of a revolver is an image that can be easily identified. The shoes of the shot victims relate are bullets that corresponds grief and mourning of those affected. There is a battle to win from the citizens who lost their loved ones in the school shooting for gun control. The souls of those killed keeping the battle alive and the controversy is heading straight for the government. 

Tone of the cartoon:

1) Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon? Positive framing for gun control is being supported.

2) What evidence can you give that shows the cartoonist supports one side or the other? The framing is supportive for gun control to be more closely regulated.

3) What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue? The reality that is constructed is with the lack of gun control from the government and NRA innocence’s around the nation occur. There were lives and families that were affected by this tragedy. The officials in charge of gun control are targeted in this cartoon to symbolize the lives lost due to guns being owned and used carelessly. 

Analysis:

The school shooting was constructed by Adam Lanza who was 20 years old and grabbed three guns before the innocent from his family home. The gun in the cartoon not only represents the general lack of gun control but the propaganda that guns have caused young generations. Lazana was able to grab a semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifle two handguns consisting of a Glock 10 mm and a Sig Sauer 9 mm  that were located to his knowledge in the family home and available for use (Almasy, 2012).

The government and NRA have the power to influence and set examples for gun control. The Sandy Hook shooting brought another statement to the nation for gun safety measures. The NRA uses the second amendment to protect the right of owning a concealed weapon while the apposing side argues safety and monitoring measures in order to avoid the epidemic of more social shootings.

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• Cartoon Analysis Worksheet: Attach to cartoon.

Team Member Name: Chris Glaittli

Publication: The Times Date:Janurary 27, 2013

Cartoonist:Gary Barker U.S./International:

Title of cartoon:"Sandy Hook Tragedy Cartoon": # 16

What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?

This cartoon was created almost a month later after the Sandy Hook Shooting which happened on December 14th, 2013 in a elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Barker used one of the United States leading ladies, the State of Liberty with her head down and mourning for the twenty students and six adults that were shot in this tragedy. The life that the Liberty displays also implies that she can talk but her mouth is covered by a sash labeled with the words “second amendment” which makes her unable to speak or to truly cry about the shooting.

As outlined within the cartoon persuasive guide, symbolism, simple objects to stand for larger concept or ideas,  is the main component used in this cartoon (Library of Congress, 2012). The second amendment sash used to cover Lady Liberty’s mouth stands for the larger concept of the what the second amendment states. According to Legal Information Institute from Cornell University, the Second Amendment states “ a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (Legal Information Institute, No Date). Not focusing on the beginning part of the amendment, the focus Barker is on the second part of the amendment, the right to bear arms. According to a CNN article, “Sandy Hook shooting: What happened?”, 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother and then grabbed three guns from the house before he went to the elementary school, Sandy Hook (CNN, no date). Although we don’t know what exactly where the guns were safely put away or out in the open, the second amendment allows citizens of the US to have firearms within their homes. The other aspect of symbolism was the using Lady Liberty as the main person mourning for these victims. Most of the Sandy Hook Victims were children and many mothers posted and blogged about their feelings about losing their children. Lady Liberty is a representative of these mothers and the tears and head down display the emotion mostly felt about this tragedy: sadness.

Tone of the cartoon:

1) Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

By the framing of this cartoon, the side that is being supported is the victims of the shootings. Twenty students, ages 6 and 7 were killed along with six faculty members of the school. The entirety of the US mourned for this terrible event. Some even continue to mourn, many news and magazines release blogs and posts remembering the Sandy Hook Elementary victims.

2) What evidence can you give that shows the cartoonist supports one side or the other?

The fact that the her mouth is covered by the second amendment sash displays that the cartoonist is upset by this but he, and many others, cannot outlaw or ban guns because of the second amendment. Lady Liberty is too busy to untie the sash because she holding the weight of the Sandy Hook in her left hand and holding the torch in the right hand.

3) What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?

The reality is that the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting was a US tragedy, along with many other shootings that have happened in the past (i.e Colorado Movie Theatre Shooting) and although so many people would want to band or outlaw guns for the ordinary public use, our forefathers protected the right to bear arms through the Second Amendment.

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