Gun Violence in Canada

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Gun Violence in Canada; The Person Holding the Gun Meghan Hadfield ENG1100 B October 17th, 2012 Gun violence in Canada has recently been on a decline, but that is no reason for anyone to sit back and ignore the issue. Many people say there are easy solutions to this problem, such as changing the laws but just because you take the gun out of a hand, does not stop the shooter from being the type of person who is capable to shoot a gun. The past year’s tragedies experienced in Toronto involving gun violence have lead many to look for a solution to solve this issue. Due to factors such as the media, treatment at home and the illicit drug economy, it is more than likely that guns are not the main problem in the unfortunate situation of an event involving gun violence. Gun violence in Canada is not caused by guns themselves, it is caused by the person behind the gun, the mind behind the gun. The issue regarding gun violence in Canada can be blamed on a number of things but the common misconception of factors regarding gun violence is the gun itself. Looking at factors such as the media, the gun being the main factor in the equation of a shooting is not the case. In James Sheptycki’s article, “Speculative Truths About Gun Crime,” he talks a lot about the social-psychological dimensions of gun violence. Sheptycki exposes the media as a key contributor to gun violence in Canada. The way the media portrays violence, especially gun violence, is almost in a positive or convincing way, which to the public can be very dangerous. The media gives the impression of guns to be positive in regards to masculinity. “Guns are understood to confer power and respect” (Sheptycki). It is true that guns are all over the media, in television shows, films, books and even music. It has become the social ‘norm’ to see a man holding a gun to defend himself or others. This
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