## America's pervasive gun culture

  
  
Terrorism. Ironically, that is what the US government and people that support anti-common-sense gun-control laws encourage. Thomas L. Friedman indirectly conveys this message in his article, "If Only Stephen Paddock Were a Muslim". He writes his article in order to persuade American citizens to elect politicians who will enforce stricter gun laws.  
  
Friedman structures his article to show us contrasting ways that the US government reacts to small threats from an outside terrorist group (namely ISIS) and serious threats from within their own country. One of the serious threats he mentions is the N.R.A. (National Rifle Association) and their policies against strict gun laws. Everytime Friedman gives examples of the government overreacting to something done by ISIS, he follows it up by giving an example of the government doing absolutely nothing when a mass shooting happens or when NRA is involved. This makes it seem to the reader that the government is corrupt and the lawmakers are incompetent, which makes the final few paragraphs seem enticing when he tells us to go and elect politicians that are for stricter gun control.  
  
A study shows that waiting periods for handgun purchases can reduce gun homicides by 17% (Michael Luca et al, 1). It is very easy to enforce simple gun laws like this that wouldn't affect a citizen's second amendment rights, yet many states, including Las Vegas where the mass-shooting happened, don't enforce it. Why? Friedman mentions it in his article: the legislators are either bought or intimidated. NRA has a much higher budget than any of its competitors and has its own Political Action Committee (PAC), which transfers funds to legislators ("US Gun Control"). It is very easy for the NRA to convince a legislator to do what it wants.  
  
In 2012, a mass-shooting at an elementary school, which killed 20 children, shook the nation. It started heated debates on the policies of gun control. The NRA's solution to the problem was adding armed guards at schools (Text of the N.R.A.). This would expose children to guns at an early age and desensitize them towards it, which could potentially create more murderers.  
  
After showing us the hopelessness of trying to get the politicians to promote stricter gun laws, Friedman tells the reader how to solve this problem: by electing honest politicians that support stricter gun laws. By saying "get power" he manages to keep his solution simple, yet powerful. He makes sure to let his audience know that this is the only solution and reassures them with his confidence.  
  
Friedman writes his article in a serious, informative way in order to convince his audience to elect the right politicians. In his piece, he shows how the government tries to stop terrorists from outside the US, but opens doors for terrorists within its nation.  
  
Work Cited  
  
Friedman, Thomas L. "If only Stephen Paddock had been a Muslim". The New York Times  
  
Luca, Michael et. al. "Handgun waiting periods reduce gun deaths". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences  
  
"US gun control: What is the NRA and why is it so powerful?" BBC News  
  
"Text of the N.R.A Speech". The New York Times