TOW #3 Visual Text "Choose one"

         This public service announcement called, "Choose One," was published by an organization called Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America, in 2013. The non-profit began in 2012, as a response to the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. This particular PSA was published in print, as well as online, in order to reach as many people as possible. In their mission statement, Moms Demand Action explained, "We are organizing to effectively lobby and apply pressure that will result in stronger, sensible gun laws, and policies that will protect our children and families." As demonstrated through the campaign, members of this group feel very passionately,  and are striving to make change happen in America. Some bias is present as shown through the exaggerations that are being made. The depictions make it seem as though Little Red Riding Hood and dodge-ball are illegal throughout the country, when in reality, they have only been banned in a few different school districts. Even with this in mind, I still found this series of pictures to be incredibly effective due to the rhetorical devices that it employs, and the events that it was a response to. The add appeals to both ethos and logos, by playing off of viewer's emotions, in addition to basic logic. It is terrifying to think of children walking around with dangerous assault rifles, especially when thinking about the fact that specific candies, balls, and books have been banned for their own safety. The dramatic juxtaposition forces the audience to really evaluate why commonplace items have been banned, while life-threatening weapons have very little restrictions around them. This is a very controversial topic, as well as a much debated one. Although there is some hyperbole involved that works against the purpose of the campaign, in the heat of several devastating school shootings in America in the last decade, the message is well achieved.

I accessed this series of advertisements on the campaign's website:

http://momsdemandaction.org/in-the-news/choose-one-little-red-riding-hood-or-an-assault-weapon/  

There are several in the series, but I primarily focused on these three.