Comedians and Gun Control

Comedians and Gun Control

Gun control is one of the most controversial issues in the United States today (Rawson 380). Due to numerous shootings and massacres all around the country, gun control activists, as well as comedians, are speaking out against possession of weapons. Comedians such as Trevor Noah, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jim Jefferies have assumed the role of activists in seeking gun control by expressing their views on the topic through media. Constantly reminding the audience of the massacres that have occurred and giving their opinions on the issue.

Comedians use media networks to spread awareness of gun violence and promote gun control.

Trevor Noah from The Daily Show consistently does segments on gun violence. Using humour, Trevor criticized Neil deGrasse Tyson’s tweet regarding the El Paso and Dayton shootings (Trevor). In this situation, Trevor was using comedy to condemn the insensitivity of Neil deGrasse Tyson; especially after such a malicious attack. According to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s tweet “Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.” It meant that intentional attacks are comparable to accidental occurrences like road carnage. In a different segment, Trevor Noah explains that one of the causes of mass shootings is the issue of mental health (Trevor). In this situation, humour was useful in determining one of the leading reasons for gun violence. As a result, criticism through fun is vital since it engages a large group of people who discuss the root course of various challenges to find the most appropriate solutions to the respective menace.  

Jimmy Kimmel, the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live, addresses issues regarding school shootings around the country (Jimmy). While explaining the event that occurred in Parkland, Florida, Kimmel started to tear up. The Parkland shooting was a horror show; a nineteen-year-old gunman opened fire at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland killing seventeen people. Therefore, when Kimmel started to tear up, it was clear that the killings had severe social impacts. Kimmel also explains how shameful it is for us, as a country, to be experiencing shootings over and over again (Jimmy). Here, Kimmel is calling for the government and responsible bodies to implement strategic solutions that could end gun violence. Besides, it does not sense that the United States has had the most significant number of gun violence cases, and yet still, the facts are rising. This type of criticism is essential since it calls out for solutions.

These comedians also criticize the government and politicians for their lack of action on the issue.

On the segment about the shooting in Parkland, Florida, Jimmy Kimmel blames the President and the NRA for the shootings (Jimmy). After viewing President Trump’s speech on the shooting, Kimmel addresses the President and asks him to change the laws on assault rifles.

Kimmel uses Trump’s own words against him to show the audience that there are no changes regarding the laws on gun control. Despite the continually rising gun violence, the rules on assault rifles have not been changed (Dresang 111). After the mass shooting that occurred in 101 California Street, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, was enacted. Of course, it was a campaign strategy to show that the Democrats could eliminate crime. However, many Americans agreed to give away their weapons since they worried about gun violence and armed criminals. What is more, federal offences related to firearms were punishable by death. Today, regardless of the continually growing killings, different and many Americans prefer owning; guns, therefore, sensitization via comedy could prove beneficial to gun control.

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In his standup show, Jim Jefferies criticizes half of the American public for not wanting to give up their right to bear arms. The fact that most Americans cannot give away their guns is funny; keeping in mind that in 2017 alone, there were 39,773 deaths by firearm, of which 23,854 were by suicide and 14,542 were homicides (Barry et al. 880). These statistics are devastating (Ludwig and Philip 570); therefore, Jefferies argues that there must be a legitimate reason for someone to own a gun. Besides, most of the people that own guns say they need them because they like guns. It is not a legitimate reason to bear arms. Despite the refusal of most gun owners in the United States to give up the weapons, comedy is playing a crucial role in raising awareness and sensitization on the disadvantages of possessing guns for wrong reasons. As a result, constant critics on gun control through comedy may prove to be beneficial since comedy makes people happy and is widespread in the US and globally.

Comedians call for action by influencing the audience to support gun control.

By trying to influence the audience to support gun control, comedians assume the role of activists. Most comedians in the United States of America are usually very popular. Therefore anytime they go live on their shows, they entertain a large number of people and just like activists, they can influence very many viewers or listeners. Since gun control is proving to be a challenge, comedy is a vital channel through which the viewers can dressed government and private organizations to effect change. What is more, the President of the United States and other top officials usually has fun with comedy. Thus, bringing up gun control topics on comedy platforms is a suitable method of presenting grievances. At the end of the segment on Parkland shooting, Jimmy Kimmel addresses the audience and encourages them to write to their local representatives and call for change. What is more, Jimmy Kimmel puts up a website where the audience can address the representatives.

In the Saturday Night Live skit “Roach Product”, Charles Barkley uses cockroaches with guns to protect a house from cockroaches (Charles). The message being portrayed by the skit suggests that we cannot solve our problems with arms. Charles Barkley influences the audience and calls for change by using satire. In other words, Americans cannot eliminate gun violence if they do not want to give away their guns. Don’t get me wrong; owning guns is not a problem by any means; however, their use is very critical. Therefore, it must be a legitimate reason for someone to own a gun.  What is more, they should be extensive physical and mental evaluation procedures before licensing. Charles Barkley’s satire is vital since it presents important gun control facts that could lead to potential solutions.

Conclusion

Comedians assume the role of activists in seeking gun control by sharing their opinions through media, criticizing the government officials, and influencing audiences to support gun control. Jimmy Kimmel, Trevor Noah, and Jim Jefferies are comedians who are also activists, seeking gun control. After witnessing countless shootings around the country, the comedians call for change.

Works Cited

Barry, Colleen L., et al. “Public support for gun violence prevention policies among gun owners and  non–gun owners in 2017.” American journal of public health 108.7 (2018): 878-881. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304432

Dresang, Lee T. “Gun deaths in rural and urban settings: recommendations for prevention.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 14.2 (2001): 107-115.  https://www.jabfm.org/content/jabfp/14/2/107.full.pdf

Jimmy, Kimmel “Take action: how Americans reacted to Florida school shooting” Youtube, uploaded by Jimmy Kimmel Live, 17 Feb 2018, https://scroll.in/video/868957/take-action-how-americans-and-jimmy-kimmel-reacted-to-the-florida-school-shooting

Jimmy, Kimmel “Jimmy Kimmel on school shooting in Parkland, Florida” Youtube, uploaded by Jimmy Kimmel Live, 16 Feb 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0vLiQLpsc8

Charles, Barkley “Roach product” Youtube, uploaded by Jimmy Kimmel Live, 4 March 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUUrTXxbk-s

Ludwig, Jens, and Philip J. Cook. “Homicide and suicide rates associated with the implementation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.” Jama 284.5 (2000): 585-591.

Rawson, Brian. “Aiming for prevention: medical and public health approaches to small arms, gun violence, and injury.” Croatian medical journal 43.4 (2002): 379-385. http://neuron.mefst.hr/docs/CMJ/issues/2002/43/4/12187513.pdf

Trevor, Noah “Trevor Noah gives a thoughtful response to the way society reacts to mass shooting.” Youtube, uploaded by the Daily Show, 6 Aug 2019, https://mashable.com/video/trevor-noah-mass-shootings-response/