Aly Hedspeth

October 4, 2017
English 111
GET RHETORICAL!

Molly Ivin’s “Get a Knife, Get a Dog, but Get Rid of Guns” utilizes pathos, logos, and

ethos very well to influence the reader’s view on the value and purpose of guns. In trying to get

rid of guns, she gives the reader more than one ultimatum such as joking about getting a knife

or a dog if they want protection.

Ivins uses logos when she says “I of course support the Second Amendment…."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." (Ivins 1). By stating the fact of what the Second

Amendment is intended for it adds to her point of guns being taken advantaged of for

wrongdoing. It does this by showing that guns are made for a well-regulated militia not for

people just to go around taking advantage of guns. The use of the facts and statistics used help

strengthen the overall impact of the message Ivins is trying to portray. Ivin makes the reader

believe she is all knowing in the subject. This fits the definition of logos because Ivins is trying to

reason with the reader by using logic.

The way Ivins uses pathos is mainly to try appeal to the reader’s emotions and get them

to evaluate their morals. Ivins could be targeting the families of someone who has been killed

by a gun or anyone who has been affected by guns. She appeals to the reader’s grief and morals

in this quote “Did the gun kill someone? No. But if there had been no gun, no one would have

died. At least not without a good footrace first. Guns do kill. Unlike cars, that is all they do.”

(Ivins 1).

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Aly Hedspeth
October 4, 2017
English 111
GET RHETORICAL!

Ivins also uses pathos when talking about the militia. Ivins appeals to mothers when

writing about “Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia.” (Ivin 1). Making

mothers think about their children using guns, makes them despise them. This would bring Ivins

to accomplish her mission. The specific emotion and values that are appealed to are those of

parents and the families of people that have had their lives affected by gun use. This fits the

definition of pathos because Ivins tries to convince the audience by appealing to their

emotions.

Even if Ivins is very biased when it comes to her view of guns. She uses ethos to make

herself credible. Ivin does this by stating over and over facts about guns and gun rights. By

listing things such as the second amendment, the NRA, and Thomas Jefferson’s views, it makes

the reader believe Ivin is well rounded and educated in guns. This impacts the audience

because if she appears educated in guns then it appears her opinion should and can be trusted.

This fits the definition of ethos because Ivins tries to present her “expertise” to convince the

audience of her credibility.

Ivins uses a couple forms of language, one being satire. An example of this sarcasm is

“Consider the merits of the knife. In the first place, you have catch up with someone in order to

stab him. A general substitution of knives for guns would promote physical fitness. We'd turn

into a whole nation of great runners. Plus, knives don't ricochet. And people are seldom killed

while cleaning their knives.” (Ivin 1).

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Aly Hedspeth
October 4, 2017
English 111
GET RHETORICAL!

Ivins incorporates loaded terms such as gun nuts also making everything that has do to

with guns contain a negative connotation. Ivin does this to enhance her argument by

associating guns with being bad things. She convinces the reader to stay away from guns

because they are not good legally, mentally, or physically.

So if you want Ivin’s aspect, guns are a bad thing and if you want good protection Get a

Knife, Get a Dog, But Get Rid of Guns.