A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries A Gun Essay

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The excerpt of “A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries A Gun” is a personal account from Linda Hasselstrom on why she feels the need to carry a gun as well as, why other women should feel the need to own a gun. Hasselstrom uses rhetorical appeals in order to justify her means of security, however she fails due to her inability to provide a substantial amount of background knowledge. The majority of Hasselstrom argument relies on her ability to use pathos. Pathos is the rhetorical appeal that plays on a reader's emotions in order to sway their opinion. The majority of Hasselstrom argument is pathos because she based her view on the use of guns with what has happened in her life. For example, Hasselstrom discussed how there was a man on her property who she believed was going to shoot her because she politely told him to leave. The use of this story is Hasselstrom attempting to have the reader empathize with her due to the danger that was ahead of her. The use of pathos in her writing was to have the …show more content…

Ethos is the use of one’s title or background in order to speak on an issue that is presented. Hasselstrom is a female poet, essayist and writing teacher who is using experiences in order to debate the issue of carrying a weapon. Hasselstrom does not have the proper ethos in order to speak on this topic because she does not have any credentials that state she is qualified enough to speak on the issue of guns. The most experience Hasselstrom has with a weapon is the fact that she owns one, however she is lacks the credentials to give certifiable proof that other methods besides a gun is the only valid method that could prevent a physical altercation from occuring. In the excerpt, Hasselstrom stated that a pistol is the only way to shift the balance of power which then provided safety. She has no background on if that statement is true nor have any of the knowledge to justify the

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