Bowling For Columbine

In my opinion the documentary by Michael Moore "Bowling for Columbine" is less about the actual school shootings at Columbine High School, rather more about gun violence in America. Moore displays the history of guns in America (the constitutional right) in an easy-to-understand cartoon. Michael Moore then shows the ease at which it is for an average person to obtain a gun in the United States. One instance is when he walks into a bank, opens an account, and wam bam, they hand him a gun.

Another point that Moore raises is that many American children are raised by parents that belong to the military. Thus many children have been raised around gun violence and have probably been taught from such an upbringing that is an okay choice for problem solving.

There are other "reasons" for violence that has been pointed out by the major population of America. Some of these "reasons" is violent video games, violent movies, violent TV shows and most the most disturbing one of all ... violent lyrical content.

Moore goes in depth with these issues and ends up interviewing Marilyn Manson, who is a main target for violent lyrical content by the mass public. During this interview Michael Moore asked Manson many questions. One of the question's responses really surprised me. The question from Moore to Manson was "What would you say to these boys if you could?". Manson replied with ease like it was common sense "I wouldn't have said anything, I would have listened, which no one else was able to do". That response was very surprising and very gratifying towards himself. This is so because the biggest "reason" to why there is gun violence in schools by the point of view of the mass public is from Marilyn Manson's music, yet he seemed to be the only one who had the right idea of what to do with these kids. It seemed like he was the only one with his head screwed on tight.

The conclusion came that these "reasons" were not appropriate to be recognised as to actual reasons why these shootings occurred. Moore shows that these were not good enough reasons. He shows this by comparison of other countries. Many other countries have way more examples of violence shown and heard, but gun violence is substantially lower in these countries so these reasons are definitely not the culprits of gun violence in America.

A point that Michael Moore raises is the National Rifle Association (NRA). This "cult" or organisation is often very prominent in the world of guns. After Columbine they held a meeting in the same area. Moore points out that this is not the only death by gun situation where they have turned up shortly after. This is also a very big organisation in the United States of America; Michael Moore even has a membership. Although Moore believes that they are too occupying of young minds. He talks about how they have weaseled their way into young minds to try and have them join.

Another reason that Moore points out may have a huge impact on guns in America is the amount of ignorance and fear alive in America. The media has become very good at subjecting people to the thought of a hostile country. People have been scared that they have loaded themselves up with lots of guns and a too-quick-to-think reaction time. People all over the united states have been equipping themselves with guns. Moore shows this by interviewing a formed militia. In my opinion it is ridiculous. The people involved in the militia are practicing on targets with heavy machine guns such as AK-47's and M16's. These kinds of weapons (all weapons) do not belong in a household. Only small rifles should be kept for hunting purposes. This last reason seems the most appropriate to me. Ignorance and fear sounds completely acceptable to me for gun-violence. The media should re-think their approaches to nation-wide broadcasts to de-promote fear in American homes.