Read this excerpt from a speech delivered by President Barack Obama on gun violence in the United States. For which two purposes
did the president deliver this speech? Over these past five days, a discussion has reemerged as to what we might do not only to deter mass shootings in the future, but to reduce the epidemic of gun violence that plagues this country every single day. And it’s encouraging that people of all different backgrounds and beliefs and political persuasions have been willing to challenge some old assumptions and change longstanding positions. That conversation has to continue. But this time, the words need to lead to action. We know this is a complex issue that stirs deeply held passions and political divides. And as I said on Sunday night, there’s no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. We’re going to need to work on making access to mental health care at least as easy as access to a gun. We’re going to need to look more closely at a culture that all too often glorifies guns and violence. And any actions we must take must begin inside the home and inside our hearts. But the fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing. The fact that we can’t prevent every act of violence doesn’t mean we can’t steadily reduce the violence, and prevent the very worst violence. to state that mass shootings can be prevented and reduced with focused action to inform the public that gun violence is on the rise in the United States to make people understand the complex nature of gun violence as a social evil to explain the reasons why gun violence is increasing in the United States to state that Americans can reduce violence but cannot end violence in general
