Controlling Firearms?

Gun control has been a rising issue in the last few months, especially with the tragedy in Connecticut, and has finally reached its peak.

Winthrop University Police
Photograph by Dakota Fitzgerald 

The concern for many is possible infringement on Second Amendment rights. CNN provides press releases involving President Obama and his insight on the issue of gun control. The National Rifle Association also provides vital insight to this issue.

This issue is not strictly legislative; it affects families, gun supply stores, even students. According to John Vanswearingen, a marketing director at Allen Arms, “No amount of restrictions will stop people from hurting one another.” He also stated that, “Restrictions on firearms could place more stress on law enforcement due to the demand for firearms. Making firearms illegal will not decrease the demand,  therefore if restrictions are placed on the selling of firearms a black market could arise.”

Winthrop University Campus
Photograph by Dakota Fitzgerald

A student at Winthrop University, Lyndsey Cross, stated, “Much like drug laws, gun laws will only push people further.”

Obama is to review possible solutions which should be released soon.

Hook, Line, and Sinker

1.    Lead: Two firemen seriously injured and one man dead after tragic accident

Nut Graph: After speeding through an intersection and striking a dispatched fire engine, Charles R. Lydon was killed on impact at approximately 7:10 this morning.

2.     Lead: Go big or go file a claim/ Small cars smashed on highway

Nut Graph: According to a study by the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, shows that smaller cars are 30 percent more likely to file injury claims and repair losses.

3.    Lead: Hot dogs no longer G-rated

Nut Graph: According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, hot dogs prepared in bite size pieces are among the most dangerous foods to children and result in death once every five days.

4.   Lead: Shocked, grieving relatives informed wrong body buried at funeral

Nut Graph: After experiencing the shock of losing Kristine Belcore, 51, to a heart attack last week the family receives yet more shocking news; the wrong body was buried at the funeral in which more than 100 were in attendance. 

New Year, New Classes, and New Strangers

 

The world as we know it did not cease with the 2012 year. Instead 2013 has brought new classes, new strangers and a new semester at Winthrop University.

 

Beginning a set of new classes allows for new relationships to be built, especially when you start off by interviewing a classmate with whom you have just recently become acquainted. Patrick McGill is a sophomore attending Winthrop University. Majoring in Digital Design, Patrick is required to take a mass media class and that is precisely when our paths crossed. I, being a broadcast major, too have to take a multi-media course and just so happened to sit right beside Patrick McGill. Upon hearing the assignment a surge of excitement rushed through me that only intensified when Patrick and I began to interview one another.

 

At first Patrick came across a bit shy and reluctant to talk and getting information was a work out. I felt as though I was overwhelming, rifling my questions at him and furiously writing down his answers but then he began to open up. This introvert type personality fits hand in hand with his realist outlook on life. Patrick still sees things in a positive light, something he feels people do not relate with realists. McGill was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina. Winthrop University is “a nice size and great campus” according to Patrick and that’s what attracted him to Rock Hill. Patrick hopes to work with Advertisement and also enjoys drawing in his spare time. He prefers drawing portraits over still-life but takes joy in drawing just about anything. He considers still-life to be “boring”. I found it interesting to hear that he would black out the backgrounds to keep from drawing it. I think this directly reflects on his personality. He likes things to be up front and self-explanatory much like his realist outlooks. Patrick is very sound and logical in many aspects, even when working with art. He thinks of an idea then draws it, whereas other artists just work with a hunch. Patrick, though humble and an introvert, is also witty and can be sarcastic providing a great sense of humor. As a child he played baseball and moved on to soccer and cross country in high school.

 

The largest aspect that I took away from interviewing and essentially getting to know Patrick McGill is his great aspiration to produce film. He is currently working on a script for a short film and hopes to enlist some theater majors to assist in the making of this film. Do not expect any Kesha songs to be featured in this film, however, as Patrick despises this pop singer.

 

It is often surprising to think that a few days ago the world was in a rage about the end of the world due to a Mayan calendar. Now, new relationships are being made as everyone continues on in their lives. It’s amazing how much I now know about Patrick McGill thanks to one assignment in a multi-media class at Winthrop University.