E.J. Dionne Jr.

In the following viewpoint, syndicated columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. asserts that the combination of permissive gun laws and a violent-prone culture are what ultimately lead to shootings in cities such as Fort Worth, Texas, and Littleton, Colorado. Dionne argues that America is far more violent than other developed countries, in part because of this nation’s frontier spirit. He asserts that reasonable gun laws are needed to end mass killings.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In the author’s view, which two types of culture might be linked?
2. How does Franklin Zimring explain the difference between violence and lethal violence, as quoted by Dionne?
3. Why does Dionne find George W. Bush’s comments on the Fort Worth shooting irrelevant"

Can’t we now ask: Isn’t...