Graphic ads put blood on voters’ hands
Spilled blood is a pretty convincing argument for gun control, which is why the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is referencing real shootings in their latest, quite graphic ads. Placing part of the blame squarely on voters, the ads remind us that voting for politicians who don’t believe in common-sense gun laws means supporting legislation that puts guns in people’s hands. Guns that sometimes kill innocent bystanders.
From the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
The ads reference some particularly disturbing incidents: the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, in Blacksburg, Virginia, where 32 people were killed; the 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, where 12 died and 58 were wounded; and the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, in Newtown, Connecticut, where six adults and 20 children were murdered. One ad focuses on an older African-American man reading a newspaper article about a shooting. The other depicts young people getting news of a shooting on their phones. Both leave us with the message that the blood of these crimes is on the hands of everyone who votes for politicians who don’t support gun control. We see the blood drip as the voice-over reminds viewers:
You did not buy the guns.
You did not load the bullets.
You did not empty the chamber.
But you voted.
You voted for politicians that refuse to support common-sense gun laws.
Vote only for candidates who will fight to reduce gun violence.
The solution is in our hands.
It’s a powerful message with emotional impact. And the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence went to great lengths to make sure that message is conveyed. The ads were produced by Wondros, the company behind TED, Rock the Vote, and (Red), among other campaigns. It was directed by Mark Pellington, best known for his films “Arlington Road” and “Mothman Prophecies,” who made his own powerful statement about the ads he created:
“I wanted to make pieces that could shake me, make me uncomfortable and accountable for my choices and actions; pieces that brought back the horror as we culturally become insulated to every new act of gun violence. My job as an artist is to create work that increases the dialogue and forces action from the soul. My heart bleeds for every family and friend left shattered by gun violence. As a single father, I feel responsible to protect my daughter and affect powerful change so she can live in a world without the fear of gun violence.”
Just see if you can watch these ads without remembering the devastation you felt when you heard about Sandy Hook.