Central Florida Future Editorial Off Target

In an editorial filled with gun metaphors, the editors at Central Florida Future offer a weak argument that dare we say is off target. First example:

“It’s difficult for us to fathom some of the on-going debate about gun control or to see the issue from the side of those who believe less-strict policies on gun ownership will ease gun violence. Saying that allowing more people to own guns is a solution to gun violence is like saying that the solution to Americas obesity is to build more fast-food restaurants.”

That is among the worst and weakest arguments we’ve heard. We’ll take this on two points, first we’d like to note that no one is encouraging more people to buy more guns. The SCOTUS ruling came about as one individual wanted the ban lifted so he could defend his home with a handgun, which had been banned. Thus this issue is not about arming more people. It is about upholding our rights to own guns. To the second point, what does it matter if it fast food or some other eatery. This is another debate entirely, but fast food isn’t the problem, it is the amount of eating people are doing.

The second issue in the editorial is however just as off base:

“Chicago has been a city plagued by gun violence, which is obviously why it initiated the ban in the first place.”

We can only shake our heads at this statement. We know that editorials don’t need to be fair and balanced, but they should be based on facts. Chicago didn’t put the ban in place because of crime. Crime happened regardless of the ban, which is why an individual sued for his rights to own a gun.

If a paper or news outlet can’t research the facts then can we really trust them to report the news or offer commentary on it?