Christian Science Monitor Continues to Cite 90 Percent Number
Is it possible that some in the media just like a fact so much that they’ll continue to report on it, despite the “fact” that it isn’t even true? The latest example comes from The Christian Science Monitor, which notes the number of gun shops along “the border” with Mexico, but worse the outlet continues to spew that notorious 90 percent number, long after it has been disproved.
“The cartels hire people without criminal records to buy a handful of weapons at a time, from licensed dealers – there are 6,600 along the border alone – or private individuals at gun shows, and then drive them across the border. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Explosives estimates that 90 percent of the traced firearmss [sic] recovered in Mexico originated in the US.”
First, what exactly is meant by along the border? It isn’t as if there are gun shops with signs that say, “last gun shop before you leave the U.S.A.” No, these just happen to be privately owned shops located in towns 100 or so miles within the border. When you factor in that there many reasonably sized cities near the border with Mexico, it is easy to understand that there are going to be gun shops. Should these businesses close because they happen to be too close to Mexico?
But worse, how can the CSM cite a number that even BATFE doesn’t support anymore. There has never been proof of this number, and on the contrary it has been essentially disproved, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping the mainstream media from quoting this figure.
World News Heard Now Hears, and Reports on, M1 Story
Finally, others in the media are starting to pick up on the M1 story, and we thought we were the only reporters looking into the issue. Mary Bargeman at World News Heard Now has posted an interesting read titled “More Proof of Anti-Constitutional Agenda with Gun Sale Nix.”
As much of the mainstream media has gone out of its way to note that President Obama hasn’t instituted new anti-gun legislation, it is nice to see someone report that the administration is no friend of the gun lobby. In fact, this is the latest proof that the Obama administration is actually hostile to gun owners. Read more
Detroit Buy Back Nets 400 Weapons, Even Media Asks If It Will Do Any Good
The City of Detroit has faced some hard times in recent years, and this week the police used donated funds to buy back some 400 weapons. But as Time magazine asked, “Can a Gun Buyback Program Stem Violence in Detroit?” We have to say we don’t believe it can.
Darrell Dawsey, writing for Time, questions the efforts further, saying, “I still can’t shake the feeling that this program will end up as little more than a giant symbolic placebo. Feels good to note, sure. But will it do any real good in the city’s streets. I have my doubts.”
Dawsey sees the same problems we see. Criminals don’t hand in guns, and there should be better efforts by policing than just paying a pittance to get people to clean out their closets.
Capitol Weekly Shows Anti-Gun Bias in Reporting on Gun Legislation
Maybe someone should tell the staff at Capitol Weekly, “The Newspaper of California Government and Politics” to watch some old episodes of Dragnet and just tell “the facts, just the facts.” The paper reported on “A graveyard for key bills at the 11th hour” and shows some serious anti-gun bias. Read more
Montana Firearms Act Ruled Unconstitutional, Brady Campaign Rejoices
Unfortunately this has been a good week for the Brady Campaign. The group’s President Paul Helmke seemed pleased to issue a statement in response to a U.S. magistrate judge’s recommendation to dismiss a lawsuit by groups in support of Montana’s “Firearms Freedom Act.”
“The gun lobby’s so-called ‘Freedom Acts’ would threaten public safety by circumventing lifesaving federal laws.”
Clearly, this shows Helmke’s and his group’s true colors. These people don’t want “reasonable” gun laws, they want a total ban on all guns, and it is clear as they rejoice over this ruling, and the ban on the importation of M1 rifles from Korea.
Election 2010: NRA Launches “Trigger the Vote” – Tough Like Chuck
Election Day is just around the corner and we’ll be seeing all sorts of grass roots efforts that encourage to get people out to vote, and whilst many of these efforts have been from more left leaning groups, this year we’re seeing other efforts to get in on the political action. Read more
Gun Owners of America Endorse Haley in South Carolina Governor’s Race
This week the grassroots Gun Owners of American endorsed State Rep. Nikki Haley as a Republican candidate for the governor’s seat in South Carolina. The group, which has more than 300,000 members, continues to support candidates in the upcoming election who are committed to protecting Second Amendment rights.
“Gun Owners of America is proud to make this endorsement,: said GOA Vice-Chairman Tim Macy. “Nikki Haley stands 100 percent behind the rights of South Carolina’s gun owners and sportsmen. In particular, Rep. Haley strongly supports concealed carry of firearms by law-abiding citizens and will work to ease unreasonable restrictions on CWP holders.”
Rep. Haley responded by thanking the group for its endorsement. “Few things are as clearly defined as the right of individual Americans to own and use firearms,” said Rep. Haley. “The right to bear arms was deemed so critical by our Founders that they spelled it out in absolute terms, and it is my belief that any governmental action that undermines that right is in turn undermining the very freedoms that built our great nation. I hold a Concealed Weapons Permit myself, and as governor, I will continue to fight against any government infringement on the 2nd Amendment.”
Rep. Nikki Haley Official Website
AP Reports on Failed Ban on Open-Carry, Sounds Disappointed
Someone at the Associated Press was probably hoping to write a piece on how California lawmakers passed a bill that would have made it illegal to carry unloaded guns in public, but instead the news service had to report that the measure failed.
AP noted:
“The Senate narrowly approved the measure… but it failed in the Assembly.”
Additionally, AP noted that lawmakers did not act on a second bill that would have made it a law requiring all long guns, including rifles and shotguns to be registered. AP also stated, “the bill fell short during an initial vote Monday.”
Is this a case of sour grapes from the AP? If so, too bad.
San Diego Tribune Doesn’t Hide Anti-Gun Frustration
In reporting on the open carry “ban,” writer Michael Gardner of The San Diego Union-Tribune noted, “‘Open Carry’ ban falls short in a surprise.” Was this really a surprise? The legislation had already failed to pass before, and many saw this as a last ditch effort.
But Gardner doesn’t stop with a biased headline; he offers this biased intro as well:
“Time ran out for legislation to ban the public display of unloaded handguns, a stunning development it he Assembly as the midnight deadline for passing most bills arrived before a vote could be taken Tuesday.”
That is wording we’d expect to read in an editorial, not a news feature.
Mainstream Media Finally Picks Up M1 Story, Brady Campaign Notes Concern
After nearly two weeks of silence from the mainstream media, FoxNews.com has noted that the Obama administration has blocked the importation of M1 rifles from South Korea. According to the story from FoxNews, the South Koreans wanted to sell one million M1 rifles to gun collectors in America – but numbers closer to 100,000 had previously been reported in the Korean media.
Not surprisingly, the anti-gun zealots have supported the move to block the importation of the guns. FoxNews.com quoted Dennis Henigan of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence as noting:
“Guns that can take high-capacity magazines are a threat to public safety. Even though they are old, these guns could deliver a great amount of firepower. So I think the Obama administration’s concerns are well-taken.” Read more
