Biased Gun Show Report Passed Off as News
Is William Ecenbarger’s piece in The Philadelphia Inquirer news or an editorial? It appears in the commentary section, but yet is written in a way that could suggest to the average reader that it is actually a new story. Either way, it is biased and offers a terribly tilted anti-firearm stance:
“There was enough fire power [sic] here to arm a division.”
Really, a division. Does Ecenbarger know that a military division typically consists of between 10,000 and 30,000 soldiers? So was there really enough firepower for a division?
And here is some quality editorial copy from this “freelance writer,” suggesting that maybe he take a refresher course in writing:
“Just across the aisle there was a $999 price tag on an FN Herstal Five-seveN tactical pistol. This weapon, also known as “the Cop Killer,” is believed to have been used is last year’s massacre at Fort Hood, Texas.”
When he says “this weapon” does he mean this type of weapon, as in a FN Herstal Five-seven, or this particular Five-seven was actually known to be used in the massacre? It would seem odd to us that the actual shooters gun would be in evidence in Texas!
Ecenbarger further pointed out a Bren light machine gun was for sale, never mentioning that a special Class III license is required to actually own the thing, but that would probably be too much reporting this future prize winning freelance writer!
Ammo Story Goes International Via WaPo
Apparently there has been so much hype about an increase in the sale of ammunition in the United States that the story continues to go international, and alas with the same liberal bias. This week The Canadian Free Press ran a story with this passage:
“In a year of job losses, foreclosures and bag lunches, Americans have spent record-breaking amounts of money on guns and ammunition. The most obvious sign of their demand: empty ammunition shelves. At points during the past year, bullets have been selling faster than factories could make them.”
First, we’d like ask our colleagues north of the border for a source on the point that bullets are actually being sold “faster than factories could make them.” Yes, ammo is selling, but so far even the American press hasn’t stated that dubious claim. Or has it?
A closer look at the story reveals that this wasn’t actually original copy – as in an original article from Canada, but is in fact just a passage quoted from The Washington Post. This story of course offers the usual suggestions that it is fear of Obama taking away guns that are driving the sales.
Additionally, what the Canadian abridged version fails to point out is at least in the WaPo version, which stresses that America is involved in two wars right now. Factor in the additional training, and maybe the ammo shortage isn’t just people hording. While WaPo offers this suggestion, via the argument from ammo makers, the rest of the mainstream media – including that in Canada now – just blames gun owners of course.
Article in The State Suggests Mood of Fear, But Presents Few Real Facts
While not the most biased story ever written on the subject of firearms, The State (South Carolina’s Home Page), did offer enough confusing passages that this article was clearly written by someone who doesn’t know firearms. Case in point, the opening paragraph:
“At the Land of the Sky Gun & Knife Show, people could buy everything from a 12-shot rubber band gun to a custom-built target rifle that can hit a soda can from 600 yards.”
Well, I don’t know about you, but I would certainly hope a gun show would have numerous rifles that could hit a soda can from 600 yards, and I wouldn’t expect it to be “custom-built” either! More importantly, isn’t hitting a target at 600 yards more about the ability of the shooter than the firearm?
More troubling is the fact that this article makes it seem that the entire sport and hobby has turned to hording ammunition and buying items that might be banned.
“Especially popular were items once banned under the Clinton administration, such as high-capacity magazines, which Davis said hold more than 10 rounds.”
While these facts are no doubt driving sales, gun shows are not just about fear and hording. It is about time that the media, even those who offer a reasonable favorable look at the shows, understand that point.
Los Angeles Daily News Weighs in on Ammo Cap
An important debate is unfolding in California, and fortunately not all in the mainstream media are blindly praising the latest major setback for law abiding citizens. The Los Angeles Daily News is asking readers to weigh in on the issue of the recently signed into law legislation that would limit the amount of ammo one can buy per month. Not that criminals would ever abide by such a law. Please join the debate.
Firing Back: California Off the Mark in Ammo Limit
This week California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law that would limit the amount of ammunition sold. When – or rather if – this law goes into effect in 2011 (we expect lawsuits any second now), it would mean that handgun owners would be unable to buy more than 50 rounds per month, while gun shops would have to record identifying information about the buyer. While this is aimed at reducing crime, it is another step that won’t have the intended effect. Instead, it will make it harder for target shooter to go target shooting, while criminals will simply find gray markets or buy from illegal sources.
In the meantime, 2011 is a long time away. We expect just about every gun owner in the state to stock up. So that rush for ammo might just further heat up. Of course we’re also expecting praises from the mainstream media over the next 15 months. Let’s just not hold our breath thinking that gun related crime will disappear at the stroke of midnight.
Prohibition didn’t reduce drinking in the 1920s and it just created new black markets, while normally honest people broke the law casually. Why would anything think that the same wouldn’t happen with bullets as well. But maybe that is the intention; if people break the law they can’t legally own guns. And that sadly might be the ultimate gun control plan.
Firing Back: Ammo Shortage Caused by…
The UnionLeader.com poses and interesting question: “What’s triggering a shortage of guns?” Consider this another example of the mainstream media being a little late on the story. As we’ve complained for months now, this is really old news, but the issue of ammo and even gun shortage comes up time and time again.
Maybe if these stories stopped appearing readers who were on the fence about stockpiling guns and ammo would stop stockpiling guns and ammo, and you know what… the stories would probably stop too. But instead, we’d probably see twisted stores claiming that gun owners now see the light that legislation isn’t coming, that fears about the president were unfounded or that many decided guns aren’t just safe. In other words, look for the MSM to concoct some farfetched stories without doing the requisite research. If it easy enough to report about false fears, why not report about other falsehoods.
London Free Press Picks up on American Ammo Shortage
This is getting somewhat silly. Now the so-called American “ammo shortage” story has crossed the pond, as the London Free Press has picked up on the story. Exactly why this is, is not clear. This isn’t exactly new news, nor is it really that big of a deal. But the unfortunate fact is that it continues to make news.
As we’ve commented previously, this actually further encourages people to go and buy more ammo. Maybe the fact that it is being picked up internationally will encourage those in London to buy more bullets. The irony is of course that while American gun stories are picked up overseas, stories of guns being seized in China and Canada are barely a blip to the American mainstream media.
Firing Back: Gun Laws are Strange and Ambiguous
The mainstream media has reported ever since President Obama took office that gun sales have spiked, along with the sale of ammunition. At the same time the MSM has repeated the usual line that the President isn’t pushing for any new gun laws. However, this isn’t to say that new laws haven’t been introduced in recent months. New York City continues to tighten its gun laws, while New Jersey’s governor signed into a law that allows for only one handgun a month to be purchased.
By banning, restricting or any other means of limiting firearms only hurts the legit owners, not the criminals. One example is that in New York City you couldn’t legally own a World War II Lee Enfield rifle. Why? Because it has a 10-round magazine. A double barrel shotgun is totally legal. Which do you think would be more popular with drug dealers and criminals looking to rob a store in the middle of the night?
So is there even a criminal market for Lee Enfields? These hardly seem suited to the modern criminal. And what about the handgun limits in NJ? Will criminals only buy one illegal handgun a month? Probably not. In the end, only those who play by the rules, and follow the laws to the letter will be hurt by these sort of gun laws.
Could Any Gun Control Stop Criminals
One of the big arguments from various mayors is that gun control is needed to “keep guns off the street.” But what makes these honorable leaders believe that keeping firearms from law-abiding citizens would do any good at stopping those who don’t abide by the law? Case in point: The Chicago Tribune is reporting that a father and a son were arrested for possession of drugs and a not so small cache of guns that included enough firepower to make the Terminator smile.
The story mentioned part of the arsenal:
“Police say a raid of the men’s home netted 25 firearms, including two submachine guns, chemicals for explosives and detonating devices, among other weaponry.”
Other Chicago area news organizations, including WGN TV, further noted that the father and son had two rocket launchers, “which are believed to be military weapons” says the story.
So two questions again:
- Why didn’t the pair turn in these firearms during Chicago’s recent gun buyback programs? Wasn’t the purpose to get guns off the street? It seems that the guns possessed by the father and son would be more worrisome than any other firearm gathered during the cash for guns program.
- Do you think those rocket launchers were purchased at a gun show? Or do you think that dangerous men like these two will go to any lengths to get guns?
Bloomberg News Puts Spin on Louisiana Firearms Sale
This weekend Louisiana offered the first-ever Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax holiday, where lawmakers approved a tax break for those looking to purchase firearms. The story that ran on Bloomberg.com was mostly clear about the facts, but we want to set the record straight on a point or two. Most importantly the author claimed this was to give the state’s 270,000 hunters a break. Again, buying guns isn’t just about hunting, but in fairness this article did run just before the start of dove hunting season, so maybe that’s how the writer put the facts together. The problem with this is that it would be considered lazy journalism in most circumstances, as there is no proof that just hunters were buying the firearms.
The bigger concern is that the writer felt compelled to add this strongly anti-firearm passage:
“Across the country, more than 450 municipal leaders, including Ray Nagin of New Orleans, have formed Mayors Against Illegal Guns to stop the spread of weapons. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was a founding member of the group, which has supported gun buyback programs.”
While it might not seem like much, it has nothing to do with the story, and worse the writer notes that Nagin wasn’t reached for comment. So why include it? Well, with Bloomberg as the name of the magazine it seems that Bloomberg (Mike Bloomberg founded this magazine) would have to be in the story, especially if guns are involved.
