WOWT.com (the NBC affiliate) offered an interesting take on the Russian designed SKS:

Sgt. Eric Nordby said they are making an impact. “What I’m most excited about is we did receive a SKS, which is an assault rifle, shoots a 762 by 39-caliber round or mm round. It can be a very dangerous round. It goes through houses, goes through walls and in a community it’s used out here on the streets, both that make of gun and that caliber.”  

Well, actually the SKS is actually chambered for 7.62×39mm. We think this was a slip by Officer Nordby, rather than him not knowing the difference between caliber and millimeter of a round. At least we hope so. And while we know that calibers of guns are not traditionally listed in the AP style guide we question why the web producers who posted this story didn’t take the time to correct identify this as 7.62×39mm – we assume that most news organizations would do this fact checking for electronics, technical specifications and model numbers of planes and cars, so why wasn’t this checked? Lazy journalism to us.

As for the point of the round going through walls, there are plenty of other bullets that could do more damage. The SKS is also not exactly a small rifle so we don’t see it as the primary choice of gangbangers and criminals.

It wasn’t much better at KETV 7 ABC, which also interviewed Norby:

“He showed off one that he said was a variant of an AK-47 and said he was thrilled to get it off the streets.”

He was quoted as saying:

“It’s a high-powered rifle, (fires) multiple shots and it’s commonly used in crimes around Omaha, in shootings and drive-bys and stuff.”

We can’t confirm this was the SKS, but there was no mention of any other AK-47 variant. Given the lack of information we’ll go out on a limb and conclude that this is the same gun. The problem if this is the case is that the SKS is not a variant of the AK-47. The SKS was introduced in 1944 and was designed by Sergei Gavrilovich Sionov, while the AK-47 came later being designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. Again, where is the fact checking? We know these were quickly posted stories written for TV and later posted to the websites, but would this level of fact checking be so sloppy were it about cars? In this case it is akin to saying that the Ford Model A was a variant of the Model T. So it isn’t just nitpicking.

As for high-powered rifle, that’s also debatable. The fact is that the 7.62×39mm round is extremely common as well. That fact isn’t stated, but if you read this story you’d think it was some ultra super bullet from the quotes.

The CBS affiliate wasn’t left out of the action either, as Action3news.com offered another spin:

“Gun Amnesty Day was a big success according to police. In four hours, 38 revolvers, pistols, rifles, even shotguns, some of them considered illegal were dropped off to police. It all happened in an effort to fight the war on crime.”

We’re not sure how these events are judged on success? We’ve actually never seen a news story that says “this buyback or amnesty was a total bust,” but trust us, we’ll be quick to report on it when it happens. The question still is whether this is really a “fight on the war on crime.” We also question the point “some of them considered illegal.”

Only Fox 42 KPTM.com actually noted the illegal guns:

“Two illegal short–shotguns were also dropped off, however, no one that drops off a firearm faces any possession type charges.”

While that clears up the question, we still think (unfortunately) that the media too often would like all guns to be illegal. It does show in their reporting.

While we don’t totally disagree with the plans to microstamp bullets, we do want to know what the cost would be. Additionally, we question what this would mean for the potential millions of bullets that are already owned? We worry that Bloomberg would call for these to be handed in. Even if that’s not the case, we fear that microstamping could result in a black market of existing ammo, where criminals look to buy or steal bullets to avoid being traced.

“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!

“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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.