Left Leaning Care 2 Offs Biased Reporting as “News”
The headline sums up where this story is going: On The First Anniversary of the Giffords Assassination Attempt, Things Are Still In Limbo.
This from Care2.com ,which begs the question… what is in limbo? Apparently because guns are still legal the issue is in limbo. But this article then throws in bias as news. It does begin as news, as is noted with this introduction:
It’s been exactly one year since the country was stunned by the violent shooting rampage that nearly killed Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, and did kill and wound numerous staff, supporters and even a little girl.
That is news and it sums up the situation well, but consider this misinformation at the end of the article:
And others are even using the anniversary to promote weapons. According to Think Progress, the Crossroads of the West gun show has decided to use today as the day to throw their Tuscon exhibit and sale. But at least they don’t appear to be raffling away the same type of gun that nearly killed her, like the Arizona GOP did last fall.
The gun show wasn’t scheduled for any particular reason! But this article would you have believe that was in fact the motive of the Crossroads of the West Gun Show organizers! Shameful that this is bias passes as news.
Think Progress Writers Should Think Before They Write
Last week Think Progress offered a story titled, “Tucson Gun Show Held On Anniversary of Giffords Shooting,” and offered this passage:
So it is more than a little puzzling why the Crossroads of the West gun show picked the anniversary of this horrific mass killing to hold one of their shows in the very same town where the Tucson massacre occurred.
Are we really getting to the point where days become “taboo?” The truth is that this was a tragedy that shouldn’t be forgotten, but the organizers of the gun show likely didn’t look to hold it on the same day. Tragic things happen every day.
Should we not allow Japanese tourists to visit America on December 7? Should no one fly on September 11? Our questions are outrageous, but so is suggesting that the gun shows picked the same “town,” especially as the Crossroads of the West gun show has regularly been a staple in Tucson! As for the date, the gun show has also been typically held in early January!
But clearly this is a case where anti-gun reporters look for any excuse to take aim at gun shows.
Times Sun Union Calls for Background Checks on All Gun Sales
This week the editors at the Times Sun Union in Albany, New York offered an editorial that basically calls for the closing of the gun show loophole, and demands reporting of sales of all firearms. The editorial offered this thought:
A loophole in the federal law exempts private sales at gun shows from undergoing a NICS check. Only seven states, including New York, require the checks to be done for all sales. That should be mandatory nationwide.
The rest of the editorial notes the so-called “gun show loophole,” argues that criminals can get guns, and states many facts such as how licensed dealers must report all sales. All this makes good points and a very convincing argument, but there are some counter-points that the editors should think about.
Namely, “for all sales.” What about friends that give guns to one another? Or a father giving a son a gun? Would these need to be done through a dealer so a background check is done? And couldn’t people just “give” guns if cash isn’t exchanged? In other words, doesn’t this just create other “loopholes?”
And finally, this so-called nationwide background check would only affect law-abiding citizens, and wouldn’t have any effect on illegal gun sales. That is something to think about. Isn’t this really just about making it harder for the law-abiding to arm themselves?
AP Offers Biased Take on Gillbrand Bill
This week the Associated Press, via The Long Island Press, noted that U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is looking to close the so-called “gun show loophole.” The story presents a variety of dubious, misleading and even contradictory facts including:
-90 percent of firearms used in New York City gun crimes come from out of state
-Most of the guns are illegal
-Closing the “gun show loophole” would “keep operators responsible”
Now here are some points the article doesn’t note. New York City has extremely strict gun laws, and apparently these only deter law-abiding citizens from being armed, especially if criminals are going out state. But the article implies that 90 percent of crime guns come from out of state, which may or may not be true, as it is probably difficult to track many of these guns in the first place.
But let’s consider that New York State doesn’t have any significant gun industry, so wouldn’t all crime guns be from somewhere else? See how easy it is to skew the facts?
And now let’s review the second fact listed above, “most of the guns are illegal,” so what does that have to do with gun shows, where the vast majority are illegal. This sort of reporting implies that gun shows are akin to black market arms fairs, which they are not.
As for the loophole, here are two more points. One, what is to stop illegal dealers from selling guns off the books beyond gun shows? Nothing, which is how most criminals get their guns anyway. In other words, criminals aren’t going to gun shows. Closing private sales – and make no mistake that this is what it is really about – would only further punish the law-abiding.
Media Matters Aims at NRA Again
First, we’d like to ask why is the NRA always the target of Media Matters for America, which claims to look at conservative bias in the media. Isn’t the NRA technically non-partisan? Or is it just that the liberals at Media Matters hate guns so much they try to target the group relentlessly?
This week, in a post titled “NRA Complains As NY AG Enforces the Laws Already on The Books,” Media Matters offers this thought:
“Enforce the laws on the books already before passing more” is the plea of the National Rifle Association (NRA) when proposals are made to strengthen guns laws. In April NRA executive vice-president Wayne LaPierre told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “We support all kinds of behavioral requirements, restrictions … there are dozens of laws on the books that we support. The problem is they’re not being enforced.”
So what happens when a state starts enforcing gun laws at gun shows? Long-winded jeremiads complaining of “entrapment” by the “anti-gun cabal.” Maybe it’s time to change the slogan to “enforce the laws on the books, but make sure it’s not a law we don’t like you jack-booted thugs.”
On Wednesday New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the arrest of ten people for selling guns at a gun show without performing a background check on the buyers as is required by state law.
What isn’t noted is that this is just another attempt to close the infamous so-called “gun show loophole” and bar all private sales. So while it is possible that those 10 individuals may have broken the law, the NRA has argued – as we agree – that there is no loophole. Private sales are allowed at gun shows and should remain so.
But that is a fact that doesn’t matter to Media Matters as it is never mentioned.
Gun Dealers Charged Brings New Questions of Gun Shows
This week BuffaloNews.com reported, “Gun dealers charged with failing to conduct background checks” and this story essentially does note that the 10 dealers may have broken the law, after being told that the purchasers (who were undercover law enforcement) might not be able to pass background checks.
However, what is wrong with type of reporting is that it still has much bias, and ends with this passage:
Gun shows have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Critics have openly worried that loopholes and lax background checks could make it easier for would-be terrorists and other criminals to purchase weapons.
There is no counterpoint, and once again it is hard to prove a negative – that being that most sales do not involve terrorists or other criminals. We’d also like to address this issue of “terrorists,” as there has not been a single case in the United States where a terrorists or would-be terrorist has bought a gun at a gun show.
There are few examples of where criminals have even bought guns at gun shows. The truth is that criminals likely don’t frequent gun shows, as they have other sources of obtaining firearms. But once again it seems that gun shows have come under fire from the media that won’t show both sides of the issue.
Mexican Cartel Wanted MILITARY Weapons
Last week Wired ran a piece titled, “Cartel Plot: Use U.S. Guns for Massive Mexico City Attack,” which offered this passage:
“Twin, you know guys [in the U.S. military] coming back from the war,” the lieutenant’s son, Jesus Vincente Zambada Niebla, told Flores. “Find somebody who can give you big powerful weapons, American shit. We don’t want Middle Eastern or Asian guns, we want big U.S. guns, or RPGs [rocket propelled grenades].”
This does not sound like the cartels planned to do their shopping at gun stores or gun shows, but rather were looking for military guns. And yet many still blame “lax American gun laws,” and not a military source!
KNDO Offers Rambling Article on Gun Show Loophole
We can’t even make heads or tails of this report on a gun show in Yakima, Washington. KNDO.com, offered the story, titled “Local gun shows bring out protesters,” and had this report:
Gun control is a hot topic for many people across the country including in Yakima. This weekend a gun show in Yakima was the focus of protestors saying they demand change in state gun sale laws.
Thousands of people made there way through Yakima’s gun show, some browsing, others buying some of the hundreds of guns up for sale at the Fairgrounds.
But not everyone was excited for the show.
Protestors gathered Sunday on the second day of the gun show not protesting against owning guns, but rather a loophole in state law.
First, this copy is badly written, to the point that it sounds like there are two introductions. Perhaps one was from the studio and the other the voice over from a beginning of the segment. But even if so it is confusing. And the point of the story is misleading.
The truth is that this is little more than an excuse to give anti-gun zealots a voice about an issue they don’t understand. The article fails to mention that criminals don’t regularly buy guns at gun shows, and that many background checks are conducted.
Who Guards the Guards: Retired cop admits to illegal gun sales
Seattle PI is reporting that Roy Alloway, a 56-year-old retired police officer, has pleaded guilty to selling illegal firearms. This is an interesting story on two levels, and FirearmsTruth is conflicted on this issue.
The story notes:
“Alloway pleaded guilty to illegally operating as a gun dealer and income tax fraud.”
This is a disturbing fact especially as Alloway is a retired police officer. But there is a twist to this story. It seems that Alloway and three others weren’t exactly funneling guns to cartels or even necessarily selling guns to criminals. They were conducting their business at gun shows.
Seattle PI adds:
“In a statement filed with the U.S. District Court, the special agent said the investigation was launched after agents came to believe several gun dealers were operating without federal firearms dealer’s licenses — required for anyone ‘engaging in the business’ of firearms dealing — and selling large quantities of guns as ‘private sellers.’”
What is a major concern to this point is what constitutes “large quantities of guns” when “private sales” are conducted? Will gun collectors, who buy and sell, upgrade pieces in their collection face similar charges? What about the gun collector who is facing hard times and needs to raise some cash? If it is a money-making business than one could be considered a “gun dealer.”
The point in the end is that Alloway likely knew he was doing something wrong, especially as he attempted to conceal how much money he was making. But this could open a Pandora’s Box for those looking to make a few dollars while mostly collecting firearms. It gives occasional sellers something to ponder.
Anti-Gun Author Questions: “Is Gun Control Racist?”
While there is a long standing argument to be made that gun control is racist, it is ironic that author Adam Winkler is only seeing it now. Of course he offers some strange opinions while making this argument in a post for The Daily Beast via MSNBC:
“And one of the few places you can easily find virulent racist literature is at a gun show. In what bizarro world is gun control racist?”
Is it really fair for Winkler to suggest that “virulent racist literature” can be “easily” found? No gun show actually promotes this, and while we disagree that it is “easy” to find this literature, isn’t it really just an example of a few individuals.
But once again Winkler goes over the same points in his book, sharing misinformation along the way, suggesting that the NRA was about gun control of minorities and implying that this is still their stand today.
