PoliceOne’s Ron Avery Offers Practical Information on Concealed Weapons
Think the guy next to you is packing heat? Should you try to engage him, should you call 911 as fast as you can on your mobile phone? That’s what many in the mainstream media would have you believe, because clearly only a dangerous person would want to carry a gun. Read more
Media Begins to Pick up on Mexican Prison Story
This past weekend the Associated Press was alone in reporting that prison guards in Mexico released violent prisoners, loaned them guns to conduct hits and then let them back in prison in time for the morning roll call. We didn’t know if this story would get much pick up, but apparently it is shocking enough that it is getting attention from the mainstream media after all. Read more
Did Gun Buyback Mean to Collect Guns From Streets or Just Guns in General?
Another weekend, and yet one more gun buyback. This time the Charlotte Observer even offered a nice anti-gun spin that makes these events seem worthwhile:
“Organizers weren’t sure what to expect from the first gun buyback in the Grier Heights community. They would be happy, they said last week, if they recovered one gun from the streets of a neighborhood that’s seen its share of high-profile violence in the past few years. But just after 2 p.m. Saturday, community leaders stood in front of a stack of handguns and ammunition that had been exchanged for nearly $500 in gift cards.”
The question is whether the organizers should be happy? Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Mexican Prison Guards Released Prisoners, Lent Them Guns
We hear time and time from the American mainstream media how American firearms supposedly are fueling the war between the Mexican drug cartels. What isn’t reported nearly as much is the corruption south of the border. We know it is bad, but it seldom gets much pick up. Case in point, the Associated Press filed an interesting story this weekend, which received little pick up in the MSM. The facts are actually shocking:
“Mexican prosecutors say guards at a prison let inmates out and lent them guns to massacre 17 people at a party, then allowed them to return to their cells.”
Do you think this story will get much play? Probably not, because again reporting on corruption in Mexico just isn’t done that much. Maybe the American media doesn’t want to rock the boat. Imagine if American guns were supplied to those criminals? Now that would probably make the news.
Gun Traffickers Arrested in Chicago – What is the Source of the “Illegal” Guns
This past weekend we followed a story that was making the rounds, on how at least 25 individuals were arrested in Chicago on illegal drugs and gun trafficking charges. What is interesting about the latter charge is that only a few media outlets have noted that the guns have an international connection. Read more
Gun Sales Have Been Increasing, but Not Just Since When Obama Was Elected
The mainstream media reported over and over, and over again that the election of President Barack Obama in November 2008 caused a sudden increase in gun sales. But that actually isn’t quite true; at least when you look at the numbers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); as well as the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reports Barrons. The news site noted that domestic commercial firearms-industry sales are currently estimated to be in excess of $4.1 billion, but more interestingly this isn’t a sudden increase. Read more
10News.com Story Paints Bad Picture of Gun Owners
Tempers run hot on many issues, and this is an unfortunate part of any debate. Worse still is that often times the media throws fuel on the fire, as 10News in San Diego did in reporting on California’s open carry law. The news station, in a piece titled “Gun Advocates Take Aim At State’s Leader’s Proposal,” also takes aim but at all gun owners, making many sound like extremists. The news station notes:
“San Diego Assemblymember Lori Saldana is getting threats and being confronted by armed protesters over her latest legislation, which would ban guns in public.”
The news station also noted that “a gun advocate claimed to have driven five hundred miles,” and had a “loaded weapon in a backpack.” The site describes him as a “blogger,” but no link was provided, which begs the question as whether this is in fact a credible source. No name was given, nor was a link, so how can we trust anything about this particular source? It makes for a colorful read, and puts Saldana in a great light as she responded:
”It reflects poorly on all the responsible gun owners when someone takes it to the extreme like this.”
What really reflects poorly is how this story was reported. It reflects poorly on credible journalism.
Capitol Weekly Asks Wrong Questions in Article on Concealed Weapons Permits
From the first sentence it was clear that Capitol Weekly had an agenda when it comes to the concealed weapons permit debate raging in California. The writer offers this introduction:
“Could a bill banning the open carrying of firearms actually result in more guns on California streets?”
The state already has an extremely difficult process for obtaining concealed permits, so is the author implying that citizens would simply break the law? This certainly seems to seem what he suggests.
My Fox Illinois Shows Anti-Gun Bias
In reporting on the new law signed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn that essentially makes it illegal to own even a long gun without a permit, My Fox Illinois’ Benjamin Yount shows a clear anti-gun bias right out of the blocks with the headline “Quinn Inks Welcomed Gun Law.”
Is this a fair title? And is it a welcome gun law? Given that Otis McDonald brought his case all the way to the Supreme Court, and now several individuals are suing Chicago over its restrictive gun laws, we must question whether this is actually “welcomed” by anyone? Yount further tries to imply how the state’s line is drawn on the issue:
“Illinois attempts to regulate, or deregulate, guns face the same regional challenges every year. Lawmaker in Chicago want to get tough on guns, but downstaters want to allow people more freedoms.”
Clearly again, given those suing the city of Chicago, as well as Mr. McDonald, this isn’t merely about “downstaters.” Equally clear is that the author has an agenda and does very little to hide his anti-gun bias in a “news” story.
Illinois Enacts New Gun Laws
Is Chicago trying to scare law-abiding citizens from ever thinking about buying guns? That almost seems to be the logic, but it isn’t limited merely to the Windy City. WQAD is reporting that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed new gun legislation:
“The new law, signed Monday, will increase penalties for unlawful firearm possession including a one to three year long prison sentence for aggravated use of a gun without a registration card. The bill also includes offenders merely in possession of an illegal gun. Quinn called it a right step to keeping the streets of Illinois safe.”
We have long stressed that law-abiding citizens should have the right to legally own firearms, but what we continually see is that some politicians continually move the bar, making it all the more difficult to in fact “legally” own a gun. FirearmsTruth also questions why this law is only now being introduced?
So we’d like to ask Govenor Quinn how exactly will this keep the streets safe? Why would those who already had illegal guns suddenly give them up?
Clearly there have been many criminals with guns prior to the SCOTUS ruling, but this law just seems aimed at all gun owners. Of course it won’t affect criminals as they likely would own illegal guns anyway.
