ABC News Finally Covers Fast and Furious
Apparently ABC News can’t continue to pretend that Fast and Furious was just a movie, or that the scandal would drive off into the sunset. Last week the news outlet finally noted it, but not because of the gun walking, but because it is a showdown between Congress and Attorney General Eric Holder:
The undercover, gun-walking operation was called “Fast and Furious.”
Now, some furious congressional investigators want to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for allegedly blocking their efforts to get the facts about the controversial operation — a charge the Justice Department “strongly disputes.”
So why has ABC News been silent on this issue over the past year?
CBS Failed Gun Show Sting
Our friends at Guns.com reported this past weekend:
CBS 5 went undercover in a California gun show to look for guns that violated the state’s strict gun laws, but the only people breaking any rules were the CBS investigators.
And:
As it turns out, there are “No Camera” signs all throughout the gun show, and gun show representatives announced “No picture taking during the show” frequently throughout the day. “Hypocrisy” is the word that we’re looking for, here.
What makes things worse is that California has a two-party consent law, which means that it is a crime to record private conversations unless everybody involved is aware that you are recording.
Guns.com: CBS Seek to Uncover Illegal Guns, Expose Themselves Instead
Does Obama Really Plan To Ease Weapons Export Rules?
From our friend David Codrea:
“The Obama administration is crafting a proposal that could make it easier to export firearms and other weapons to certain countries in an effort to boost sales for U.S. companies, increase trade and improve national security, according to senior government officials,” Sari Horwitz of The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
“The plan, which is part of President Obama’s overhaul of U.S. export rules, is being debated by several agencies and it could be months before a final rule is proposed, according to officials,” Horwitz writes, adding “At least two federal agencies — the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department — have expressed concerns that the changes in the export rules could make it easier for drug cartels and terrorists to obtain weapons and make it harder to stop firearms trafficking.”
[View slide: Obama's true plan for guns is his original plan]
Those are key caveats by players who should know. What we can take from them is that in those development months, and in the comment period that would follow, concerns about Obama’s anti-gun record could be defused with phony “pro-gun” spin that would cost him nothing in terms of actual policy change. Attempts to soothe gun owner fears are already being promulgated by media allies, who point to Obama allowing guns in national parks, disregarding that his administration first tried to let the issue die on the legal vine and only signed on because it was a rider to a credit card bill they wanted. Also, we are told, Obama ended the gun ban on Amtrak—similarly, this was part of a larger funding bill, did not allow for permit holders to carry them, and humorously (?), was initially worded in a way that required gun owners to be locked up in boxes for the duration of the trip!
Continue reading on Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/does-obama-really-plan-to-ease-weapons-export-rules
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He is a field editor for GUNS Magazine, and a blogger at The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance. Read more at www.DavidCodrea.com.
Pincole Bans Private Sales
Last week The Chicago Tribune noted a story that missed much mainstream attention is just the latest example of strict Illinois gun laws:
The Pinole City Council this week formally adopted an ordinance banning the sale of firearms and ammunition from home businesses and restricting them to commercial areas, bringing to a close an often-heated debate centering on Second Amendment rights that dragged on for months.
The council also extended an existing moratorium on home-occupation use permits for firearm and ammunition sales to cover the 30-day waiting period before the ordinance adopted Tuesday becomes effective and give the city clerk time to publish the ordinance in the newspaper.
This essentially bans private sales in Pinole, but here is the bigger issue – it will only deter the law-abiding and not do anything about criminals!
NRA News: Ohio State Rep. Margaret Conditt Responds to Attacks on Shooting Fundraiser
Cam Edwards talks to State Representative Margaret Conditt (R-OH)
NRA ILA Grassroots News 5-4-2012
NRA ILA Grassroots News
Origins Of Fast And Furious Story Important For Media To Get Right
From our friend David Codrea:
“House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) has distributed a staff briefing paper and draft of the contempt of Congress resolution against Attorney General Eric Holder to Members of the Oversight Committee,” a May 3 press release from Frederick R. Hill Director of Communications for the committee begins.
A copy of the memorandum and draft is posted on the committee website. Highlights include information sharing failures, non-cooperation by the Justice Department, the struggle to get the truth for the family of slain Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, retaliation against whistleblowers, the fueling of violence in Mexico, and “allegations of intentional wrongdoing by Justice officials.” No doubt many outlets will report on this, and the intent of Gun Rights Examiner in its Operation Fast and Furious “gunwalking” coverage has never been to retell stories uncovered by others, but instead to share original sourced findings derived independently or in partnership with Mike Vanderboegh, who blogs at Sipsey Street Irregulars, and who, on December 28, 2010, was the first citizen journalist to report and reach out for confirmation on postings from the CleanUpATF website alleging guns were being walked, and that walked guns were found at the Terry murder scenes.
Continue reading on Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/origins-of-fast-and-furious-story-important-for-media-to-get-right
Photo © Oleg Volk. Used with permission.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He is a field editor for GUNS Magazine, and a blogger at The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance. Read more at www.DavidCodrea.com.
NRA News: Customs Told Trucker to Drive into Mexico with Ammunition, Lawyer Says
Ginny Simone talks to Carlos Spector, Attorney for Jabin Bogan
NRA News: Oversight Committee Outlines Case for Contempt over Fast and Furious
Ginny Simone talks to Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
NRA News: Bay Buchanan – Author of “Bay and Her Boys”
Cam Edwards talks to Bay Buchanan – Author of “Bay and Her Boys”
