One Sided Local News Story in Daily News Passed Off as News
Where does news end and editorial begin, especially when the piece is about local news? The New York Daily News certainly blurred the lines in a story about a young anti-firearm zealot from Brooklyn. The story pulls no punches, and comes out swinging with this intro:
”At 18, Kristine Arroyo already knows how to stand up to the powerful National Rifle Association – and tomorrow night, she’ll stand up and be honored at Borough President Marty Markowitz’s State of the Borough address.” Read more
How I Became an Ardent Gun Rights Defender
When I relocated back to Utah to be near my aging parents, I recall vividly a prominent issue in the news. The Utah State Legislature had just passed a new law regarding what has become known as “the Shall Issue Law.” That is whoever qualifies for a concealed carry permit, must be issued said permit, after meeting certain criterion. I remember very clearly how the local media were adamantly opposed to this law. They had all kinds of fears about people shooting others, over road rage issues and were certain that general mayhem would follow. I thought their fears where totally justified and agreed with them completely.
NRA Backs Student
We’re happy to report that the NRA is backing Gary Tudesko, the 16-year old student who has been expelled from Willows High School in California for having a shotgun stored in his truck while parked off student grounds reports KCRA.com.
One part that the media has addressed is this tidbit from the TV station:
“California law defines a school zone to be anywhere within 1,000 feet of the campus. The truck was parked within that zone.”
Would this mean that students, or anyone with a firearm has to avoid driving down the same street of a school? What would happen if Tudesko, or any other student, happened to live on the same street as the school? Would this law still apply? Surely this law must affect some firearms owners!
Spanish Language eTrace Soon Available
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced that it will soon be testing a Spanish language version of eTrace, the digital system that U.S. police use to trace firearms. Police in Latin America will use the system to hunt down crime suspects and weapons traffickers. Read more
Los Angeles Times Offers Surprising Lack of Insight in Editorial
The Los Angeles Times must think every NRA member wants the streets to look like something out of a gangster movie or western? Why else would they post this as the sub-head for an editorial this week:
”A poll finds surprising support among NRA members for some aspects of gun control.”
Of course even NRA members believe in SOME aspects of gun control! We don’t believe that children should bring guns to school, we do believe that guns should be kept away from criminals and stored safely! The silly editorial goes on to offer:
”Why are the NRA’s leaders more absolutist than its members?”
Where is this coming from? This is just absurd, but that’s the state of the mainstream media folks!
Firing Back: Philadelphia Inquirer Offers Snide Editorial, so Here’s my Rebuttal
We all get junk mail, but Leonard Boasberg of the Philadelphia Inquirer made light of it when he received an NRA application and questionnaire. For the record I don’t own a car, as I live in New York City at this point, but I still get offers for car insurance. I also get all sorts of catalogs for things I don’t want. Most of this junk mail I just throw away!
Oh don’t get me wrong. I don’t “recycle” these paper catalogs. I throw them away. Of course I’m being snide and anti-politically correct, and I’m going off topic. But what gets me fired up is that Boasberg notes that he’s a Democrat yet gets junk mail from the RNC. So when he received the NRA package, he made light of it. Good for him. But he goes too far with this point:
“By the way, if I join the NRA (at a special discount of $10 off the regular $35), they’ll send me a special bonus gift: a razor-sharp, rosewood-handle pocket knife.
“A knife? Why not a gun? Maybe just a little gun, like a Beretta?”
I know Leo is trying to be snide, and I get it, but its off topic. In truth it is a stupid question to ask, especially as he tries to “set the record” straight regarding gun violence, and offers all sorts of statistics to back up his argument.
And here is my problem. If you’re going to be all facts and figures and try to make a point, then understand that you shouldn’t make such stupid points in the process such as asking why you can’t get a “little gun.” You lost all credibility with me before you even got started..
U.K. Paper Notes Falling Gun Numbers? Really?
The Guardian in the U.K. has an interesting sub-head for a story published this week:
“With gun ownership falling, the US firearms lobby is targeting a new generation with dinky pump-action shotguns and junior shooting shows. But at what cost?”
Where are they getting their facts? Everyone else is reporting that gun sales are spiking because of fears of crime and other worries. Of course that article does cite this fact too:
“Over the last 30 years, the percentage of American households that have guns in the home has tailed off from a high of 54% in 1977 to 34.5% in 2006.”
But the question is how of much that decline is by choice? Many communities, such as New York City make it darn hard to even own a gun. So is it lack of interest, or are interested parties barred from their Second Amendment rights?
NY Times Article Offers One Side Take on Firearms Issue
This week saw a major rally in New York’s Time Square to end violence, and while we support this move, The New York Times ran very one-sided coverage of the event. Worse, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg once again showed that his anti-gun stance is really about firearm prohibition, and of course the Times was there to support him:
“Mayor Bloomberg blamed ‘extremists in the pro-gun movement’ for lax gun laws, and said, ‘We have to come together as a society and say we’re not going to take it anymore.’
What exactly does Bloomberg or the Times through supporting this quote, mean by “extremists in the pro-gun movement.” And isn’t really pro-Second Amendment rights. No one in the NRA, or FirearmsTruth.com is calling for guns for criminals!
Raymond W. Kelly Offers Editorial for NY Daily News – We Respond
We respect what men like New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly have done to make our cities safe. There is no doubt that Mr. Kelly is a good man, but we still think some of this tactics go a bit far. While his editorial for The New York Daily News mostly addresses illegal guns, his message puts too much blame on straw purchases and the so-called “gun show loophole,” without putting the real blame on the scum who want the guns in the first place. Maybe if we were tougher on the real criminals, than law abiding citizens wouldn’t have to jump through stupid hoops to buy firearms. While the city worries about loopholes, it makes it so difficult for collectors, hunters and sports shooters. In the end New York City will be a land where only the police and criminals have guns. That’s a city many wouldn’t want to live in.
KansasCity.com Letter Begs Response
In an open letter to KansasCity.com, a reader wrote:
“The U.S. Army knows what the National Rifle Association and a majority of our state and federal legislators don’t: that keeping guns out of the hands of people makes for a safer community”
Seriously? How did keeping other soldiers from legally carrying guns keep them safer? Wasn’t this a crime that happened because one man broke the law and others were unable to defend themselves? The author of this letter asks, “will they ever learn?” The same could be asked of any anti-gun zealot.
