CSM Asks Whether Guns Really Protect Us From Tyranny
In a surprisingly well-researched sidebar to the gun rights debate raging in the Supreme Court, Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor looked at whether firearm ownership actually keeps a nation free from tyranny. And while the paper is usually fairly biased against guns, this piece presented key facts that would suggest past tyrants succeeded because they first disarmed the population.
It is a shame more stories in the mainstream media aren’t so unbiased, and actually try to present facts for readers instead of opinion.
CSM Says Gun Rights Not the Same as Free Speech
The Christian Science Monitor is a typical liberal leaning example of the mainstream media that pulls no punches when it comes to bias against firearms. Case in point, in an editorial published this week, the outlet offers:
“The Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday that could result in striking down a handgun ban in Chicago and other places. But beyond that, the court must clarify how fundamental gun rights are. They shouldn’t be viewed as equal to free-speech rights.”
We ask the CSM and the author, why shouldn’t gun rights be viewed as equal to free-speech rights? The editorial offers this argument:
“Firearms must be treated differently from free speech. Slinging guns is not the same as slinging slurs. Guns can kill a person, while any child can quote that ’sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’ (except for yelling ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater, for which there is a restriction).”
The irony of all this is that the CSM is offering this editorial in response to McDonald v. Chicago, where a 70-something man in Chicago simply wants a gun to protect his home and his wife. So no slinging guns is not the same, but when the criminals aren’t following the law, why should law-abiding citizens be put at risk? Words can never hurt you, but criminals with far more than unkind words can ruin your life, and men such as Mr. McDonald should be able to have something to back up their strong words.
CSM Reports FBI Says Gun Sales Up, Crime Down
The Christian Science Monitor has been a news organization we’ve watched closely this year, as it normally has an anti-firearms bias. But it is still a news organization so we’re pleased to see that it reported that crime is down, even if gun sales are up. Of course CSM couldn’t help but look to see if this was a fluke:
“FBI’s latest crime report, for the first half of 2009, shows America is a less violent place even though ownership of guns has surged. Deterrent effect may have a role, but others see no correlation.”
Now it will be interesting to see if the rest of the mainstream media picks up on this story.
CSM Offers Anti-Gun Bias in Story About Fort Hood Shooter
The Christian Science Monitor, a news organization that we watch regularly for their anti-gun bias, pulls no punches in an article titled: “Ft. Hood rampage raises questions about gun control.”
The article suggests that the shooter at Fort Hood earlier this month could have been stopped if the FBI had more time to do firearms background checks:
“Critics say it’s because pro-gun lawmakers, spring-loaded to oppose stronger gun control of any kind, have stymied efforts to give the FBI greater authority to look for gun purchasers who might potentially be terrorists or otherwise prone to attack innocent victims.”
What about the fact that he was regularly e-mailing known terrorist? What about the fact that soldiers on a military base don’t carry firearms? What about the fact that the shooter essentially spelled out what he was going to do? Solid reporting from the CSM yet again.
Politics Daily Also Weighs in on Gallup Poll
According to PoliticsDaily.com “Four in 10 Americans Fear Obama Will Ban Gun Sales,” which is still a far cry from the reporting by The Christian Science Monitor (see previous post). But it is interesting to see how differently the story is reported. Notice this passage:
” A majority — 52 percent — don’t believe Obama will try to ban gun sales.”
So who we do believe? It becomes more of an issue when we look at other reporting, such as that from ShortNews.com, which took the approach of the CSM:
“Most Gun Owners Think Obama Will Try to Ban Gun Sales”
Another example of how the media can put their own spin on a story, using just facts but paint a very distributing picture of gun owners. But hey, that’s why we’re here!
Christian Science Monitor Quotes Gallup Poll
Do most gun owners still believe that President Obama is going to take their guns away? That’s what The Christian Science Monitor is reporting this week, citing new findings from a Gallup poll. However, the wording is certainly biased. Note the headline:
“Most gun owners think Obama wants to take away their weapons” Read more
Christian Science Monitor Looks to Extremes
Better late than never, but this week the Christian Science Monitor - a paper that has not shied away from its biased anti-gun stance – posted an editorial with the ominous title “Guns at presidential events: encouraging extremists?” This is fear mongering plain and simple. Not once has the mainstream media taken the approach, “see guns can be out in public and no one was hurt.”
Instead the CSM, as well as the rest of the mainstream media, offer this opinion:
“So far, the gun-wielding protesters have been too far removed from the president to pose any threat. But experts say this new phenomenon of guns at public events may require adjustments in how the president operates.
“The threat, they say, is not necessarily the gun-carrying protesters themselves. Rather, their actions could embolden the nation’s angriest fringe. The specter of so-called ‘lone wolf” acts of violence is already high on the nation’s law enforcement agenda.”
