Firing Back: Politicians and Guns – Does the Liberal Media Get it?

Apparently the liberal media will always find a way to get upset about guns, even when there isn’t much of a story. The most recent example is how gossip site TMZ reported that Levi Johnston – father of Sarah Palin’s grandson – stopped in a gun shop while on the campaign trail. Not much of a story there, especially given that this stop took place in Alaska! That in turn was picked up by liberal rag the Huffington Post. Each offered snide comments on the issue – and TMZ even Photoshopped (badly) a rifle on a photo of Johnston. Our “friends” at the Huff and Puff have noted how guns (gasp!) have turned up at various political rallies, as if it somehow indicative of a plot to overthrow the government – instead of merely being an expression of the state’s understanding of the Second Amendment.  

All this begs the question, does the liberal media not get it? Read more

Firing Back: Fine Guns are Like Fine Art Too

Perhaps one problem with firearms in this country is that movies, TV shows and video games only depict the worst side of guns. Seldom are guns shown in movies or TV shows where someone defends their home from a break in. If anything, usually the bad guy loses control of his big, mean gun and the homeowner gains the upper hand. This is seldom the reality. Read more

Firing Back: Do Rappers Get a Pass?

Guns aren’t suppose to be easy things to get in California, nor do convicted felons have the right to own firearms. Yet last week rap mogul Suge Knight, who has a rap sheet to match his rap career and has been in and out of jail, was suddenly off the hook for threatening a man, supposedly with a gun. His manager was quoted on CNN as saying “Suge Knight is a businessman. He is not a person who would carry a gun or flash a gun at anybody. That’s not Suge Knight.” But this is the Suge Knight that has spent time in prison right?

This is just the latest example of the hoodlum mentality that exists in the “hip hop” or rap culture. These nursery rhyme spouting wannabe gangsters (or is it ganstas) use guns as fashion accessories, and when arrested get a slap on the wrist, typically serving less time in prison than their songs spent on the Top 40 charts.

Meanwhile, a blind man is fighting to get his guns back – guns which were stolen from him during a burglary of his home. Once again it seems that the rich and semi-powerful (or at least those who can afford better lawyers) get an easier ride when it comes to guns. Maybe someone should rap about that.

Firing Back: So Long New York City

FirearmsTruth is saying goodbye to New York City. As a writer, who has lived and worked in the Big Apple for 18 years, I’ve loved my time here. But with Mayor Michael Bloomberg in office for his third term the city has become extremely unfriendly. This is especially true when it comes to firearms.

As a gun collector and author of history and militaria I find it impossible to do my work in New York City. The mayor and his ilk would like to see all guns banned. The city makes it difficult, dare I say nearly impossible to obtain permits and they’re continuing adding to the guns that you can’t own. So I’ve had enough.

For this reason, among others, I’m packing up and moving. FirearmsTruth will be back posting on Monday.

Firing Back: Consider Being In Haiti and Being Unarmed

The disaster that’s unfolding in the Carribean nation of Haiti is still unmeasured in its ferocity. With nearly the entire capital city apparently wiped from the map, the death toll could top 100,000. Mass destruction, complete loss of infrastructure, communications shot to hell and the national police and military facing an untenable catastrophe makes security the number one issue. Factually crime follows natural disaster; looting, cons, burglary, extortion, price gouging and innumerable criminal behavior by those desperate and those seeking to take advantage. Read more

Firing Back: Will Other Collectors be Next?

A Staten Island man is in jail. He claims to be a collector, and that he applied for gun permits, and was denied. This is just another example of how the tough New York City gun laws make it tough for collectors.

Yes, it is true that Gary Granato has broken the law. He was arrested for having an “arsenal” that included 77 handguns and three rifles. The SiLive.com Web site reports that this clearly isn’t so cut and dry however:

“Some of the weapons, including a ‘pepperbox’-style revolver with rotating barrels, several single-shot derringers and black-powder pistols resembled guns found in the Old West.”

These actually do seem like the sort of firearms that would be of interest to a collector, and hardly would be ideal for street crime. It is a shame that the police focused on this man, who while he did break the law, or his guns, which hardly seems to be of the type used as an example of guns that should be gotten off the streets!

Firing Back: No Vote of Confidence for Bloomberg

As a resident of New York City I feel less and less like a New Yorker with each passing year. While this is where I have lived for more than 17 years, it also feels less and less like a home. The reason is simple, Michael Bloomberg. His policies on firearms border on Fascist, and he is unwilling to budge. The laws are draconian and only getting worse.

But beyond what Michael Bloomberg does in New York City is really not the issue. Nearly my entire collection of firearms is housed out of state, because I fear that Bloomberg will change New York City gun laws and require me to “hand in” my guns. There is no grandfather clause in New York City. If the laws change, you change with them or you leave. I’m hoping I can leave, and the sooner the better.

Again, what Michael Bloomberg does in New York City is really not the issue. It is that Mr. Bloomberg is trying to change the laws in other states, and on the national stage. I find it ironic because many “lifers” as those who were born and will likely die in this city, complain that much of the old New York City is changing, that too many outsiders are coming in, and that New York City looks too much like the rest of the country.

Well, I say to the old guard in New York, including Mr. Bloomberg, maybe you should keep your old New York City. But keep your hands off the guns of law-abiding citizens, especially those who don’t live in New York City.

And to those New Yorkers, or just residents of New York City, who feel as I do… stay home on Tuesday. Don’t vote. This is a year when Mr. Bloomberg says he needs to see every voter get out. I say instead, stay home and vote by not going to the polls.

Firing Back: Mayor Bloomberg Says “Gun Show Loophole” Not About Second Amendment Rights… Yeah, Right!

Election day is coming up. And I have a problem with my mayor, Mike Bloomberg, and I for one won’t vote him. I won’t vote for his challenger either, so on Election Day I’ll opt not to cast my vote. I need to do this to hopefully send a message to His Honor that he is in fact sending the wrong message when it comes to the issue of firearms. Mayor Bloomberg has released a report entitled “Gun Show Undercover,” and while this report should be taken seriously – especially if criminals are using gun shows to obtain guns illegally, there is a bigger issue at heart.  Read more

Firing Back: Ammo Shortage Caused by…

The UnionLeader.com poses and interesting question: “What’s triggering a shortage of guns?” Consider this another example of the mainstream media being a little late on the story. As we’ve complained for months now, this is really old news, but the issue of ammo and even gun shortage comes up time and time again.

Maybe if these stories stopped appearing readers who were on the fence about stockpiling guns and ammo would stop stockpiling guns and ammo, and you know what… the stories would probably stop too. But instead, we’d probably see twisted stores claiming that gun owners now see the light that legislation isn’t coming, that fears about the president were unfounded or that many decided guns aren’t just safe. In other words, look for the MSM to concoct some farfetched stories without doing the requisite research. If it easy enough to report about false fears, why not report about other falsehoods.