CNN Asks “Why is support for gun control at record lows?

This week Gallup announced the findings of a new poll that suggested that Americans are against gun control, and CNN covered this by putting a negative spin that asked, “Why is support for gun control at record lows?” This is a subtle bias, but a bias nonetheless. Jack Cafferty, who offered the question in his column, further noted:

“What’s interesting here is Americans are shifting to a more pro-gun stance despite high profile incidents of gun violence – like the Arizona shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others.”

These events actually make Americans feel less safe, and while he is correct in stating that these are “high profile,” they are the rare exception to the rule. The truth is that Americans are waking up to the fact that we could very easily lose our Second Amendment rights.

And let’s consider one other point he makes:

“Only Democrats, Eastern residents and those without guns in their homes still favor stricter gun laws.”

First, we disagree that “Democrats” are anti-gun or in favor of gun control. Perhaps “Liberals” are anti-gun but as a seasoned newsman Cafferty should know better than to confuse Democrats with Liberals. But let’s consider the other point: “Eastern residents” – as in those in Boston and New York City – the latter where much of the media is based. This certainly is a good point, as those in New York City are often brainwashed against guns, and the very Liberal attitude causes people to be anti-gun. This in turn causes the bias in the media and the cycle begins anew.

As we’ve long maintained, New Yorkers – including the New York based media – tend to be out of touch with the country, and often believe that their liberal views are those of all Americans. But the Gallup poll now suggests otherwise.

Massachusetts Daily Collegian: From my cold, dead, liberal hands

Yaroslav Mikhaylov wrote an interesting piece on his view on guns, gun control and liberal politics. In his editorial for The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, titled “From my cold, deal, liberal hands,” he notes some points that seem to be wildly accepted:

“…if one supports rights to gun ownership, he or she is also likely to vote Republican; people who support gun regulations or even an outright firearms ban are more likely to vote Democratic.”

But he also points out:

“In fact, gun ownership often goes hand-in-hand with my liberal political causes.”

These points include environmental issues, but consider that many liberals think conservatives don’t care about the environment. The truth is that conservatives do care. It is just that liberals, who seem to be clustered together in large urban centers, seem to forget that the most conservative states are those with wide open spaces! How ironic.

But Mikhaylov adds that another point is privacy. How true. Liberals would rather see criminals not be prosecuted if it means they give their privacy, yet in states such as Illinois there are calls to make gun ownership lists public! Again, how ironic.

Finally Mikhaylov points out something that is rarely cited in the mainstream media. The international numbers aren’t quite what they seem to be:

“In Britain, for instance, the amount of injuries caused using non-air-powered weapons actually increased since the introduction of a near universal firearm ban there in 1997. Finally, in Switzerland – a nation that issues a firearm to every male citizen due to compulsory military service – has over two million privately-owned firearms in a nation of less than eight million people. Even with all those guns floating around, statistics on firearm-related deaths are negligible.”

Kudos to this liberal writer for showing the truth about guns; it isn’t just a black and white or even red and blue issue. But some try to make it so, and those are usually the liberals who only see guns in black and white.

Washington Times – Ban liberals from owning guns

In an editorial for The Washington Times Eric Golub makes a compelling argument in his piece titled, “A gun control compromise for everyone.” He notes that the anti-gun crowd is clamoring for something, anything and President Obama finally addressed the issue – but in the end it will come to nothing.

Golub also makes a point that few in the mainstream media would ever say out loud:

“When a pot smoking reader of the Communist Manifesto shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Mr. Obama did not ban left-wing books or in any way enforce laws against drugs that are already illegal.

“He does not want to alienate drug users.

“Most gun owners did not vote for him, so offering more gun control legislation is harmless for him.”

In the end, Golub offers the best possible compromise. We wholeheartedly agree:

“So let’s all come together and unite. Ban liberals from owning guns. They don’t need them, can’t be trusted with them, and as with most other issues, have no understanding of them or the Constitution, that allows the rest of us to have them.”

NPR Commentary Leaves Us Speechless (Almost)

Usually we see NPR as the liberal side of all things left-leaning, but this week it offered a rather surprising take on the issue of gun control on its website. The article offered this stark argument, which is one we can get behind:

“The simple, undeniable truth is that gun control does not work.”

The article also suggests something that liberals and the media typically would like to forget, or just not know. In black and white:

“Racism created gun control in America. Confronted with the prospect of armed freedmen who could stand up for their rights, states across the South instituted gun-control regimes that took away the ability of blacks to defend themselves against the depravity of the Klan.”

Read the full article: National Review: Gun Control Doesn’t Work

Gun Issue Splits Party Lines

Do liberals like guns? We can’t say one way or the other, but a Supreme Court ruling was straight down the middle. The Associated Press reported on the Supreme Court ruling on gun owner rights with this take on the issue:

“The court was split along familiar ideological lines, with five conservative-moderate justices in favor of gun rights and the four liberals, opposed.”

 So this clearly remains a political issue, and while not split on strictly party lines, it is based on – as the AP noted – familiar ideological lines.

Rachel Maddow: Guns Shouldn’t be Brought Home

Thank you to our friends at NewsBusters.org for catching a piece we missed. Earlier this week MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and discussed on how a first date she went shooting. She adds that she regularly used to take the staff of her radio program to a New York City pistol range. So far so good… but then she makes this statement:

“I like making liberals shoot guns – I just don’t think we should be allowed to bring them home.”

Well, I for one agree. I don’t like bringing liberals home either. They tend to argue with me, and bring up stupid points. But Ms. Maddow actually meant guns shouldn’t be brought home. That’s a great example of a stupid point to bring up. Why bother learning to shoot, or rather I should say attempt to learn to shoot if you can’t bring the gun home. Now I’m not saying you’re going to shoot at home, but learning to shoot is beyond pulling the trigger. Any good shooter knows how to strip and clean a firearm, and any good shooter knows you need to take care of your firearm. Think of it this way Rachel, seriously bowlers don’t use the lane’s balls. Serious golfers don’t use the course’s rental clubs. So why should shooters be forced to use the range’s rifles or pistols?

And there is a case to be made for the fact that you could store your firearms at the range. That’s great, unless you have an event to go to, or want to shoot elsewhere. In other words you set up an impossible scenario for serious targeting shooting. Worse Rachel, you make it impossible for hunters and collectors. As a collector I really don’t like the idea of my guns having to be stored somewhere. If I want to go see a collection of firearms I’ll go to a museum.