Dozens Rally in Tucson – Yes, DOZENS
The headline from ABC15.com says it all, “Dozens rally for tougher background checks for gun buyers.” The news report could have also said that a “handful” of people showed up to call for tougher checks in Tucson as a result of January’s tragic shooting.
The news report also noted:
“The group Mayors Against Illegal Guns has gathered 250,000 signatures of people calling on Obama and Congress to fix the gun background check system. Their plan has been introduced in the Senate and will soon be introduced in the House.”
Sadly, the biased spin makes both the “dozens” and the “250,000 signatures” seem like a big deal (how would Vice President Joe Biden have put it). But the truth is that if the best they can do is get dozens out, then that should show the anti-gun types that Americans aren’t interested in making it harder for law-abiding citizens to own guns.
Gun-Rights Rallies Held This Past Weekend
We’re happy to report that the mainstream media can’t ignore the growing gun-rights movement in this country. Here is a recap of some articles (among many others) that appeared this weekend:
- The Maine Sunday Herald noted “Pro-gun rally shines light on liberal laws“
- The Washington Post reported, “Gun-rights advocates gather in Va. and D.C. to celebrate ‘historic moment’“
- The Los Angeles Times reported, “Gun rights supporters rally near Capitol“
- NPR offered “Gun Rights Fans Rally In DC, VA, Some Bearing Arms“
Of course not all of this reporting was free of anti-gun bias, but it is about time that these events are being reported.
Richmond Virginia Sees Gun Rights Rally At Capitol
Hundreds of gun rights advocates rallied today at the Capitol in Richmond Virginia. The rally was organized to support laws that would make it easier to get a concealed handgun permit and allow the permits in more places throughout Virginia. Read more
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!
San Francisco Reporter Uses “Gun Nut” Label. What a Surprise
Michael Yaki of The San Francisco Chronicle went straight for the bull’s eye with his editorial titled “Gun nuts at Obama town halls.” In writing about those who legally took their firearms to a recent Arizona based town hall meeting he mix metaphors, injected some colorful hyperbole and basically brought purple prose to new heights:
“And because Arizona, true to its Tombstone and OK Corral roots, is an ‘open-carry’ state — if you have a legal gun, you can display it in the open — no one was arrested. You only need a permit if you decide to conceal it. Otherwise, take your military-style rifle, even if it’s loaded, and have yourself a parade of one. The Grand Canyon state should be renamed the Fifty Caliber Territory. The Second Amendment never had a greater friend than the Arizona legislature.”
Yes, these firearm owners were there with guns, but again they were OUTSIDE the venue. And what they were doing was completely legal. While I wouldn’t advise anyone to bring their guns, why is this such a big deal? Instead of stating how the worst could have happened, why isn’t the media highlighting that guns were there and everything turned out fine?
MSNBC Quotes Brady Center But Offers No Alternative Voice
In a post on MSNBC’s First Read blog, NBC’s Scott Foster calmly stated the facts that some protesters were LEGALLY carrying firearms at protests. He stated:
“Police on the scene were standing right next to the gentleman (with the firearm) and were keeping a close eye on him. He’s well behind a security barrier outside the convention center in a crowd of protesters.”
But for some reason MSNBC felt it necessary to run a statement from Brady Campaign’s President Paul Helmke. While Mr. Helmke’s statement was fair, to the point and made sense, there was no response from the NRA or any other group.
The most frustrating part is that the statements from Mr. Helmke seem to imply that the NRA is somehow encouraging these actions, by not discussing them. Well, Mr. Helmke you’re reminding everyone enough we think. Thank you.
