Guns, Cars and Tech notes an article in Elle magazine about getting a gun. Elle? Really? Much more of this and we’re going to be seeing reports from DC of the police having to talk Dennis Hennigan down from a ledge.
Category: The Media
Even Forbes Recognizes Denial
Forbes has a rather excellent article on the firearms boom as we head into the SHOT show, noting that everyone at SHOT seems to be having a good time.
Indeed, this prolonged surge in gun sales has driven Sarah Brady’s group to some very creative spin; for example, Caroline Brewer, of the Brady Campaign, said, “The research we’ve seen indicates fewer and fewer people are owning more and more guns.â€
Sanetti doesn’t think the Brady Campaign’s spin has a syllable of truth in it; after all, he pointed out that the NSSF’s First Shots Program (a program that holds shooting lessons for the public) has been growing fast. “Fun, new action-shooting sports, such as 3-gun and sporting clays, are also bringing in a lot of new shooters, especially women,†he says.
And popular shows, such as The History Channel’s Top Shots, have helped to showcase how much fun shooting can be[.]
So even Forbes thinks it’s ridiculous at this point, to deny that shooting is becoming popular, and is driving the sale of more guns. Somewhere in the past decade, they’ve lost control of the message and lost the initiative. While the media can still be counted on to get it wrong, or to deliver biased stories that parrot anti-gun group talking points, the number of outlets willing to run these is becoming increasingly small, and limited to jurisdictions that have already largely succeeded in destroying the shooting sports and lawful gun ownership.
Have They Lost NPR?
NPR does an interview on the Glock, which is very fair to the issue. The interview is with Paul Barrett, author of Glock, the Rise of America’s Gun. They get into how anti-gun groups maligned the Glock by essentially misleading the public about its characteristics. So have the anti-gun groups lost NPR? It’s hard for me to understand why these folks haven’t found more productive careers in other issues.
An Anti-Gun Article in the Union-Leader?
I say that with a question mark, and a little tongue in cheek, because I can’t recall other newspapers endorsing constitutional carry, and allowing people to have loaded (but unchambered) rifles and shotguns in a vehicle. They didn’t like the very strong preemption bill, however, so clearly they’re anti-gun!
UPDATE: Link fixed.
Even The British Papers are Noticing
A story about record gun sales, in the UK’s Daily Telegraph. The Brady folks are sticking with their story that gun ownership is really in decline. Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt, folks.
Whipping Up a Non-Existent War
The Delco Times, my home town paper, I suppose you could call it, is busy making CeaseFire PA out to be more than it really is:
One of CeaseFirePA’s advertisements featured a letter to Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney. The letter in the ad was written by Mike Carroll, former president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
There’s also a quote by someone rumored to be a reader around these parts:
“I recognize the decision for him is a tough one, but I support what he did,†said McMonigle, also a member of the Firearms Owners Against Crime. “Pat Meehan understands that the Second Amendment supports law abiding citizens having the right to arm themselves. Pat Meehan also understands that right doesn’t stop at state borders. I’m still a law abiding citizen in the United States of America.â€
Good representation there, Dan. As for Nacheman, he’s a paid stooge, and if there’s any evidence that CeaseFire PA is anything more than a couple of people, and a paid stooge, I haven’t seen it. Looks like Casey and Toomey don’t want to comment, which is the smart move. Why bother giving the Delco Times more ammunition to whip this into more of a controversy than it really is? It’s only a controversy because Max Nacheman pitched it to you, and the media is gullible and sympathetic.
On Propaganda
Santa stopped by the house a little early this year and dropped off a Kindle. Yay! I kind of went nuts downloading the free books the first day. To date, I’ve only purchased one book – Brian Anse Patrick’s The Ten Commandments of Propaganda. It’s available only via Kindle at the moment, though he plans to publish a paper version next year.
I haven’t started it yet, but when I do, I’ll probably pull out some of my old communications textbooks on related topics just for fun. This reading hobby is dangerous.
On the Militarization of Police
It’s good of the New York Times to finally notice, what has been discussed on the far reached of the Internet for years.
I’ll Leave it to Readers …
… to dissect this bit of ignorance. I love how none of these wise and learned pundits ever mention a damned thing about the Supreme Court. They are more interested in showing everyone else how smart they are, rather than conceding that when it comes to who Obama is going to put on the Court, we might actually have a point in opposing a second term.
If Kagan posts a pro-2A opinion, I’ll shut up, but I’m not holding my breath.
Media Use Guns from Game “Halo”
Well, the term “assault weapon” was largely made up, so I don’t see why it should be so wrong that a media outlet decided to use made up guns to illustrate assault weapons. I wonder if there are any models in there that shoot that dangerous armor piercing 10mm caseless ammo.