Alphecca

Weekly Check on the Bias...

By golly, once again it's time to turn our attention (well, my attention) to the bias exibited by the media in it's reporting of gun control and gun ownership stories. I scan the world for newspaper items to find items that might interest you.

Every week I try to generate a theme here. Two weeks ago it was a pop-quiz, last week it was the dozen moms march, and this week...

Dangerous Planet Edition

Now I know you're thinking, "huh? A forest fire?" Okay, it wasn't the busiest week in the press for gun stuff.

We live in a dangerous world. There are forest fires, volcanos, and floods, oh my. And there's not a whole lot you can do to prevent such natural disasters, although if authorities ask you to evacuate, do it. And it doesn't hurt to have a small survival kit and supplies either. Then, of course, there's the danger of Western civilization collapsing from a certain court ruling in Massachusetts... But there are other dangers we all face almost everyday. Now bear with me, or should I say mountain lion with me...

You remember that bicyclist who was attacked and killed by a mountain lion in a California park during the past Winter? So do a lot of the folks who frequent that park, and now they're packing some protection. From the LA Times:

It's a tough question for Jack Mowers, and his young sons' lives figure heavily in the equation: How does he feel about some of his fellow bike and hike enthusiasts carrying handguns for protection against mountain lions?

The thought that either of his sons, Trent, 3, and Zack, 4, could be accidentally shot is so painful he winces, unable to finish his sentence.

On the other hand, if one of his sons were ever in the grip of a 90-pound cougar, he would want every advantage in saving his child...

...Jon Arnold, 52, a retired police captain, routinely carries his handgun when he bikes canyon trails.

Although he carries one, Arnold said he is against other hikers and bikers doing the same.

"Most people aren't trained in how to use a firearm," Arnold said.

The tone of this article seems to be (judging by all the anti-gun quotes included) that people shouldn't be carrying a firearm. They should (if they have one) cell-phone the police and, oh, just hang around for a while waiting for them to show up while the lion munches on their legs. Notice how this "retired police captain" thinks it's fine for him to carry, but not for anyone else because after all, pointing a gun at an attacking animal and pulling the trigger must be far beyond the skills of the average Californian. Here's another quote:

David Arnold (no relation), 33, of Foothill Ranch, said he is worried about "the nut out there who will shoot at everything he sees."

The fact that the LA Times couldn't actually come up with a history of hikers and bikers being mistaken for cougers and shot in the park wasn't mentioned.

The good news is that attacks by four-legged predators is extremely rare. The bad news is that attacks by the two-legged ones aren't. From the (LA) Leesville Daily Leader:

Orgeron and his girlfriend were apparently lost, on their way from Larose to Morgan City, when their vehicle wound up in a ditch, sheriff's spokesman Larry Weidel said. Bailey and a second, unidentified man helped Orgeron get the car out of the ditch, then asked for a ride, police said.

Orgeron told police that one of the men drew a gun and told his girlfriend to stop the car. Orgeron then drew his gun and shot Bailey in the chest, Weidel said.

Weidel said he was not sure how many shots were fired or what types of weapons were involved. Orgeron's gun was the only weapon recovered.

Orgeron was released pending the outcome of the investigation. No charges have been filed.

I guess I just don't understand how the Brady Bunch, and others who would like to see all handguns magically disappear don't see the wisdom, indeed the need, for folks to be able to protect themselves. By the way, this story was short and to the point with absolutely no editorializing. Typical of small newspapers and almost unheard of from the national ones. Of course, the New York Times, Washington Post, et al, never actually report any defensive gun uses so...

The Houston Chronicle also kept it short and sweet with this story of a man defending himself from burglers:

A northeast Harris County man was shot and wounded in a break-in at his home overnight but may have managed to wound one of his attackers before they fled, officials said.

At 11:15 p.m., an undetermined number of armed men kicked in the door of a home in the 12900 block of Hammermill, said Harris County Sheriff's Department detectives.

Homeowner Ronnie Jones, 31, armed himself to investigate the noise and exchanged gunfire with some of the suspects, detectives said.

Deputies responding to reports of gunfire arrived at the home to find Jones inside with a gunshot wound to his stomach. Jones was taken to an area hospital for treatment but told deputies he believed he had wounded one of his attackers.

Harris County Sheriff's Department detectives are now questioning a man who showed up at Ben Taub Hospital with a gunshot wound shortly after the shootout.

I don't know why, but the phrase "may have managed to wound one of his attackers..." almost sounds like the writer was glad. I know I am and I'm sure the cops are.

Not all the mutants are carrying guns... From Keep and Bear Arms comes this WXII TV (NC) story:

A Davidson County man was charged with ethnic intimidation after authorities said he started up a chain saw and chased after four black men, threatening to kill them.

Winston-Salem police said Darrell Steed and Michael Allen, who are white, were involved in threatening four black men with a chain saw on Thursday. Investigators said Steed used racial slurs, then got a chain saw from his vehicle and started it as he made the threats.

Police said Steed chased the men into a Winston-Salem grocery store, while Allen encouraged him to assault the four.

All it would have taken was for just one of those four men to pull out a pistol and point it at Steed and Allen and the event would have been over. Unfortunately, they were not armed. Perhaps we could use an "assault chainsaw ban."

Not all of the dangers to us come from criminals. Sometimes they come from politicians. John Kerry for instance... From the Arkansas Times-Record:

A fourth-term Massachusetts senator and decorated war veteran, Kerry acknowledged in the interview that he must overcome a cultural disconnection in Arkansas, a potential battleground state. That’s because of his ranking by the National Journal magazine in Washington as the most liberal member of the Senate last year and a recent grade of “F” from the National Rifle Association.

“That grade is so phony,” Kerry said. “I own and use guns. I’m a hunter, a fisherman. I’ve shot deer, woodchucks, just about everything you can hunt. And I’ve done it all my life. But I don’t use an assault weapon when I hunt. And no hunter that I know has lost his gun because of the Brady Bill. I support the 2nd Amendment. And I support law enforcement. The NRA — those guys called federal agents ‘jack-booted thugs.’”

Kerry still doesn't get it. The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting and fishing. It has EVERYTHING to do with the right to bear arms for personal defense. Woodchucks are not out there threatening people. Criminals (oh okay, and cougers) are. I am not a fan of G.W. Bush, but I can honestly tell you that hell will freeze over before I cast a vote for Kerry.

Not all the political news was bad. Indeed, President Bush's brother, Florida governor Jeb Bush. From the AP:

Gov. Jeb Bush signed bills Thursday that ban police from keeping comprehensive lists of law-abiding gun owners and give gun range owners almost total immunity from lead cleanup lawsuits.

The National Rifle Association praised Bush for signing the bills, both of which were pushed hard by the gun-owners' group.

Under the new law, police and government agencies could be fined $5 million if they keep a list of people who own firearms. The measure doesn't apply to lists created as part of a criminal investigation.

Notice how the AP writer HAS to insert that the NRA "pushed hard" for the bill, as if there's something wrong with a lobbying group, well you know, lobbying... Too bad Jeb isn't running for president! I suspect (from the intent of these bills) that he believes the Second Amendment is about much more than simply "hunting and fishing."

Speaking of hunting and fishing (how's this for a segue) [Segway, it's more than just a stupid way to get around... -ed.], why not combine the two? I mentioned this story last week from the New York Times:

Fish shooting is a sport in Vermont, and every spring, hunters break out their artillery -- high-caliber pistols, shotguns, even AK-47's -- and head to the marshes to exercise their right to bear arms against fish.

It is a controversial pastime, and Vermont's fish and wildlife regulators have repeatedly tried to ban it. They call it unsportsmanlike and dangerous, warning that a bullet striking water can ricochet across the water like a skipping stone.

But fish shooting has survived, a cherished tradition for some Vermont families and a novelty to some teenagers and twenty-somethings. Fixated fish hunters climb into trees overhanging the water (some even build "fish blinds" to sit in), sail in small skiffs or perch on the banks of marshes that lace Lake Champlain, on Vermont's northwest border.

Using an AK-47 to hunt fish. I wonder how John Kerry feels about that?

Here's what some other pro-2A bloggers are posting about:

The Countertop Chronicles also covered the fish-hunting story and Pervasive Light did as well. Just goes to show that sometimes I'm behind the Times... (Get it? Oh, never mind... I'm almost three hours working on this post...)

Say Uncle checks in with a try it, you might like it story about target shooting. And while I'm at it [warning, danger, another segue... --ed.] [I'm starting to write like Kaus now! --js], while Les Jones was gallivanting around the US, Say Uncle filled in admirably with the Thursday Gun Links.

Daily Pundit relates the story of a disabled man going to jail for defending his life.

The Smallest Minority celebrates his blogiversary. A super staunch supporter of the Second Amendment. Congratulations, Kevin.

And just in case Illinois gun owners don't have it tough enough, the Spoons Experience reports on the Governor's latest arm-twisting.

Well folks, I guess this is a wrap for this edition. I'm simply out of steam... Thanks for stopping by!

Posted by Jeff Soyer at May 17, 2004 12:58 AM