Alphecca

Weekly Check on the Bias

Welcome to the January 31st Edition of my weekly survey of the media and their coverage of firearms and the Second Amendment.

Quick update 3:35 PM: Wisconsin override vote in assembly fails by two votes. See update later in this report for the details and the names of the two turn-coat Democrats. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

This Week: Girls with guns -- the good, the bad, the midriff

The Bad. As I write this at about 7 AM, the breaking news is that a female ex-postal worker has killed six people in a mail sorting facility and then took her own life. From the SF Examiner:

GOLETA, Calif. - A female ex-postal worker opened fire at a mail processing plant, killing six people before committing suicide, authorities said early Tuesday.

One other person was listed in critical condition, authorities said.

Deputies responding to a call of shots fired late Monday initially found two people dead outside the plant.

Two wounded women were located inside and were taken to a hospital. One died and the other was listed in critical condition early Tuesday with a gunshot wound to the head.

During a search of the massive mail complex, deputies found four additional bodies, including one believed to be the female shooter, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson said. The shooter, who was not identified, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, he said.
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"We do not believe there is any additional threat to the community," Anderson said.

A search on Yahoo and Google news has not turned up any additional information at the moment although by the time you read this or I blab about it on NRA News later today I'm sure there will be. I'll post updates as I get them.

I would like to point out a couple things though. First, these types of shooting rampages are still rare, despite what those in the media would have you believe. Maybe only a couple actually occur each year (we're not talking gang activity here). In a country with a population of almost 300 million, and 80 million legal gun owners, it's no comfort for the families of the victims involved but it shouldn't be used as a call to disarm the law-abiding.

Secondly, a simple observation that this is the first instance of a rampage that I can remember that involved a woman shooter. The type of gun used isn't even revealed at this time. I suppose that in the hours and days ahead we might learn something of the mutant who did this, possible motives, etc.

One thing I am certain of: The media will use this as another call for draconian gun control or an outright ban on gun ownership. I'll be watching and reporting. I'm also sure that if the attempted override of the Wisconsin Governor's veto for that state's CCW bill should fail, some who vote against it will use this ugly incident as one reason. More on that bill later in this report.

The Good! Yesterday morning I was shocked to see a positive story on NBC's The Today Show about women flocking to the shooting sports in record numbers. Women were shown target shooting, shooting clays, duck hunting, etc. Nowhere was a negative word heard. Unfortunately, there is still no video link (or any other kind of link) to the story on their website so I guess it's lost in the history of time for now. As one commenter pointed out to my post (and as I've said here countless times before) it is vital that we -- the pro-gun community -- write, email networks and newspapers when they report a positive story.

The Midriff! Seems one town in Ohio is in an uproar over a couple posters in the window of a gun store. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The windows of the Gunrunner, decorated with two large posters of scantily clad women toting firearms, stand out in this buttoned-down town. Village officials call the gun shop's display inappropriate - "It's pretty risqué," Mayor Nick Fischbach said - and want it taken down.

Last week, Zoning Inspector Joe Hernandez deemed the Gunrunner in violation of zoning regulations that limit the amount of window space devoted to advertising to 50 percent.

The warning does not address the content of the display.

Hernandez, however, admitted that the window coverage issue is driven by, well, another coverage issue.

Two tanned and toned tummies - one with a pierced bellybutton - decorate one of the Gunrunner's windows. The women wear low-slung jeans, bullet-packed holsters and nothing else. The image starts mid-thigh and ends just south of their breasts.

The other poster features a revolver-toting blonde in what's best described as a naughty schoolgirl outfit. Fishnet stockings end just beneath her red plaid miniskirt. A black bra stretches across her chest, and a Santa hat tops her head.

Both images appear in the 2006 Girls of the Gunrunner calendar, a promotion by store owner Scott Weber. Fischbach and Hernandez said they're worried that the pictures are so eye-catching, distracted motorists might cause an accident. (Police said they are not aware of any poster-induced collisions.)

We've asked [Weber] nicely to attend to this," Hernandez said. "It's up to him to make that decision."

Don't expect a change, though: Weber vows not to be strong-armed by what he calls the "Burton Puritans."

In a letter posted next to Miss December, Weber defends the presentation as his First Amendment right.

The memo warns that attempts to disrupt the display will result in legal action.

Weber removed other advertisements from the storefront - including notices of community events and a banner promoting his bombastic local blog - to comply with zoning and avoid fines of $50 per day.

The girls-and-guns posters cover less than half of the front windows.

"To be honest, I can't believe I'm getting hassled," said Weber, 50, a lifetime bachelor who calls the pictures a marriage of his two loves. He said the pictures are in "very good taste."

Few of his fellow merchants would comment on the record, saying they're reluctant to criticize someone whose sales floor resembles an arsenal and whose blog is even more explosive.

Well. WELL! In order to properly research any story, I sought out the pictures in question here:

If you click the photos you'll be taken to the website where you can order the calandars. I think you should! After all, who am I to say what is in good taste or not. Buy one and draw your own conclusions.

By the way, I would hardly call the Gunrunner Blog "explosive". He's a hunting enthusiast who enjoys women and guns. Sounds like a pretty decent and normal lifestyle to me. Obviously not, though, to the writer of this news story.

Wisconsin CCW Override Vote Today. I believe the vote in the assembly is scheduled for 12:30 this afternoon so by the time you read this and I chat about it on NRA News, it will be a done deal. I'll update things here when it happens. Speaking of media bias, which is mostly what I do here, the Daily Press of Ashland, Wisconsin reeks of it:

The bill, SB 403, allows Wisconsin citizens over 21 years of age acquire a concealed carry permit if they take a firearm safety course, do not have a disability that prevents safe use of the weapon, and have no felony convictions. Licensed holders can also carry concealed weapons in most public places except for schools, taverns and police stations.

The override vote, said Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, is inconsistent with what the public feelings are on this bill.

"Public opinion shows that this legislation is vastly unwarranted and unwanted," he added.

"I am hoping the Assembly will sustain the governor's veto and allow us to focus on more pressing matters."

In particular, Jauch expressed disappointment that the Senate did not take up legislation utilizing more resources to combat methamphetamine in the state "because we could have had a more significant impact on a serious crime issue."

The legislation itself, Jauch said, creates uneasiness for the public.

"When you into a store…with a sign that says 'Guns are not welcome here,' it gives somebody a sense of uneasiness as to where guns are and are not wanted," he said.

With a requirement that businesses post signs prohibiting guns in their stores, there is a potential loss to businesses as well.

"This bill forces them to pay the cost of a sign, and possibly face intimidation from those who won't do business because they are not allowed to carry a weapon into that business," he said.

Jauch said the burden should be on those businesses that allow guns on their premises to erect the necessary signs.

In the end, Jauch said, Wisconsin does not need a concealed carry law in its statutes.

"Wisconsin is a safe state, much safer than any of these other states," he said. "There's no evidence that concealed carry makes you a safer state. There could be some examples where, in fact, people are less safe."

That, very nearly, is the entire article! Notice anything? It sounds as if the "reporter" simply handed Jauch a microphone and said, "Go ahead, the floor is yours!" Not one single quote by anyone else. Not one supporter of the bill could be found. Astounding since it passed in the Senate by a comfortable majority and the Assembly vote today is expected to be very close. In point of fact, a majority supports the revised bill but a "super majority" is needed to override the Governor's veto. Interesting that apparently none of those legislators have listed phone numbers.

This is bias of the worst kind. A reader of the Daily Press is presented with only one side of the debate. Journalism 101 teaches that you report both sides. Jay Webster -- the writer -- apparently never took that course.

Not much better was a story yesterday from the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter:

Theater director opposes gun bill

Should concealed carry veto be overridden today, concertgoers could bring weapons

I'm tempted to stop right there and point out that maybe the performers at this venue better start singing on key. But that would be snarky...

Gian Paul Morelli, executive director of the Capitol Civic Centre, hopes not. He said he doesn't want any pistol-packing patrons to bring guns into his performing arts venue in downtown Manitowoc.

"I'm really hot about this. I'm concerned about our liability if somebody walks in with a concealed weapon and it discharges accidentally," Morelli said Monday.

[...]

"I'm in favor of the most liberal ability of citizens to carry a concealed weapon as long as they've passed the proper background checks, are trained and qualified," said State Rep. Frank Lasee, R-Bellevue.

He was one of 63 state representatives who supported an earlier version of the bill, one vote short of the two-thirds required to override a veto.

State Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, D-Manitowoc, said he again will vote against the bill because he is convinced the majority of the people in his district do not support it.

He also believes the bill has "onerous" requirements that would be imposed on businesses as well as organizations operating public facilities, like the Capitol Civic Centre and its volunteer ticket takers.

"You don't ask the (concertgoer) if they have a gun. You would say, 'We don't allow concealed carry here and there's the sign indicating that.' Then, the responsibility falls upon the permit holder to comply," Ziegelbauer said.

"It is not workable and realistic in the real world," he said.

The bill has been changed several times in an effort to attract sufficient support for an override. Republicans added tighter restrictions on carrying concealed weapons while drinking and in school zones, where they would be banned.

"The blood alcohol content (for permitholders) has been lowered to 0.02," said State Sen. Alan Lasee, R-De Pere.

"We have 0.08 for driving but guns and driving certainly don't mix, so I didn't mind that change," said the state Senate president.

That change isn't good enough for Manitowoc Police Chief Perry Kingsbury.

"There should be absolute sobriety," he said.

"I'm in favor of law-abiding citizens being able to carry guns, but this is a bad piece of legislation," Kingsbury said.

He objects to the bill's prohibiting law enforcement from keeping on file the names of those who have a concealed carry permit.

"If an officer is headed to a domestic violence complaint and if we know an individual has a permit, we can absolutely assume a gun is there.

Oops! I guess neither the reporter nor the Police Chief have actually read the bill! Now we all know that properly trained cops always assume that when they go to a scene of someone's home (where domestic violence usually occurs) they might be confronted by someone with a firearm. That's Police Academy 101. If they arrest someone, the very first thing they do is frisk them, right? Besides, it's already legal to own a gun in your home. Here the issue is concealed carry.

The real danger is in pulling over a car. So if someone in law enforcement makes a traffic stop, here's where the bill covers that:

Providing Licensee Information to Law Enforcement Through the Department of Transportation

Under the substitute amendment , DOJ must notify the Department of Transportation (DOT) of a person's name, date of birth, and sex, the date on which the person was last issued a license to carry a concealed weapon, and any vehicle registration number provided by the person on his or her application or that license when: (a) the person is issued a license to carry a concealed weapon; (b) the person's license is renewed; (c) the person's license expires and is not renewed; (d) the person's license is suspended or revoked; or (e) the person's suspended license is reinstated.

Using this information, DOT must maintain a record of each vehicle owner who is a licensee. If DOT's records indicate that a vehicle owner is a licensee, DOT must, in its registration records for that vehicle, include a confidential entry that informs a law enforcement officer who requests information regarding that vehicle that the owner is a licensee.

A law enforcement officer may request this information only if he or she is conducting a lawful vehicle stop. Neither DOT nor any of its employees may make this information available to the public. In addition, neither DOT nor any of its employees may store, maintain, format, sort, or access information regarding licensees based upon their status as licensees. A person who violates any of these provisions may be fined not more than $500 or sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both.

So? In simple english, I believe this means that when a cop stops someone and runs the plates or registration, they will know if the person has a CCW. Given the extremely low incidence of crimes committed by CCW holders in other states, I would suggest that Chief Kingsbury quit worrying about the folks who went through the trouble of obtaining the license and spend more time worrying about the criminals who won't bother.

Letter to the Editor makes sense of it all. With all the hysteria surrounding the issue of allowing law abiding citizens in Wisconsin to protect themselves, one letter writer to the Wisconsin Journal Times puts it into perspective:

All right, here we go again with the concealed carry bill.

Anti-self-protection people are always using the same rants . . . more guns on the streets, more death and destruction . . . and as Joseph Kiemen states in his Letter to the Editor, such a law in Wisconsin "would allow loaded hidden guns, at shopping malls, concerts, banks, playgrounds, and good gosh even school zones — putting our kids at risk. And I also heard about the cost to taxpayers to install metal detectors in public buildings.

Now, and I know it's hard for anti self-protection citizens to realize the simple facts but here they are: the criminals, thugs, gang bangers are already toting guns in these very same places every day with no fear that law abiding victims will be allowed to defend themselves.

Now just think for a moment, what group of people really hope the concealed carry veto of Gov. Doyle, holds? The criminals? Or law abiding citizens?

John M. Spanske
Racine

Couldn't have said it better myself! I'll update here on the vote this afternoon.

Update: I just noticed some silliness from the WI Democratic Party:

MILWAUKEE – With the concealed carry vote looming, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) issued a warning to the public regarding the potential threat of hidden weapons at Summerfest, State Fair Park and other outdoor venues under SB 403, the concealed carry legislation for Wisconsin. In the bill’s current form, Summerfest, State Fair Park, and other outdoor venues would not be allowed to protect its thousands of visitors from the danger of hidden weapons.

“When people come to our city to enjoy Summerfest, the State Fair, or other outdoor events they want to do so in a fun and safe environment,” said Mayor Barrett. “Concealed carry is an irresponsible and costly bill that will force these venues to create a dangerous situation for the million or so people who attend the festival each year, and for the larger public.”

"For years one of the most contentious parts of this debate has been allowing people to carry guns while under the influence of alcohol. Allowing concealed weapons to be carried at outdoor festivals, where alcohol is readily available, is a recipe for disaster,” said Rep. Richards...

It's a "recipe for disaster" because Democrats prefer their constituents to remain perpetual victims of crime, bigotry, whatever. The moment you empower someone with the ability to protect themselves, they no longer need the Mommy-State that liberals depend on for power and votes.

Update 3:35 PM: While on-air with Cam a few minutes ago, confirmation came that the assembly vote to override the Governor's veto failed by two votes. Interestingly, it was two Democrats who had voted for the CCW legislation or to overide the veto six previous times! Their names are Terry Van Akkeren and John Steinbrink and I have hope this is their last terms in office. Rep. Steinbrink's son is actually a CCL holder in Texas and had especially phoned his dad before the vote to get him to support the override. I imagine there will be a heated follow-up call later today...

As usual there's lots more I could yack about but time to get this up. Naturally I'll be on the Cam Edwards - NRA News Show later on during the 3 o'clock hour. Until then, as always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Posted by Jeff Soyer at January 31, 2006 11:02 AM