Why Be Armed and Informed?
Sometimes the sheer apathy and ignorance of people is staggering. It would be pretty easy to conclude that an awful lot of Americans aren’t running on all cylinders when so few know who the Vice President is or that Americans can identify more cartoon members of the Simpsons than their First Amendment rights.
But hold on there – while we don’t want to give a pass to an undeniably unfortunate educational system, let’s think for a second what most Americans swallowed recently when watching network news: Report: Major Media Networks Favor Gun Control 5 to 1 in Vegas Shooting Coverage, and that “coverage of bump-fire stocks heavily favors new regulations.”
This certainly isn’t a surprise to GOC – we face this bias every day but seeing it in a print headline is sobering. That’s why we work so dang hard to make sure Californians are armed and informed, because as the old saying goes, information is power. The media holds enormous public sway when it comes to guns, which is why they work overtime stirring the emotional pot and exploiting human tragedy. It’s pretty clear the networks and print media would likely push “delete” on the 2nd Amendment had they the chance.
Talking heads such as former NBC Nightly News Anchor Tom Brokaw recently used the Today Show to proselytize his anti-gun agenda: “I would say to this audience, and any audience before which I appear these days, we are where we are because of the power of people who wanted these kinds of guns.” He then further charged the citizens of the United States to actively work against groups such as GOC when he said. “if you’re not happy with what has happened, your individual obligation as citizen is to organize on the other side.”
Quoting from the Media Research Center’s (MRC) report:
“In the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting massacre, the Big Three (ABC, CBS, NBC) networks wasted little time in exploiting the tragedy to advance their anti-gun rights agenda…In just six days (October 2 through October 8) of coverage, the networks filled their evening and morning show programs with statements favoring gun control over gun rights by a ratio of roughly 5 to 1.”
And, surveying in the weeks following the Orlando shootings last year, MRC found even more telling details: Of the 47 gun-related pieces (which included, but not limited to 41 full segments by CBS, NBC and ABC) those favoring gun control overwhelmed the gun rights statements by a ratio of 8 to 1. What’s more, gun rights spokespeople were eclipsed by three times as many anti-gun speakers.
Evaluating who has the biggest anti-gun ax to grind, the clear winner was CBS with an anti-versus pro-gun message of 10 – 1, with NBC following a close second with a 9 – 1 bias. While ABC could hardly be considered “fair”, they did much better, only making the case four times as much for additional gun controls.
It’s clear the media is neither statistically nor intellectually honest on this contentious issue, which is likely why most Americans (56%/Pew Research 2013) think gun crime has escalated over the past 20 years even though it has significantly declined. Given the daily torrent of anti-gun slurs and dishonest data, it’s no wonder we live amongst many who fear their own shadow – believing that good guys with guns are the real societal menace.
That’s why GOC will never let up on hammering for the need to be ARMED and INFORMED. Knowing truth from the lies is one of the best tools we all can use to effectively fight liberal bias, whether it’s on TV, the radio or in our front yard talking to a misinformed neighbor. GOC’s website is full of good information and we encourage you to use it! We have factsheets on legislation and post our letters to elected officials. We have tips on how to lobby. We also have significant resources on current gun laws, so the good guys don’t inadvertently end up in jail. We are updating information daily on gun-related issues and have terrific resource links. Our quarterly newsletter features pro-gun sheriffs, updates on legal activities, GOC’s amicus briefs and upcoming elections. Plus, our email alerts are an easy way to stay on top of things and we pledge not to spam your inbox! Sign up here.
Gun Owners of California has been dedicated to the unequivocal defense of the 2nd Amendment and America’s extraordinary heritage of firearm ownership for over 40 years. We don’t take our rights for granted and neither should you! Be Armed and Informed.
Brokaw: “we are where we are because of the power of people who wanted these kinds of guns.”
@tombrokaw Yes, Tom, we are where we are – a free and independent nation – because of people who took guns into their hands and fought the most powerful nation in the world. And those of us who still love liberty will take today’s equivalent guns and defend that liberty today. If you and your ilk succeed in taking our guns, you know and we know that that will be the beginning of the end for our freedom.
“whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”
Have you read these words before? It may be time to get reacquainted with them.