by Jim Shepherd

Last weekend’s shooting rampage in Arizona was a senseless crime against decency, and totally without reason. Trying to portray the actions of an obviously disturbed twenty-two year old shooter as anything other than the actions of a lunatic simply don’t wash.

Despite the fact it appears the attack was planned and executed, no sane individual would set out on a Saturday morning with the goal of assassinating a politician and slaughtering anyone who happened to be unfortunate enough to be there. Should Jared Loughner should be spared the death penalty because of diminished capacity? Thankfully (for Loughner) that’s not for us to decide.

What we could all do, however, is stop watching and listening silently as the media keeps pushing a one-sided characterization of firearms and their owners.

Since this tragedy, mainstream media has once again repeated half-truths and inaccurate statements with little regard for – or knowledge of- the inaccuracy of their so-called facts. And it seems no one is calling them on those inaccuracies.

by Chad D. Baus

Within minutes of learning of the tragic mass murder in Tuscon, Arizona last Saturday, the establishment media began shooting from the hip on who they thought was to blame. They knew nothing about the killer, but it was clear they were cocked and ready with a template that fit their jaded view of anyone who owns a gun.

Reporters were loaded for bear. Without even a shred of proof the delusional killer had seen Sarah Palin’s election-related political comments, or had ever listened to Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck, they began shooting off at the mouth, saying that “incendiary” language from Palin, Limbaugh and members of the TEA Party was to blame for what had happened. They had decided to shoot first, and asked questions later.

The media drew a bead on Palin’s use of crosshairs on an election map, which provided a “target list” denoting districts her political action commmittee sought to win back for Republicans in the November election. The media also took aim at Palin having once told her supporters, in response to critics who were pressuring her to back down, “Don’t retreat – instead, RELOAD!”

The journalists kept firing away at Palin’s use of these political metaphors. It was clear that these journalists, which Limbaugh has termed the “drive-by media,” thought that destroying their enemies with this tragedy was going to be easier than shooting fish in a barrel. And so they continued, with guns blazing away. But they were shooting blind.

In fact, when he too asserted that political speech from the right was to blame for these events, Pima Co. (AZ) Sheriff Clarence Dupnik was asked point blank by a FOX News’ Megyn Kelly if he had any proof to back the allegations up. The sheriff, a Democrat, admitted he did not, then continued to give his opponents both barrels anyways.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is reporting that an ATF proposal to require federally licensed firearms retailers to report multiple sales of rifles has been placed on hold by the White House amid stiff opposition from the firearms industry and NRA. Specifically, the ATF requirement calls for firearm retailers to report multiple sales, or other dispositions, of two or more semi-automatic rifles that are larger than .22 caliber, capable of accepting a detachable magazine and are purchased by the same individual within five consecutive business days.

Though ATF has called this proposal an “emergency” mandate, it was originally pushed by the anti-gun Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) coalition more than a year and a half ago.

ATF lacks the authority to mandate multiple long gun sales requirements. Last year, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reviewed ATF’s Project Gunrunner. In that report, OIG recommended that ATF “explore options for seeking a requirement for [the] reporting of multiple sales of long guns.” ATF Deputy Director Kenneth Melson concurred with the recommendation, but noted that such a mandate would “require a change to the Gun Control Act which is beyond ATF’s and the Departments authority.” NSSF agrees with ATF Deputy Director Melson. Such action would require a change to the Gun Control Act and neither ATF nor DOJ have the authority to do so.