Why dont media outlets have gun guys?

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kd7nqb

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We all see it, some news organization reports on a subject even remotely related to guns and every story is filled with not just slant but flat out factual errors. Some of my favorite are the ever popular, "Shot with a .45mm handgun" and assuming that all guns must be registered in all states. It seems like if even a small group reporters familiarized themselves with the BASICS of gun so many of these errors would be caught and corrected. Frankly if a reported were to read THR for a day they would learn more than enough to be intelligent on the subject, (as well as probably produce a story on the looming zombie attack and that .45acp is the only round to ever stop anything larger than a raccoon"

For the record, if a new orginization makes little screw ups I dont even really care, if they call my .45gap a .45 I dont care. If they call a revolver a pistol it bugs me but its not the end of the world. I am specifically talking about major glaring errors.

Of course even this small amount of education would probably cut down on the use of terms like "assault rife" and better discretion on what automatic actually means (and that we don't all have them).

Guns are in the news for one reason or another everyday so why not educate individuals on them.

Oh, and while your at it what is your favorite glaring error or omission (with link if possible)
 
For the same reason they don't have "car guys" or "computer networking guys" or "aircraft guys" or "plumber guys" or "nuclear reactor guys."

It would just cost too much for news organizations to retain experts on every conceivable topic that they cover.

FWIW, this is a big part of the reason for why blogging has become so huge. Via the internet, those very same experts can now act as reporters, but only covering topics that they have in-depth knowledge about.
 
My favorite...The suspect was arrested at home. HE HAD 10 GUNS IN HIS HOUSE AND A THOUSAND ROUNDS OF AMMO!!!! *NEWS ANCHOR LOOKS SHOCKED* I'm looking at the tv going, "that's all"?
 
HE HAD 10 GUNS IN HIS HOUSE AND A THOUSAND ROUNDS OF AMMO!!!!

He did not have much, did he. :evil:

I know what you mean though. It pisses one off. :banghead:
 
OP, you're assuming the media cares or even wants to be correct. Their misinformation helps their leftist agenda. Anything that would dampen the fear they can spread about guns, like facts, is not something they are interested in, even if it's free. And since an expert would cost money...don't hold your breath.
 
Hey, I just did a rough count and we've got about 1400 rounds. I thought that made me a newb, not a psycho, but who knows. :eek:

Joking aside though, I don't think it's about lack of "gun folks" at media outlets so much as a lack of expert knowledge of any kind at media outlets.

People at THR are very focused on guns. The knowledge here is staggering. Most people simply do not have that enormous amount of knowledge/awareness of anything outside the norm.

I first discovered the vast ignorance out there when I mentioned to some folks at college that I was Jewish. Most had no clue what that meant, lots of misinformation, some disinformation, and most thought they knew a *lot* more than they did. And this was in teh Detroit area--a very, very Jewish area. Then I became interested in natural/attachment parenting and discovered how little most people know--and how much they think they know--about breastfeeding and about birth.

Now I'm interested in guns (well, always was really, but now that the kid is less attached can actually shoot them :D ), and I already am prepared for vast and ludicrous ignorance.

And I always assume that if I haven't done a whole heckuva lot of learning about something that I don't know anything about it. And I don't make pronouncements or pass judgement on it without figuring out what at last the basics are first. I've noticed most people are less cautious.
 
*1400 ROUNDS!!!!* I'm shocked Delta, SAVE THE CHILDREN!!!

I know, I'm so embarrassed. It's ok though, come January and our next big payday we're buying reloading gear and five flats of shotshells, along with sundry other calibers. :D
 
TV journalism is one of these things where it is not expected that you have any real skills other than looking good while reading something that you only have a vague clue about.

If you live in a lower tier TV market, you will have reporters and reporterettes passing through every few months as they try to move up the food chain to bigger markets.

I was amazed at how dumb they were when I talked to a couple of them first hand one time.
 
I was amazed at how dumb they were when I talked to a couple of them first hand one time.

Heh, we had a local newscaster type start law school with my class. He lasted less than two months. Not sure what the story was, but, well, most people who go to the trouble of starting law school and then disappear quickly...um. Yeah.
 
I've only got 1400 rounds for my .45mm automatic black evil pistolgun (1911). I've got another 750+ form my replica 19th century wild west assault weapon arsonal - Ruger Vaquero and Marlin 1894. Only about 100 rounds for my high powered military sniper rifle - 1891 Argentine Mauser and 1500 rounds from my hi-cap urbane assalt rifle - Marlin mdl 60 (it holds 15 rounds) Not to mentiion 7-8 pounds of smokless powder and assorted components and the 4 pounds of blackpowder for my charcoal burners, I must be a real whacko...

Don't expect common sense from the main stream media, maybe just maybe Fox news won't screw it up quite as bad.
 
POWDER??? YOU MUST BE AN EVIL BOMBMAKER OR A CRAZED MILITIA MEMBER!!!!

Ok, i made my point and have been beating a dead horse, but it was fun
 
One of my favorites: Los Angeles Slimes coverage of the Waco debacle, describing the bullet emanating from the barrel of a Barrett rifle as being '1/2 inch in diameter and 5 inches long.' A 5 inch long bullet would have some serious headspacing issues, I would imagine.
 
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