Sunday, May 2, 2010

Guns and the Media

On my commute into work the other day, I was listening to one of the morning shows go through their news stories. Typical weekday stuff, then I heard something that caught my attention. Georgia's legislature just passed a new gun bill that allows licensed gun owners to carry their piece into additional places, such as portions of Hartsfield Airport. The woman on the radio made a statement about how gun rights advocates were hopeful that the bill would be signed into law, but that 'gun safety advocates' were firmly against the passage of this bill.

Gun safety advocates? Classic work by the media to frame the argument the way they see fit rather than the way it really is. I would say most gun owners are the most stringent gun safety advocates I know. Study after study has shown how violent crimes are committed with unlicensed firearms and weapons in much greater number and frequency than with a licensed, owned weapon. The media would have us believe that gun owners are irresponsible wack-jobs and that this law would make ATL the wild west. I can't say I'm surprised, but I can't help but think of all the people who hear this broadcast and subliminally start believing the news the way it is presented rather than the way it really is.