Saturday, April 17, 2004

NRA News?

This is interesting; the NRA is setting up a news operation. Why would such a narrowly focused organization want to set up first an internet radio news station with plans to expand into radio and TV? Do you think they might run newstories 24/7 about accidental shootings and stray bullets from drive-by shootings? Perhaps they'll have special interest stories about just why teflon-jacketed bullets that slip right through police bullet-proof vests are such a good idea. Maybe there will be pictures of deer riddled with AK-47 rounds; they do want to keep them legal - you know - for hunting.

Think the worst thoughts you may have about this group...

The media operation is expected to provide a platform for the NRA in the run-up to this year's presidential elections - a time when restrictions surround the use of donors' money for political advertising.

The NRA's media outlets will be financed by unlimited donations, known as "soft money".

Campaign finance laws ban the use of "soft money" for political advertising in the run-up to elections

"If you own a news operation," said Mr LaPierre, "you can say whatever you want. If you don't, you're gagged."

Experts say that the NRA might be able to sidestep campaign finance laws if it can convincingly show that it is running a media organisation.
While I have less than the most respect for our media, I do not think that they can "say whatever [they] want." Seems Mr. LaPierre has a little to learn about responsible news media.

Of course responsibility is something the NRA has been dodging for a long, long time.


NOTE:I was a police Explorer Scout and an expert marksman by the time I was 10 years old. I have at least 5 family members who are police officers. I spent 14 years firing weapons of every type and size from 9mm automatic pistols to 155mm howitzers; from 5.56mm M16A2s to 20mm cannon. I don't fear weapons or misunderstand them.

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