Gideon
Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2007
- Messages
- 754
"Assault Weapon" was the original term used in the reporting, and following is my e-mail to the "reporter:"
I am a U.S. Army veteran, former sworn California Peace Officer, and most importantly, I am an Armed Private Citizen.
Although I too am saddened by this tragic event, I also feel that it is incumbent upon reporters of the news, yourself included, to investigate and provide important details, and not simply parrot the "official" story pending investigation.
I am specifically concerned regarding the following excerpt from your article:
...
Two more police officers were shot dead while trying to take the suspect into custody. Police said the two officers were shot inside the apartment with an assault weapon. A second weapon, which police did not identify, was used to shoot the motorcycle cops (We now know that it was a handgun).
...
I have heard, ad nauseaum, the mantra "pending investigation" as the perennial justification for withholding information from the public, and this case is no different, so I will provide you with the following inquiry, as well as an opportunity for you to fill-in the blanks as it were, in your reportive capacity.
What is an "assault weapon" and why is it so important to use the phrase, while not specifying the weapon used in the assault.
Personally, I have been assualted with fists, rocks, baseball bats, metal rods, knives and other sharp-edged objects, and even a ballpoint pen, all of which I would define as weapons, but what makes something an "assault weapon?"
Since the officers were shot, we can assume that the assailant used a firearm.
Was it a handgun, or a rifle? Was it a Glock, an AK-47, a shotgun or an AR-15?
As a law abiding citizen and gun owner, I hope you can understand my concern.
When vague, blanket terminology is flippantly utilized in the realm of mass-media word-smithing, a great injustice is rendered to the readership.
Let's be specific and perhaps we can all be enlightened.
Did Lovell Mixon use the world's most popular battle-rifle, the AK-47? Was it one of California's millions of legal rifles, such as the SKS, Mini-14, or M1A? Perhaps Mixon used the same type of "assault weapon" which is standard issue for our military and law enforcement; the AR-15?
It is past time to stop patronizing what remains of your readership, and start providing relevant details in your reporting.
If you can trust readers with specific information, and "hard-truths," then we can better trust you, but if you continue to withhold important information, those of us who want to know the truth will continue to look elsewhere for our "news."
Latest update, with "assault weapon" replaced by "assault rifle."
I am a U.S. Army veteran, former sworn California Peace Officer, and most importantly, I am an Armed Private Citizen.
Although I too am saddened by this tragic event, I also feel that it is incumbent upon reporters of the news, yourself included, to investigate and provide important details, and not simply parrot the "official" story pending investigation.
I am specifically concerned regarding the following excerpt from your article:
...
Two more police officers were shot dead while trying to take the suspect into custody. Police said the two officers were shot inside the apartment with an assault weapon. A second weapon, which police did not identify, was used to shoot the motorcycle cops (We now know that it was a handgun).
...
I have heard, ad nauseaum, the mantra "pending investigation" as the perennial justification for withholding information from the public, and this case is no different, so I will provide you with the following inquiry, as well as an opportunity for you to fill-in the blanks as it were, in your reportive capacity.
What is an "assault weapon" and why is it so important to use the phrase, while not specifying the weapon used in the assault.
Personally, I have been assualted with fists, rocks, baseball bats, metal rods, knives and other sharp-edged objects, and even a ballpoint pen, all of which I would define as weapons, but what makes something an "assault weapon?"
Since the officers were shot, we can assume that the assailant used a firearm.
Was it a handgun, or a rifle? Was it a Glock, an AK-47, a shotgun or an AR-15?
As a law abiding citizen and gun owner, I hope you can understand my concern.
When vague, blanket terminology is flippantly utilized in the realm of mass-media word-smithing, a great injustice is rendered to the readership.
Let's be specific and perhaps we can all be enlightened.
Did Lovell Mixon use the world's most popular battle-rifle, the AK-47? Was it one of California's millions of legal rifles, such as the SKS, Mini-14, or M1A? Perhaps Mixon used the same type of "assault weapon" which is standard issue for our military and law enforcement; the AR-15?
It is past time to stop patronizing what remains of your readership, and start providing relevant details in your reporting.
If you can trust readers with specific information, and "hard-truths," then we can better trust you, but if you continue to withhold important information, those of us who want to know the truth will continue to look elsewhere for our "news."
Latest update, with "assault weapon" replaced by "assault rifle."
Some joker decides to shoot at people ... 50 Citizens jack em up and that joker is DUN DONE! Gotta nip this crap in the bud - so criminals are too scared to commit these acts.
