Silencing gun writers

Dick Metcalf was the back page columnist for Guns & Ammo. He was recently fired because some subscribers and, more importantly, advertisers thought he wasn't a strong enough supporter of the Second Amendment. His crime? Writing this ...

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Lets-Talk-Limits-by-Dick-Metcalf-of-Guns-Ammo-December-2013.pdf

And that firing led the NYT to look at how other members of the gun media are pressured to toe the NRA's line or be unemployable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/business/media/banished-for-questioning-the-gospel-of-guns.html?hp&_r=2&

 

He should have grown a long beard, made duck calls, and disparaged gays. Therebl would be a boycott line around the block to get him his job back.

 

As opposed to all those potential newsroom types who are unemployable at the NYT for refusing to toe their left-leaning line?

Wonder how many hands would have shot up if NYT editors had put this story angle up for volunteers. The zeal, the zeal.

 

I hate it when Second Amendment rights trump First Amendment rights -- especially at a media outlet.

 

The Times article does not mention the NRA a single time.

 

What does the First Amendment have to do with it?

 

Everybody knows who runs point on gun issues.

 

Yet, they weren't mentioned, and you falsely summarized the article.

Who's the one with the agenda?

 

The manufacturers who require lockstep from the editors and writers in the gun magazines.

 

I couldn't believe this story was above the fold on the Sunday cover.

 

I applaud those media entities that are strong enough to bite the hands that feed them - but to expect every media company to do so is unrealistic.
A better question is why the gun industry feels expanding background checks is bad.

The alcohol and tobacco industries actually support efforts to make sure those underage don't use their products. You would think the gun industry would similarly want to ensure their products don't get into the hands of those who shouldn't have them.

 

The idea that alcohol and tobacco companies don't want underaged people drinking or smoking is laughable.