[UPDATE] Just got word from the producer at CNN that the segment has been canceled due to the breaking news out of the Philippines about the Super Typhoon…
The phone rings and who should be on the other end of the line but Joe Nocera. The New York Times’ resident civilian disarmament agitprop propagator. The writer responsible for the contextless anti-gun feature called The Gun Report, which recently represented American gun owners with a picture of an armed Ku Klux Klansman. Before the appearance of an Aussie “study” linking gun ownership to racism (debunked here) which Joe also promoted on his Report. Anyway, my “fellow Rhode Islander” called the blogger who’s ripped him a new asshole at every opportunity because he’s looking to chase down former Guns & Ammo Technical Editor Dick Metcalf. Obviously. As The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence proved . . .
the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex loves them some Metcalf. Any why not? A Guns & Ammo writer supporting gun control? What’s not to love? Anyway, Nocera’s call sniffing around for a direct line to the gone-to-ground gun writer followed a similar enquiry from CBS.
Quick aside: Dan and I discussed Mr. Metcalf’s media/PR options. We reckon the pensioned pistol pro should appear in the mainstream media. Dick should have apologized to The People of The Gun (quickly) and jumped straight into pro-gun rights mode. Redeemed! Right? Anyway . . .
After playing Where’s Dick? with the same success as its peers, CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper emailed looking for someone to discuss Guns & Ammo-gate. After making sure I was media friendly (i.e. that I’m the gun rights droid they’re looking for) I’ve been booked to appear today at 4pm EST.
My plan is simple enough: assert that the Second Amendment of the Constitution prohibits the federal government from regulating firearms or firearms training. After that, fend off the insinuation that I’m an extremist gun nut. (That’s MR. extremist gun nut!) Any suggestions below would be most appreciated, although the adrenalin dump that accompanies debating on live TV with a guy who does it for a living pretty much guarantees I’ll be winging it as best I can.
Thanks for watching. Or not. Oh, and I’ll ping Joe, whom I’ve invited to Austin for some serious trigger time. As if.
Go forth and kick ass!
Yes, this ^
Take a Xanax, a Deep breath and take on a kind grandfatherly demeanor. A la Larry Potterfield.
It important to notice that they used “17-4 Stainless Steel and Inconel 625 components”. Both of these materials have significantly higher yield strengths and tensile strengths than the majority of steels. They are premium materials with premium prices. They used a “sintering process and powdered metals” which have diminished strength compared to using the same material as bar stock, then machining that bar stock. This is why they needed the premium materials. Also, I wonder if they used a HIPping (Hot Isostatic Pressure, http://www.pressuretechnology.com/) process on the parts after they were formed.
Think what you will, your choice. I rode touring bicycles for ten years, anywhere from 50 mile to 3000 mile round trips. Eyes, ears, nose, hair rising, anything helped in being aware of my surroundings. The bicycle weighed 22# empty, 25# camping gear, 130# of me. I was gonna be the bug on the windshield if I did not pay attention. My ears are what saved my ass most often. Nothing to do with firearms, I know, but, everything to do with situational awareness.
Do not. I repeat do not go all Alex Jones. I know you won’t, but this is a nice opportunity to be a rational human and show a human side to the whole thing.
Also speak slowly, and if you get interrupted speak up immediately.
Don’t go Patrick Kennedy either:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q-VGZiEbrs
Ross county is just north of the county where I grew up. Southern Ohioans are sensible people and overwhelmingly pro-gun. Even if the DA doesn’t nolle pros this, I seriously doubt any Ross county jury would convict.
Now Cleveland would be a different matter. Them folks is weird !
…pay attention to your garb:
no cammo
no hats
go “professional”
Just try to stay calm as possible and don’t start with any libtards this libtards that. This is a decent chance to where we could try and stay calm so as to not seem nearly combative and idiotic as Nugget has in the past with greater idiot CNN about-to-get-fired Morgan. Disagree intelligently the throw in some good Southern tact and you will own the discussion. It’s generally how I have managed to move many of my friends and family from being for broad gun control to understanding and appreciating gun rights.
Present facts, figures, and strong stories showing we are in fact more reasonable than the media tries so hard to show us as the opposite. Think LA Riots with good strong background of how the government abandoned the people in Korea Town. Or how in Katrina firearms were confiscated en mass by the police.
If you REALLY want to see a reaction try making one for a 1911…. Heads would explode and the intrawebz would be ablaze in minutes.
As for me… meh, to each his own.
What’s worked for me in the past in dealing with someone like this who’s mind will not be changed by any rational thought or debate, is to let them talk when it doesn’t matter or the topic is pointless to argue. Even when the question is on you, turn it around quickly by asking clarification. They love this, they get empowered by it thinking they are holding the upper hand. This usually gets them talking too much and then they reveal their true motives. That’s when you take it back over by saying something. Like,”now hold on a second Joe I have something important to say/add/explain here.” Now you d set the stage, they are cornered into giving out the spotlight. If they interupt, you can say, “Joe, I’ve been letting you talk pretty much the whole time. Now it’s my turn to respond for a minute.” They hate that, cause now you trapped them into shutting up when you need it the most, and they are the most vulnerable. If they can’t stand it anymore and interupt again, then you can shut them down once more and say, ” you keep interrupting me Joe, it’s obvious you didn’t bring me here to hear my side, you just wanted to have an opportunity to state your opinions without really opening up to a debate. So I’ll let you have your show back and you can continue with your monologue.” He either shuts up again at that point and lets you finish, or doesn’t. Either way you expose him for being disingenuous for inviting you on the show, or ideally you get a few minutes to actually inject some reason into what is ordinarily a closed minded audience.
Good luck.
Seems like folks are getting more freaked out about open display of weapons than open display by a flasher.
I remember seeing racked shotguns/riffles in parked pickup trucks outside the Feed Store in small town in Texas, where I grew up. No one locked vehicles back then, and no one took notice.
Shame we have become so sissified since then.
I remember them in my HS parking lot and nobody ever called the cops or got hurt. Most we’re in teacher/staff vehicles but some of the seniors carried in their trucks.
Tapper is one of the (rare) “good guys” in the MSM – fair, professional, and a huge supporter of the troops. I’m not surprised he sought out a good representative of the gun community.
If you get the chance, mention that the 2nd Amendment is inexorably linked to the 1st. Media has gotten nervous recently about 1A violations. If government ever removes our 2A right to self defense then 1A doesn’t stand a chance.
No one should freak out at the sight of citizen with a gun anymore than they do at the sight of:
A cop with a gun
A soldier with a gun
A hunter with a gun*
A hiker with a gun*
An actor with a gun
A citizen at a range with a gun
etc.
All of those scenarios are psychologically acceptable even to most antis. They might not like it, but they understand that it’s no reason to go all 9-1-1y.
We just have to make clear that there is no costume, woods, movie camera or target stand prerequisite to the legality, appropriateness and Constitutionality of possessing a firearm.
I have no interest in making OC likable to them (you really can’t, anyway) but they have to learn that it’s LEGAL and that the correct response is to cry about it on the internet, NOT to call 5-O.
This is why I’m for open carry whenever and where ever possible. It can and will eventually educate these people on the LEGALITY and COMMONNESS of it.
Even that foul-mouthed Wonkette blogger who spewed bile and seethed about the AZ airport open carry guy got the point. Did she hate it? Very much. But she also learned that it’s 100% legal (she really hated that part too, lol).
And that’s all I really want: For these hoplophobes to know that however strong their irrational fear of guns might be, their tantrums do not supercede our rights.
*People don’t generally freak out if the hunter/hiker is in the field.
If I wasn’t a black man, I would open carry. But given the history of police brutality and shooting unarmed black men, I stay concealed everywhere it is legal in my state.
1. ignore the actual questions and/or bring them back to your own talking points. Thats what the best ones do.
2. hone your message to a handful of easily digestible fact-filled talking points that you can squeeze in while someone else is trying to drown you out. I would not go ideological, this is CNN, they want to paint you as an ideologue. I would go with something like in the states that have unrestricted carry, like Vermont, crime and homicide is significantly lower. Crime/homicide committed by CCW holders is negligible and of the 500+ homicides in Chicago, not 1 had a FOID or carry permit.
3. put them in a box when they say “reasonable common sense” the brady campaign and VPC called an outright handgun ban in DC reasonable and common sense 5 years ago. a super majority of americans do not support a handgun ban. make it clear all the laws in NY that are unreasonable to most americans and are intended to be de facto bans. play offense not defense and do not let them frame the debate.
4. when they bring up background checks, make them stick to facts about who is actually in NICS. 51% are unlawful immigrants. another 20% or so are nonviolent drug crimes like marijuana. only a small minority are violent offenders or mental health issues. Make them play defense on this. are they discriminatory? will illegals get their gun rights back under the DREAM act? how about states that decriminalize drugs?
good luck! oh, wear your flak jacket you are the target.
question why if the feds are so interested in controlling gun crimes, and liberal states are so in agreement, how come no one was fired for Fast&Furious and no one on the left criticizes the obvious phuck up?? this will lead to pointing out that the allegedly “reasonable” restriction crowd is just looking to confiscate. . . . .
I own guns because not owning one is irresponsible.
Good luck, God bless, give em hell.
While I love what Alex Jones did to Pierce Morgan let’s stay away from that. Actually that is probably what they are looking for. Someone who comes across as a nut. Best of luck RF. I plan to be screaming at my TV (in support) more than a rabid Super Bowl fan in heat! Go kick his ass!
“My plan is simple enough: assert that the Second Amendment of the Constitution prohibits the federal government from regulating firearms or firearms training.”
Your plan is flawed at the outset because your opponent simply has to look at your record on the subject to know you are FOS.
You’re just pissed because RF wouldn’t post your bail.
Jake Tapper is a good porn star name.
I’ll ping Joe, whom I’ve invited to Austin for some serious trigger time.
I would prefer to ping a traditional steel target, but to each his own.
Solution:
Ban the sale of ALL ammo via the internet, like here in NY.
FUAC
By the way this whole mess, getting fired because he posted some gun control editorial, needs to be put in perspective.
If someone is the Brady Campaign came out said hand gun bans and licenses are unconstitutional, theyd be fired too. Any member of the Brady Campaign staff own a gun? I bet they do. and if they said so in public, theyd be fired.
This is mostly about the Brady Campaign calling attention to itself. dont play that game.
To awnser the question of the day, a Tavor, a fnp.45 and that rifle plate that floats.
Can someone please explain the boating accident analogy? Is that what you tell the cops when they come looking for your guns or do I have something wrong?
Your title says it all. I have to assume you haven’t been around people of the gun for very long eh? Do I own any firearms? Not anymore sir, I lost them all in a tragic boating accident.
Sadly I have been forced to sell my guns to pay for Obamacare.
Didn’t you hear? Obama apologized for that. I bet he’s sorry you had to sell your guns, too.
I live in semi-rural GA, my sheriff would probably deputize the armed citizens (aka: every body in the county) in the event of an emergency. I have walked into the county courthouse forgetting that I was open carrying my handgun (or rather that I was in a gun free zone) and been politely asked to go secure the weapon in my car by the deputies at the metal detectors.
If it were a situation where I thought my weapons might be confiscated they would be buried in the miles of woods and fields behind my house with GPS tags and physical yet discreet tags, all but one of my handguns for immediate defense and check off the list appeasement of the new fascist po-po.
Nope I ain’t dying in a no-win situation where it’s me and my family vs. a team of heavily armed and armored police with back up probably minutes away. A resistance of 1 ain’t gonna cut it. I’ll survive the initial and hook up with an organized resistance later.
Repeat after me, always in the open, in a public place with people around, away from the entrance, preferably at a RKBA-friendly place (think Gander Mountain, Cabelas, LGS, etc.). It’s not rocket science.
Well the gun dealer is going to need that ammo to fight off the looters anyway.
Which brings up the question of “how hard will the FFLs work to fight off the looters and protect their stocks?” They are all insured, you know.
As for the title question, AR-15/M16. Great for defense and offense if needed. As for the question in the last sentence, if the Po Po came to my door looking for my firearms without a legal and justifiable court order to remove my firearms by name, then they would be met with lethal force. Without the court order they are just common crooks trying to steal my peoperty and thus not police.
Did you write this from Chick Fil A by any chance?
No guns whatsoever. Why? Because Obama said if you like your guns you can keep them.
The G just loves to keep people agitated. It’s the oldest trick in the political book. Frightened people are even easier to deceive and control than stupid people.
We have a government that exploits fear and deals in secrecy. Ain’t it grand?
Because being a victim is morally superior to being a survivor
It’s not about liability. It’s not about controversy. It’s a culture war, and the American “educational” system is the indoctrination center.
The schools do a great job of indoctrination. When it comes to education, they suck. That’s why Johnny can’t read, write or add up a column of numbers. But he knows that 2A has something to do with service in a government-run militia.
“They issued an immediate injunction and the ammo is now once again flowing freely (and legally) into the Golden State in little brown boxes straight to your doorstep.”
Once again? Um, this bill was never in effect. It has been jammed up in the courts since its inception. I have ordered ammo many times and I live in California. Cabela’s sends me ammo, has for years.
Freedom of speech is not the same as freedom from repercussions from foolish speech. Say something stupid that offends the people you’re claiming to be speaking to and for, and you’re going to feel the heat.
Guess what – that’s freedom of speech in action also. Now Dick needs to get himself a copy of the Constitution and the Federalist Papers and start educating himself on where he went wrong both then and now.
He should’ve been fired for stupidity alone.
It’s like a writer at Road and Track advocating a national 55-mph speed limit.
1. A convicted criminal has lost his/her natural rights as they have not exhibited the responsibility required. After they have payed their resetituion to society, their rights should be restored.
2. Yes. If CCW was proven to pose a real and proven threat to public safety, then I would concede to a public carry license.
3. Yes. I promise to do whatever it takes to get home to my family. That includes staying out of jail.
4. This is of course a loaded question. I have not violated the constition but rather given up a portion of my rights protected therein. Does that make me a Hypocrite? Probably, but I’m a work in progress.
^this sums it up perfectly.
Dick, you’re falling victim to the Barbara Streisand effect by attempting damage control. Just go away quietly.
Btw, CGSV is losing their collective minds about this: https://twitter.com/CSGV/status/398868262693265408
Jared, great advice. Eggs in one basket type metaphor.
JWM, as usual, right as rain. I’m in an identical situation to you. Although, all the locals always joked that they either know where to go for help, or know where to stay away from.
lol @ dirk getting some internet fame. RF keep peeing in their cornflakes.
Sad, was looking forward to seeing RF on CNN.
I think this might be Tapper’s last word on the subject:
What kid above 18 needs to ask his dad to buy him smokes?