More than a few TTAG commentators have taken umbrage of our continued coverage of the Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms Illinois gun dealer carve-out, and the companies’ financial contributions to virulently anti-gun politicians.
After today’s post on a successful lawsuit against Remington, commentator C.S. wrote “Seems like we don’t need anti-gunners to put gun companies out of business, the potg [People of the Gun] are doing a good enough job.”
I’m sorry, but that’s ridiculous.
Americans’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms must be defended against all enemies. That’s a long list, including the mainstream media, gun writers, politicians, voters, gun control groups, doctors, lawyers, Moms and, in rare cases, gun manufacturers.
We must expose, oppose and confront these individuals and groups wherever and whenever they put our gun rights in danger.
Our first weapon, our best weapon, is the truth. Because the facts don’t support gun control. Our second weapon is the cold light of day. It’s not enough to know the truth about gun rights, the truth must breathe the oxygen of publicity. So that it gets to both the gun rights faithful and firearms freedom fence straddlers.
Should TTAG consider the negative impact of our stories on individuals and companies when exposing anti-gun entities?
Certainly. We understand full well the effect of our coverage on the hard-working, Second Amendment-supporting, blameless workers at Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms. Same for Remington, a company we’ve grown to respect as it works hard to repair the damage triggered by its assimilation into what was once called The Freedom Group.
I feel for the innocent individuals and gun companies who suffer because of our posts. But we didn’t create the stories. We reported them. More than that, above all and everything else, our first responsibility was, is and will be to our readers.
The TTAG brand is nothing more or less than a promise to our readers to tell the truth about guns and, by extension, gun rights. I created this brand. I am its foremost guardian. But I don’t own it. You do. It exists in your mind.
If I allow TTAG to betray this promise, whether by a sin or commission or omission, I will destroy your trust. I will destroy the brand. I don’t work seven days a week, 52 weeks a year to see that happen.
TTAG’s underlying credo: publish and be damned. With 12 to 14 posts a day, there are (and will be) times when we get it wrong. When we do so we admit our mistake and publish a retraction (it has happened).
But I don’t consider our posts about the Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms debacle and the Remington lawsuit a mistake. We will stay on these and other similar stories as long as there are new developments. Count on it.