A Va. politician is giving away an AR-15 rifle as a Second Amendment statement. That’s the washingtonpost.com headline — an announcement so bland you wouldn’t be surprised to find it at guns.com. Nor would you, a member of TTAG’s Armed Intelligentsia, find it odd that WaPo writers Ian Shapira and Laura Vozzella couldn’t resist demonizing the firearm featuring in Virginia gubernatorial candidate Corey Stewart’s gun giveaway. Your first clue?
The caption underneath the featured photo above: “In this Jan. 28, 2013, file photo, Barbara J. Mattson, with the Connecticut State Police’s firearms training unit, holds up a Bushmaster rifle, the same make and model of gun used by Adam Lanza in the Sandy Hook School shooting, for a demonstration during a gun-law hearing.”
What does a gun similar to the one used for the Sandy Hook slaughter have to do with a pol’s political pandering to pro-gun voters? I’m glad you asked!
On Saturday, [Stewart] announced that he’s giving away an AR-15 rifle, the style of weapon used in several of the nation’s mass shootings and most notorious crimes, including the 2002 Washington-area sniper attacks, one of which was a homicide at a gas station in Stewart’s county.
In a news release Saturday, Stewart announced the AR-15 giveaway knowing full well that it would probably attract controversy — and news coverage.
“If elected to be your next Governor, you can be 100% CERTAIN I will never compromise on your God-given right to keep and bear arms,” Stewart wrote. “In fact, even though I’m sure it’s certain to send the liberal media into a frenzy, to show my dedication to the Second Amendment my campaign is GIVING AWAY an AR-15 to one lucky supporter.”
Well he wasn’t wrong, was he? The WaPo rose to the bait like Bruce the shark saying hello to Martin Brody in Jaws. But just in case you thought Shapira and Vozella were done impugning the AR-15, the not-so-dynamic duo dedicate another paragraph to educating readers about the firearm’s role in heinous — heinous I tell you! — crimes.
AR-15-style weapons and other assault-style rifles have been the subject of fierce debate because of their use in mass shootings across the United States. They were used in the Orlando club massacre this summer that killed 49 people; the December 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., that left 14 people dead; the December 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 children and six adults; and the mass shooting in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater in July 2012 that killed a dozen. Dean Harold Meyers, 53, was killed as he pumped gas on Oct. 9, 2002, in Prince William County with a similar weapon — a Bushmaster XM-15 — part of the Washington-area sniper attacks that killed 10 and wounded three.
Not to mention all the SUVs involved in traffic fatalities. Or the fact that long guns account for a fraction of firearms-related homicides (as The New York Times reported in 2014). Or the fact that the police responding to these crimes were equipped with AR-15s.
To be fair, the WaPo agitprop providers give Stewart a chance to defend the indefensible [/sarc]:
In an interview with The Washington Post on Saturday, Stewart dismissed the debate surrounding the weapons. “Look, this is a rifle that people are permitted to own in the United States. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Stewart said. “It’s a semiautomatic rifle. It is not an assault rifle. This is a great hunting rifle, and it’s also great for recreation use.”
Not exactly. There are states where Americans can’t own modern sporting rifles (a.k.a., “assault rifles”). But there are no states where internet surfers are spared hoplophobes’ hysterical hand-wringing. FWIW.
![By Larry Keane President Joe Biden traveled to New York City for a media event to try and show America he’s doing something about rampant crime. Instead, he blamed the Second Amendment and lawful gun owners, said nothing about holding criminals to account and repeated the same tired lies about the firearm industry he keeps at the ready – lies “fact-checked” as being false each time he’s previously recited them. It makes no difference to the president. He’s not even trying anymore. To President Biden and national gun control groups the problem is always the gun and the law-abiding members of the industry. It’s never the criminal. Blaming the ‘Resistance’ President Biden was joined by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams for a “Gun Violence Strategies Partnership” meeting to talk about how to solve the crime surge, particularly those involving firearms. Instead of real solutions, the focus devolved into blaming law-abiding gun owners and again pushing a gun control agenda. “Enough is enough,” President Biden said. “Because we know we can do things about this, but for the resistance, we’re getting from some sectors of the government and the Congress and the state legislatures, and the organizational structures out there.” That “resistance” the president spoke of is the American people. Over the past two years they’ve become fed up with police defunding policies and soft-on-crime prosecutors, like Manhattan’s Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg. They’ve invested in their own safety. The “resistance” is the 21 million lawful gun buyers in 2020, including more than 8.4 million first-time buyers, and the 18.5 million gun buyers in 2021, with more than 5.4 million first-timers. The ”resistance” has backstopped Congress from passing federal gun control that don’t address crime. It also stopped President Biden’s nominations of paid gun control lobbyist David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and banking activist Saule Omarova as Comptroller of the Currency because not even all U.S. Senate Democrats could support them. They would have turned those agencies into bludgeons to hammer the firearm industry to achieve a special interest, gun control agenda. Favorite Falsehoods The president turned his aim from lawful gun owners towards the firearm industry and repeated a lie he’s rehearsed several times before. “Imagine had we had a liabil… [sic] they’re the only industry in America that is exempted from being able to be sued by the public. Only one,” the president protested. “Why the gun manufacturers?… It’s got to end. They’ve got to be held responsible for the things they do that are irresponsible.” He repeated the claim for emphasis. “And I find that outrageous.” This is flatly false. The president knows by now, or his speechwriters do and they don’t bother with the facts. CNN, Politicfact and Washington Post have all checked President Biden on his remark, including after he said it in the White House Rose Garden. CNN cleanly rebuked it. “This is false. Gun manufacturers are not entirely exempt from being sued, nor are they only industry with some liability protections.” Politifact rated it “false.” Washington Post wasn’t kinder, saying, “Biden is wrong to claim the gun industry is totally immune.” The firearm industry has liability protections under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), bipartisan legislation enacted under former President George W. Bush. The firearm industry cannot be held liable when unaffiliated third-parties, in this case criminals, misuse a legal, lawfully sold product. It’s fundamental tort law and is similar to an individual attempting to hold Ford and Budweiser responsible for drunk driving deaths. The law was passed in direct response to lawsuits filed against the industry by control groups and municipalities like the city of New York and the state of New York. These type of lawsuit continue to be filed, now even by foreign governments represented by the same gun control group, the Brady Center. Colonial-Era Error President Biden continued to ignore facts on the Second Amendment and its history. He even erred when speaking about the Revolution-era days and why the right to keep and bear arms was so sacrosanct. “When the amendment was passed, it didn’t say anybody could own a gun and any kind of gun and any kind of weapon,” President Biden remarked. “You couldn’t buy a cannon, and when – the – when this, uh, this amendment was passed.” It did, and does, say the right of the People “shall not be infringed.” Even The Washington Post was brutal in their assignment of “Four Pinocchio’s” to this statement. “Biden has already been fact-checked on this claim — and it’s been deemed false. We have no idea where he conjured up this notion about a ban on cannon ownership in the early days of the Republic, but he needs to stop making this claim.” In fact, the Constitution of early America – before the Bill of Rights, and Second Amendment, was even ratified – granted and encouraged “special waivers” to American merchants and sailors, “allowing private individuals to act as pirates on behalf of the United States against countries engaged in war with it.” Americans given waivers and who owned warships obviously also obtained cannons for use in battle. In fact, it is still perfectly legal to buy a cannon today. It is the presidents’ fundamental misunderstanding and blatant lying about the Second Amendment that informs his gun control agenda and misguided approach to solving the crime problem. Millions of law-abiding Americans took ownership of their Second Amendment rights to protect themselves, understanding the president won’t. Instead of mangling the meaning of the right and pushing for more gun control on law-abiding Americans, the president should keep it simple. Take on the criminals and punish them for breaking the law.](https://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/download-26-218x150.jpeg "Harris is a Human Disinformation Campaign When It Comes to Guns")
Does anyone need further proof that “journalists” are scum?
Not around here
There is a reason why this t-shirt became so popular:
Rope. Tree. Journalist.
Some assembly required.
Now, now. Some scum can be quite useful, for instance if they’re a variety that turn out lots of oils, proteins or carbohydrates they can provide fuel and food for humanity.
Then there are journalists.
There might be a handful left (and I mean a handful in the entire country) but otherwise, no. The correct term nowadays for the vast majority of bottom-feeders trying to pass themselves off as journalists is “propagandist”, almost all of whom work for the liberals.
“Look, this is a rifle that people are permitted to own in the United States”
should READ “Look, this is a rifle that the government is prohibited from restricting in the United States”
As of January 1, 2017, any weapon with a magazine that can be released by a Button is illegal in California. As of the same date, any weapon (long gun) with a pistol style grip is illegal to be sold in California!
So for the statement made that anyone wanting to own such a weapon is permitted under our laws, you stand as incorrect!
Just because California Progressives passed an unconstitutional state law does not mean the act they declared unlawful is truly unlawful. With the sea of change in the Supreme Court, if you have the millions to fight this thing all the way passed the California courts and the patience, it is legal.
“As of January 1, 2017, any weapon with a magazine that can be released by a Button is illegal in California. As of the same date, any weapon (long gun) with a pistol style grip is illegal to be sold in California!”
Presuming you’re referring to SB 880 ( https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB880 ) …
It’s not true that any weapon with a magazine that can be released by a button will become illegal, nor is it true that any long gun with a pistol-style grip cannot be sold.
Things that are banned (i.e. classified as “assault weapons”):
* a centerfire, semiautomatic rifle:
a) that has evil features AND does not have a “fixed magazine”;
b) that has a fixed magazine > 10 rounds;
OR
c) with an overall length 10 rounds
* a semiautomatic shotgun with a pistol grip AND a collapsible or folding stock
* a semiautomatic shotgun that can accept detachable magazines
* a shotgun with a revolving cylinder
For our scary rifles that are the subject of this article:
* Not a fixed magazine but no evil features = no problem.
* Evil features but has a fixed magazine = no problem.
“Fixed magazine” = ammunition feeding device that cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.
“Evil features” = pistol grip, collapsible/folding stock, thumbhole stock, flash suppressor, grenade launcher, forward pistol grip.
I need an AR15…can I enter to win from Illinois?!???
I assume the photo was part of a bid to re-open the transgender bathroom debate, no?
Nah. She’s just pissed her department issues some shitty single stack pistol and she doesn’t get to keep that rifle.
That’s a she?
Private Barbara Mattson could save money on breast augmentation by just raising her duty belt a foot or so.
Gah. Must you keep using that picture?
I have recurring nightmares of being pulled over on I-95 and seeing that in my rear-view mirror.
Fair point. She might identify differently. We should ask her.
Personally, I identify as a AH-64 Apache gunship. Why? Because that way I can demand landing pads, refueling points and maintenance crews be positioned around the university but really I do it for the added bonus: AMG-114 Hellfires to blow the shit out of snowflakes’ safe spaces and a 30mm chain gun to take care of any potential survivors.
Not always. Jake Busey really took a left turn in life.
Wait!!!! Does this mean that the WAPO doesn’t know the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT through the Ohio National Guard, the Army Marksmanship Unit and the CMP areencouraging junior shooters to train and actual shoot AR 15 ????
It’s called the Small Arms Firing School. The Schools (one for rifle ie AR-15 and one for pistol M-9) are open to all U. S. citizens who are over the minimum age. Mimimum age for rifle is 12 and minimum age for pistol is 14
Firearms are provided, students must bring eye and ear protection. In the Schools, USAMU instructors, assisted by Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine and Navy Active, National Guard and Reserve shooting team members teach basic marksmanship techniques geared to meet the needs of new and less experienced shooters
The cost of the school is $30.00 for juniors ($45.00 for adults) for the Pistol or Rifle School. For the advanced pistol school it’s $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for juniors. For their entry fee, students receive all instruction, an M9 9mm service pistol or an M-16 service rifle to fire, all the needed ammunition for the school, a USAMU Service Pistol or Service Rifle Guide, a SAFS T-shirt, SAFS certificate and handout materials. All SAFS students also receive automatic entry in the M9 Pistol EIC or M16 Rifle EIC Matches at no additional cost, a special EIC match pin and an opportunity to win four EIC credit points. SAFS info at
http://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-national-matches/small-arms-firing-schools/
Maybe the Washington post isn’t aware that kids from D.C, Virginia and Maryland come up to Camp Perry Ohio every year to learn about and train with real army firearms. Please don’t anyone let them know about the SAFS’s or WaOO have a full blown journalist cardiac event.
Senior Gun Owner 1950
Actually, spread the word. Full Blown Journalist Cardiac Events are a good thing. It will thin the herd of irrational misleading hoplophobes.
I hope he gets Clinton pal Terry Mcauliffe to stuff it all the way to prison. GL with your election and hope you’ve got a few more ARs to give away. Seems to be pissing off the squares.
I vividly remember the DC sniper because I had business in the DC area at the time. In fact, I bought gas at one of the NoVA gas stations where they killed a person a few weeks later. It was a scary time, especially right after 9/11 and then as it turned out a pair of the prophet’s followers were the snipers. But back then the news reports simply said that they found a “rifle” in the car along with the perps. There was no discussion that I can recall of the caliber, type of weapon, etc. This nonsense of “same type of weapon” is just that. Pure nonsense. Like correlation or coincidence equaling causation.
Funny thing …
Every time I see that photo, I want to go out and buy another firearm.
Hmmm….. I don’t think I have an MCX yet…
The washington post forgot to report on the tragedies that occur nearly every weekend where thousands of of these weapons are brought out and fired tens/hundreds of thousands of times under stress, while running, and the countless injuries sustained by these evil weapons… I bet you there were as many as 10 people last weekend alone that hurt their feet when small rocks entered their shoes while running from firing position to firing position. Ban these evil weapons and 3-gun style competitions!
My right to keep and bear arms is not god given because there is no god.
Woody Woodpecker flashback!!!!
I love how they just brush off that three of those attacks were terrorist attacks.
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