Attention all journalists considering purchasing an AR-15 “killing machine” and then reporting on how easy it was to buy (and how frustrating it was to get rid of, even though it was just purchased as a stunt): don’t bother. It’s been done, and done again. Wow, who suspected that the “instant” in National Instant Criminal Background Check System meant exactly what it implies?
To quote the Boston Globe, make it stop.
The spike in AR-15 sales after Orlando seems to mostly be journalists buying them so they can write stories on how they bought them.
— NeoN: Automataster (@neontaster) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/CrankyGordon/status/743416256552964096
Pretty sure the spike in gun sales after shootings is from reporters going "OMG guns can be bought in gun stores!" https://t.co/iAOxM7FEhQ
— Adam Shaw (@AdamShawNY) June 16, 2016
As an aside: Is it too much to ask that legitimate news outlets quit buying and/or running photos of AR-15s and then referring to them as “like the one used in the Orlando massacre?” Apparently it is.
Went to buy an AR-15 at Cabela's, but the model I wanted was out. Assuming the last one was purchased by a TV news producer. #TrueStory
— Stephen Green (@VodkaPundit) June 16, 2016
Every failing broadcast network, paper, and "Action News" station simultaneously had this "exclusive" story. #journolist #hive
— Against you we are all soldiers (@ScottCFarquhar) June 16, 2016
The thing is, gun sales have spiked. One tweeter called the Boston Globe’s super-scary “actual size” cover photo of an AR-15 a nice advertisement, and he wasn’t wrong. Better get ’em while you can.
Gun sales spike with gays, lesbians after Orlando massacre via @NYPost
— DittoPost (@DittoPost) June 16, 2016
Local gun store says since #OrlandoShooting they've seen major sales spike in #AR15 @cbs46 at 6 breaks down how many pic.twitter.com/S5r42pfuwP
— Julian Johnson (@ChompJohnsonTV) June 16, 2016
AR gun sales spike following #OrlandoShooting.
Some say gun control talks following shootings are driving force.https://t.co/xu9JvXO5dF— Winnie Wright (@WinnieWrightTV) June 16, 2016
Gun control talks? There was a lot of talking about guns on the Senate floor Wednesday, but we wouldn’t call a 15-hour filibuster “talks.”
Gun sales go up because everyone knows that prices are going to spike. You can blame the gun grabbers for that. https://t.co/2dtKgzw0jj
— ??♂️ (@Emil_5oh) June 16, 2016
Every time Obama's anti-gun rhetoric turns the emotional blackmail up to 11, gun sales spike. https://t.co/YP0HEco32I
— Rob Gosnell (@GosnellRob) June 16, 2016
Smith & Wesson Revenues Hit All Time High, Up 200% Since Obama Election https://t.co/Ssf251DBA7
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) June 16, 2016
Why do I sense yet another record month for gun sales? Hell, the #NRA should hire #Obama.
— Brian Edwards (@BEdwards85) June 16, 2016
Join the conversation as a VIP Member