Shooting at Las Vegas casino

How does that change anything?

 

May have targeted Chicago first.

TMZ

 

I always wonder why conspiracy theorists don't latch onto serial killers like they do mass shootings. We, as a society, kind of accept there are sickos out there who might travel the country killing 10, 20, 30 or more people over the years. But if they do it all at once, we suddenly start wondering about motives and wanting a deeper understanding of why.

 

Here's the thing: They're both right, to a degree.

Reporters writing about gun crimes should have a basic working knowledge of firearms. Many don't and it is patently obvious when they don't. I am talking about understanding the differences between pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns; between fully automatic and semi automatic guns; and what the different calibers are and why they matter.

On the other hand, gun nuts often want to pick at minutiae and make imprecise but factually correct reporting the basis to discount everything in a story.

 

Yeah. I'm not sure the split on gun expertise is so much liberal/conservative as it is urban/rural.

It's also a way not to talk about curbing gun deaths by regulating guns. As is in evidence on this thread

 

I don’t understand why it is so hard for liberals (and journalists) to acquire a working vocabulary around guns. Such resistance. This is like trying to get my 8-year-old to work on spelling.

 

Do any outlets - aside from Field & Stream - have dedicated firearms beat writers? NYT is pretty close with C.J. Chivers, who wrote an excellent book on the AK-47 and how it became the most popular firearm in the world.

 

Maybe it is the difference between Chicago liberals and liberals in the South, but many of my liberal friends do have a working vocabulary around guns. Some will even quietly acknowledge ownership.

 

“The Constitution guarantees marriage equality as a fundamental right under the 14th Amendment.”

“I follow God’s law.”

“Actually, that is not a valid reason to discriminate under the First Amendment.”

“It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”

“Thank you, Mr. Conservative Moron, for handing us same sex marriage.”

 

Plenty of journalists know plenty about guns.

I'm also not sure that general interest reporters are any better versed on commercial aircraft or hiphop or physics or anything else they're asked to write about.

1st draft journalism is inexpert by its nature.

 

Eh. Reporting is often wrong. Why would anyone expect anything different, or get worked up over this?