In almost every case, mainstream media is no friend of the Second Amendment. Left-leaning outlets such as CNN, the Huffington Post, and others are regularly guilty of misrepresenting the facts, using fear tactics, and arguing from a point of unearned moral superiority when the topic of gun control comes up.
However, sometimes the facts are so skewed against arguments for gun control that even outlets such as the Washington Post have to begrudgingly admit that data isn’t on the side of gun control activists.
On CNN’s “State of the Union”, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) said, “What we know is that states that have tougher gun laws, that keep criminals from getting guns that keep those dangerous weapons like AR-15s out of the hands of civilians have dramatically lower rates of gun violence.”
After these statements, the Washington Post Fact Checking Department stepped in and awarded Senator Murphy’s claim “three Pinocchios” – a rating which, according to the Washington Post, means that a statement contains “significant factual error and/or obvious contradictions.”
You see, when politicians such as Senator Murphy begin claiming that the states and cities which have strict gun control laws on the books are much safer than those that don’t, even the Washington Post is forced to step in and set the record straight.
So what is the reality about the states and cities with the strictest gun control laws? We can start by taking a look at Chicago – a city that is now infamous for its strict gun control. In 2017 alone, there have already been 535 gun murders in Chicago and 2553 people have been shot and wounded in Chicago so far this year.
In fact, if you look at a map showing hotbeds of gun violence in the United States, you’ll see that the areas with the most violence are Chicago, the Northeast, and parts of Southern California – all of which are areas known for their strict policies on gun control.
Not only is what Senator Murphy said factually incorrect, it’s the exact opposite of the reality. Areas with strict gun control are not safer, they’re much more dangerous. The truth is in the stats. So why is it that the areas with the strictest gun control are now hotbeds of gun violence? The answer lies in an adage that Second Amendment supporters have been saying for years: “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.”
If you’re a criminal, what better place to go than to a city or an area where you know law abiding citizens have been disarmed and made helpless? It boggles the mind how so many politicians such as Senator Murphy can overlook this simple reality in spite of all the stats and logic that prove it to be true.
Nevertheless, it’s a breath of fresh air to see outlets such as the Washington Post call out claims such as those made by Senator Murphy as being incorrect. After the Washington Post gave Senator Murphy three Pinocchios for his claim, the Senator fired back, saying that the Washington Post has been arguing against gun control for years.
Of course, just like Murphy’s previous claim, nothing could be further from the truth. The Washington Post is a left-leaning outlet owned by Jeff Bezos – a man who has gone so far as to fund gun buyback programs. The fact that an outlet as liberal as the Washington Post felt it necessary to set the record straight shows just how horribly erroneous Senator Murphy’s claims really were.
This entire episode has obviously been an embarrassment for Senator Murphy. Gun control advocates such as him have long been able to rely on mainstream media having their back, and the Washington Post choosing facts over rhetoric must have come as quite a surprise to the Connecticut senator.
For Second Amendment supporters, though, it’s a great sign. Perhaps if more media outlets start shining the harsh light of reality on the outlandish claims made by gun control advocates, logic and facts will start to rule the conversation once more.
~ American Gun News
