Opinion by Lee Williams
In my humble opinion, based on a news story I wrote, Gun Violence Archive executive director Mark Bryant is clearly trying to have things both ways.
On one hand he claims he wants his data to be clear, accurate and not misinterpreted.
On the other hand, the gun violence data itself is neither clear nor accurate. It’s so sensational – 417 mass shooting versus the FBI’s 30 for 2019 – that of course the media and gun-control organizations are going to use it and misinterpret it.
It fits their “guns are evil” narrative far better than the FBI statistics.
And once the mainstream media accepts Bryant’s definition and its much higher numbers, they’re hooked.
There’s no going back to the FBI’s data. After all, how would they explain to their viewers that the numbers have declined by 10-fold.
I also believe Bryant was somewhat less than candid about the public’s perception of a mass shooting.
He knows full well what most Americans believe constitutes a mass shooting, and it’s not a couple of gangsters shooting it out over turf, a drug deal gone bad or a psycho who shoots his own family.
“I’ll give Bryant the benefit of the doubt when he claims to be a gun owner, but he’s clearly a Fudd and a Second Amendment butter – I support the Second Amendment, but …“
I also find his methodology particularly flawed – especially since it relies upon media reports and law enforcement’s social media.
Media reports – especially cable TV news – are almost always wrong after a shooting of any kind.
They strive to be first, and they don’t let the facts get in their way.
As to the use of law enforcement Twitter and Facebook accounts, while some of the larger agencies use social media as a way to keep the public informed, others Tweet out pics of the Sheriff’s favorite sandwich, or an homage to a K9 “officer” who joined the Choir Eternal.
I’ll give Bryant the benefit of the doubt when he claims to be a gun owner. But, he’s clearly a Fudd and a Second Amendment butter – I support the Second Amendment, but …
His database is being used by anti-gun politicians, the gun-control crowd and their supporters in the mainstream media to infringe upon our God-given constitutional rights.
Keep in mind they’re citing GVA’s data as proof our rights need some infringing.
If Bryant honestly believes in an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, he’d shutter the GVA tomorrow.
I doubt that will ever happen.
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