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SF Chronicle had an article about the killing of Officer Espinosa. They continually make reference to the rifle involved as an AK-47, though in an information box titled "Deadly Rifle's Path" they state that, "The semiautomatic weapon used to kill Officer Isaac Espinosa was a Chinese-made Norinco SKS version of an AK-47 assault rifle...." They state further, that "Because it was not fully automatic, it was not subject to Government regulations on assault weapons at the time." Finally, they claim that "a San Francisco police informant - bought the weapon for $1,500 from a man he identified as "Ali" at a liquor store in Oakland."
The article is here: DANGER IN TRUSTING A GANGLAND SNITCH
So, this pisses me off. I see it as an example of blaming the gun, not the criminal, biased against guns and loaded with inaccuracies designed to heighten the bias against guns (I know, what should I expect from the Chronicle). So, I wrote a letter.... Here goes....
The article is here: DANGER IN TRUSTING A GANGLAND SNITCH
So, this pisses me off. I see it as an example of blaming the gun, not the criminal, biased against guns and loaded with inaccuracies designed to heighten the bias against guns (I know, what should I expect from the Chronicle). So, I wrote a letter.... Here goes....
Ms. Van Derbeken,
Regarding your article, "Nightmare Informant," in todays SF
Chronicle; you continue to refer to the rifle that was used in the
murder of officer Espinosa as an "AK-47." It was not. It was an SKS.
These are not the same type of rifle. They are not even related. A
quick visit to the Wikipedia would have clarified this.
The AK-47 was developed Mikhail Kalashnikov, produced by Russian
manufacturer Izhevsk Mechanical Works and used in many Eastern bloc
nations during the Cold War. It was adopted and standardized in
1947. It has a detachable magazine and a pistol grip.
The SKS was developed in 1945 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. It does
not have a detachable magazine. Nor does it have a pistol grip.
The SKS was never a fully automatic rifle. It was never covered
under the Clinton Assault Weapons ban as it does not have a
detachable magazine. The SKS is also not covered by the California
Assault Weapons ban, as it has neither a detachable magazine nor a
pistol grip. You can buy one at any California gun store. A quick
internet search or call to the California DOJ Firearms division
would have revealed that fact.
Finally, though Marvin Jeffrey may have claimed that he bought the
SKS for $1,500 from "Ali" at an Oakland liquor store, he would have
paid more than 10 times the retail value of the rifle. A quick
search of Northern California gun stores would show that the SKS
retails for less than $150.
Continually, in relation to this story, the Chronicle has insisted
that the rifle that was used to kill officer Espinosa was an AK-47.
They have been repeatedly corrected by myself and others.
Given the contentious nature of the gun control debate, and the
Chronicle's obvious stance on the issue, I wonder if there is
another agenda, here.
Newspapers continually complain about the drop in subscriptions.
Perhaps it is because readers know that FACTS aren't necessarily
part of the story.
Best Regards,
Jdberger
Regarding your article, "Nightmare Informant," in todays SF
Chronicle; you continue to refer to the rifle that was used in the
murder of officer Espinosa as an "AK-47." It was not. It was an SKS.
These are not the same type of rifle. They are not even related. A
quick visit to the Wikipedia would have clarified this.
The AK-47 was developed Mikhail Kalashnikov, produced by Russian
manufacturer Izhevsk Mechanical Works and used in many Eastern bloc
nations during the Cold War. It was adopted and standardized in
1947. It has a detachable magazine and a pistol grip.
The SKS was developed in 1945 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. It does
not have a detachable magazine. Nor does it have a pistol grip.
The SKS was never a fully automatic rifle. It was never covered
under the Clinton Assault Weapons ban as it does not have a
detachable magazine. The SKS is also not covered by the California
Assault Weapons ban, as it has neither a detachable magazine nor a
pistol grip. You can buy one at any California gun store. A quick
internet search or call to the California DOJ Firearms division
would have revealed that fact.
Finally, though Marvin Jeffrey may have claimed that he bought the
SKS for $1,500 from "Ali" at an Oakland liquor store, he would have
paid more than 10 times the retail value of the rifle. A quick
search of Northern California gun stores would show that the SKS
retails for less than $150.
Continually, in relation to this story, the Chronicle has insisted
that the rifle that was used to kill officer Espinosa was an AK-47.
They have been repeatedly corrected by myself and others.
Given the contentious nature of the gun control debate, and the
Chronicle's obvious stance on the issue, I wonder if there is
another agenda, here.
Newspapers continually complain about the drop in subscriptions.
Perhaps it is because readers know that FACTS aren't necessarily
part of the story.
Best Regards,
Jdberger
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