"Gun Control: A Movement Without Followers" - Admission from unexpected source!

[nicki]

Bloomberg press.

I dealt with one of their senior reporters recently and Ken told me that Bloomberg newsgroup and that Mayor Bloomberg isn't exercising editoral control.

This is probably why this article came out of Bloomberg news service.
Still, a win is a win.

Nicki

[Kid Stanislaus]

While the timing is an impossible hurdle can you imagine the Hobson's choice on a nominating ballot.. Vote for one Bloomberg - Obama. That'll give nightmares for a year.

It makes my buttwhole pucker up real tight!!

[jb7706]

I'm surprised that Fast Finger and the other perceptive participants on CalGuns did not entertain one other possible explanation for my article running in Bloomberg Businessweek--namely honest journalism published in an excellent magazine.

Hi, I'm Paul Barrett, an editor and writer with Bloomberg Businessweek. The article in question is an adaptation from my brand new book, GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun. I write about the gun industry with some frequency for Businessweek, and I have never encountered any improper interference from its new ownership (as of 2010), the Bloomberg company, or its founder, Mike Bloomberg. In any event, thanks for your interest in my article, and, if you don't mind, let me suggest that CalGuns participants ought to buy and read my book on Glock. It's a narrative history of the iconic pistol, the man who invented it, and the marketing phenomenon that made it "America's Gun." It's available on Amazon, and you can get more info at my website: www.glockthebook.com.
All best,
Paul M. Barrett
Author, GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun

Mr. Barrett,

I just started reading reviews on Amazon for your book. One quote catches my eye:

- The author received some shooting lessons directly from Massad Ayoob, a well regarded shooting expert. In return, he makes Ayoob look silly for choosing to carry a weapon (never mind that Ayoob is a former police officer and minor celebrity who probably has good reasons to care about his safety). Referring to Ayoob and his girlfriend, the author sarcastically opines: "Like many gun owners who carry, they find last night's local television news report of an armed robbery at the neighborhood's 7-11 more compelling than the statistically small chance of being the unlucky customer paying for a Slurpee when a bad guy attacks."

- The author has some pervasive anti-gun bias that shows up even when he discusses facts and data which are inconclusive or contradict his opinion. The last chapter before the epilogue tries to discuss the impact of the Glock and handgun ownership on American society. When discussing the recent Virginia Tech massacre, the author says about the shooter: "Whether his choice of the Austrian brand raised the horrific body count remains a matter of speculation. It probably did." Later on he quips "A national ten-round cap seems like a logical compromise that lawful gun owners could easily tolerate." And then on the next page he admits that "The total number of guns in private hands in the United States is at an all-time high, yet violent crime is back down to where it was in the early 1970s. The murder rate is even lower - at the level of the early 1960s." Basically, he ends the book with a strange and contradictory chapter which tries to be an overarching synthesis of gun ownership in America, but ends up looking unfocused and bad.

While I certainly appreciate your efforts I would have a hard time giving my money to anyone that appears to believe that it's OK to place arbitrary and dangerous limitations on me and my right to defend myself and family. Would you care to respond to the reviewers statements? Having not read the book I would like to get your side before I choose to purchase it or not.

[Shrubmaster]

Hi Paul,
Let me cut to the chase, does the book end with you making a purchase that requires a background check? I have to know!

- shrub

[Peter.Steele]

I'm surprised that Fast Finger and the other perceptive participants on CalGuns did not entertain one other possible explanation for my article running in Bloomberg Businessweek--namely honest journalism published in an excellent magazine.

Welcome to CalGuns. Glad to have you aboard.

As far as why nobody entertained the "other possible explanation," I don't think you really need anyone to answer that, do you? If there's one thing that's extremely difficult to find in America today it's honest journalism published anywhere. I appreciate it when I see it, but it's not something I ever expect to find.

[ewarmour]

Vote for one Bloomberg - Obama.

That'll give nightmares for a year.

I threw up in my mouth a little bit when i read that. <shudder />

[curtisfong]

"A national ten-round cap seems like a logical compromise that lawful gun owners could easily tolerate."

Paul: What non-.45 Glocks come standard with 10 round mags?

You know, since Glocks are America's gun.

[advocatusdiaboli]

We are winning.
Some here get down, but it's because we are in one of the worst states, and it may be the last to fall.

GUilty. I need to remind myself of what you said next time I want to "go to Negative Town". Even California will end up with two big Metro PC areas with significant restrictions (local not state) and the rest of the state will be free one day.