Does this bug you it does me.

[jh45gun]

Powdermans post about the media and guns on a other post prompted me to post this. Ever notice that when the media reports a crime and they search a house and there are guns in it they make a big issue of the guns.  Now not saying that these folks may not be criminals or at least not law abiding but until they go to court and are convicted of the crime and become a FELON the gun issue should not be a factor. In the latest news story here they bust some one for drugs and search the house and they find guns, cash ect and make sure they mention they had guns ect. Well maybe this is a first time bust and until they become a FELON the guns should be a non factor expecially if they were not used in the crime but just in possession.

[Almtnman]

I figure that's the media's way of trying to inch gun control in on us. We have to keep on the alert for news items like that and keep our congressmen and representatives aware of what we want, not what the media wants.

I have all my representatives in congress and the house of representatives email address here on the computer and their phone numbers in my cell phone directory and let them know my feelings when issues like that comes up for a vote. I would hope that everyone else does also. You can obtain their contact information from either the NRA's site or the GOA's site.

[dukkillr]

They are almost always already felons. 

[Almtnman]

They are almost always already felons. 

From what source do you base that on?

[hardertr]

The mention of guns glorifies the story.  It adds the idea of violence to the mix.  Who wouldn't be proud of law enforcement for busting a drug ring of potentially "violent criminals"?  Sadly, I would guess MOST of America links guns to violence anytime police are involved.  I fall into that catagory, even though 99% of us wouldn't even consider the idea of a "shoot-out" with the cops.

I think it's always been this way, we (gun owners) are just more concerned about it since the elections.  Almost every "criminal case" looks better in the media when guns or children are involved.  God forbid the media not capitalize on the "race issue" if the situation allows.    

[dukkillr]

They are almost always already felons. 

From what source do you base that on?

My experience as an attorney.  I've never met/heard of a criminal defendant involved in a gun crime with a clean record.

[Almtnman]

From what source do you base that on?

My experience as an attorney.  I've never met/heard of a criminal defendant involved in a gun crime with a clean record.

Then as an attorney, you're missing the whole point of the orignal post.

Ever notice that when the media reports a crime and they search a house and there are guns in it they make a big issue of the guns.

He was not talking about criminal defendants involved in a gun crime. He was talking about the way of searching a house and the news media making a big deal out of guns in the house. Just because someone was arrested there does not mean that guns were involved with any type of crime. It also does not mean that any gun related crime was committed at all and there could be others living in the house that are honest law abiding citizens that have a constitutional right to own guns in that house. That's my opinion when I obtained my Criminal Justice Degree.

[nomosendero]

They are almost always already felons. 

From what source do you base that on?

My experience as an attorney.  I've never met/heard of a criminal defendant involved in a gun crime with a clean record.

So how does he do the first crime? Or are you saying that he ALWAYS starts his criminal record in crimes that don't involve guns? I suppose
that could happen, & I know it does alot, just didn't know it would always happen.

Anyway, the media does throw in these plugs concerning things that will promote their agenda. It's not just guns, in our area when someone gets killed in a wreck they just have to tell us he or she was not wearing a seat belt if that was the case. If they were wearing a seat belt, they will not mention it at all (yes, I wear seat belts & believe we should). Same way with an accident or big mess with a vehicle,
if it is an SUV, they must tell us to remind everyone that they are evil. If it is a regular car or minivan, the type of vehicle will not be mentioned. And of course with arresting guys on alleged drug deals they must show us the guns in great detail, it would be one thing if they
did so to remind folks that these folks are dangerous, but we know it is too show us that guns are evil, their real agenda, if that is not the case then why do they make such small effort to show the knives, clubs & other weapons they also recovered.

[dukkillr]

They are almost always already felons. 

From what source do you base that on?

My experience as an attorney.  I've never met/heard of a criminal defendant involved in a gun crime with a clean record.

So how does he do the first crime? Or are you saying that he ALWAYS starts his criminal record in crimes that don't involve guns? I suppose
that could happen, & I know it does alot, just didn't know it would always happen.

Anyway, the media does throw in these plugs concerning things that will promote their agenda. It's not just guns, in our area when someone gets killed in a wreck they just have to tell us he or she was not wearing a seat belt if that was the case. If they were wearing a seat belt, they will not mention it at all (yes, I wear seat belts & believe we should). Same way with an accident or big mess with a vehicle,
if it is an SUV, they must tell us to remind everyone that they are evil. If it is a regular car or minivan, the type of vehicle will not be mentioned. And of course with arresting guys on alleged drug deals they must show us the guns in great detail, it would be one thing if they
did so to remind folks that these folks are dangerous, but we know it is too show us that guns are evil, their real agenda, if that is not the case then why do they make such small effort to show the knives, clubs & other weapons they also recovered.

Most people don't kill a 300 class bull elk with the first shot they ever fire do they?  No, you grow up shooting pigeons and squirrels and rabbits... Most people don't jump straight to ag robbery or murder or drug dealing (with a gun).  Usually there's assault, burglary, robbery, theft, check fraud, etc... in their history first.

[nomosendero]

That is why I asked if they did crimes that did not involve guns first, if I had doubted you, then I would not have considered the possibility to begin with & in fact stated that I knew this happened alot. Of course this would also mean that in some cases if we had been more firm with them in the beginning, the more major crimes would not have occured, but this is not the subject of the post anyway.

[nomosendero]

They are almost always already felons. 

From what source do you base that on?

My experience as an attorney.  I've never met/heard of a criminal defendant involved in a gun crime with a clean record.

So how does he do the first crime? Or are you saying that he ALWAYS starts his criminal record in crimes that don't involve guns? I suppose
that could happen, & I know it does alot, just didn't know it would always happen.

Anyway, the media does throw in these plugs concerning things that will promote their agenda. It's not just guns, in our area when someone gets killed in a wreck they just have to tell us he or she was not wearing a seat belt if that was the case. If they were wearing a seat belt, they will not mention it at all (yes, I wear seat belts & believe we should). Same way with an accident or big mess with a vehicle,
if it is an SUV, they must tell us to remind everyone that they are evil. If it is a regular car or minivan, the type of vehicle will not be mentioned. And of course with arresting guys on alleged drug deals they must show us the guns in great detail, it would be one thing if they
did so to remind folks that these folks are dangerous, but we know it is too show us that guns are evil, their real agenda, if that is not the case then why do they make such small effort to show the knives, clubs & other weapons they also recovered.

Sorry to get a little off topic in my last post. Concerning the subject, the last part of the quote is my feelings on that, again sorry to get off topic.

[Almtnman]

Most people don't kill a 300 class bull elk with the first shot they ever fire do they?  No, you grow up shooting pigeons and squirrels and rabbits... Most people don't jump straight to ag robbery or murder or drug dealing (with a gun).  Usually there's assault, burglary, robbery, theft, check fraud, etc... in their history first.

Original Post

Powdermans post about the media and guns on a other post prompted me to post this. Ever notice that when the media reports a crime and they search a house and there are guns in it they make a big issue of the guns.  Angry Now not saying that these folks may not be criminals or at least not law abiding but until they go to court and are convicted of the crime and become a FELON the gun issue should not be a factor. In the latest news story here they bust some one for drugs and search the house and they find guns, cash ect and make sure they mention they had guns ect. Well maybe this is a first time bust and until they become a FELON the guns should be a non factor expecially if they were not used in the crime but just in possession.

I would ask that you read the original post, you're trying to turn apples into oranges!

[jh45gun]

correct but then Dukkiller does that a lot. For the media to assume that these folks used the guns in crimes or to imply that so we the public does is wrong and that is the gist of my post. Dukkiller you cannot assume that every gun is used in a crime just because it is in the house of some one accused of a crime. You missed the whole point of the post.

[J-Train]

I know exactly what you're saying.  A few years ago our local CBS affiliate reported on a robbery in which a clerk was held up by a man with a knife.  On the screen behind the reporter was a graphic of a revolver.  Over the years, I have noticed that the same station does not know the difference between a revolver and a semiauto handgun, or between a shotgun and a rifle.  To these ignorant and biased people, a gun is a gun and they are all evil.  The presence of a firearm in a home automatically implies guilt, so they never miss a chance to report that firearms were present in a home when there's an arrest.

[Almtnman]

correct but then Dukkiller does that a lot. For the media to assume that these folks used the guns in crimes or to imply that so we the public does is wrong and that is the gist of my post. Dukkiller you cannot assume that every gun is used in a crime just because it is in the house of some one accused of a crime. You missed the whole point of the post.

I would have thought that someone representing the law would surely know that people are innocent until proven guilty, but it appears that he has a different outlook on laws than what they are. I have been a witness in court cases no less than probably about 8 or 900 times and I always was under the assumption that when someone shows up for court that they are always innocent until proven guilty, not before.

And like you stated in your post, the media uses the gun issue to push gun control on us. It's readily apparent that is their agenda. I have seen them talk about automatic weapons, assualt weapons, armor piercing cop killer bullets and all kinds of hoola-baloo, not knowing what different guns and ammunition really are.

[powderman]

I agree with JH45GUN. No matter the charge they always point out that these evil people had, gasp, GUNS in the house. Man arrested for porn, GUNS in the house, arrested for burglary, GUNS in the house. The media around here pushes the GUNS in house to prove these are bad people, and the presence of GUNS proves it. The media here really pushes the anti gun, pro death, pro gay,  dumcrap agenda. POWDERMAN. 

[Sourdough]

When a crime is commited ie Drug Possession, if guns are found on the premesis the level of the crime caqn be excolated, and the charges and punishmant are greater.  This equates to a bigger fearther in the cap of the arresting officer and the District Attourney.trying the case, and it's a lot easier to get a convection.  Say here in Alaska, possion of Marijauania is a misdamenor.  But if you have possion of a gun at the same time, possion of that grass with a gun is a felony.  Therefore the police makes a big deal about the gun being in possion to the news media.

[jh45gun]

That is not exactly what I am talking about sourdough. Suppose some one gets stopped for speeding and they find drugs in the car an amount big enough they can say intent to sell so they bust the guy or gal who ever ect. No guns are in the car and the crime is intent to sell as it is a larger amount so they get a search warrant of the guys house and they find Cash and a gun case full of guns. The media makes a big issue of the gun angle even though no guns were in his or her possession at the time of the arrest. Nor do they say he or she has a prior record so this could be a first time offense. Now I am not sticking up for such behavior I think drug dealers ought to be hung but the object of the post was that guns were not involved in the arrest yet if they find them later in a search of the home they are always brought up and I think that is wrong. Even if the person is guilty the guns should be a non issue if they were not used in the crime or in possession at the time of the arrest.

[superhornet]

There are normally three different elements of how the 2nd ammendment is discussed..One is from the average joe crowd that says you can own and hold firearms as a private citizen.  Two is when the Republicans are in office..and says you can probably hold firearms as a private citizen.....Three is the liberal Democrat slant where....No one but law enforcement or military should have firearms..no private citizen...If they could get the vote.....turn them in now.....IMHO

[azshooter]

They are almost always already felons. 

From what source do you base that on?

My experience as an attorney.  I've never met/heard of a criminal defendant involved in a gun crime with a clean record.

Fudd

[Sourdough]

jh45gun:  Your senerio, they bust a drug dealer on the street, no guns.  Then they get a warrent and go to his home, there they find money, and guns.  OK they are going to try and tye the money and the guns into the crime of possession, any way possiable.  It helps their odds for a convection.  It also makes the DA look good and inhances his carrear.  They use the news media to the greatest extent possiable, and convince the news media to really push the gun possession deal.

Here in Alaska last year a drug dealer was using his business to launder the money from his drug deals.  He was caught, they tied his business to the drugs and money laundering.  Then they went to his home, there they found more money, and several legally owned and licsended, fully automatic firearms.  The young man's father had been a gun collector and had passed his collection down to his son.  The DA tied those weapons to the drug deals and added the charges of possing guns in the dealing of drugs.  When it was all over the young mans sentance was really increased due to the gun possession.  This young man will never see life outside of a prision again.  While I don't agree with drug dealing in the least, I think our DA went overboard on this case.  The young man is a totally non-violent type person, yet some rapest or strong arm guy can get off with only a few years for murder.   

[Almtnman]

jh45gun:  Your senerio, they bust a drug dealer on the street, no guns.  Then they get a warrent and go to his home, there they find money, and guns.  OK they are going to try and tye the money and the guns into the crime of possession, any way possiable.  It helps their odds for a convection.  It also makes the DA look good and inhances his carrear.  They use the news media to the greatest extent possiable, and convince the news media to really push the gun possession deal.

And that's what bugs us most!