A couple weeks ago a production company for a German television show called "Gallileo" asked if they could film at my gun show this past weekend in Altus. I granted them permission. They are doing a show on guns in America, and wanted to explore all sides of the issue. They were very respectful at the show and interviewed many gun owners and vendors about why they own and carry firearms. A few folks didn't want to be on camera, I respect that. Most folks were willing and gave thoughtful intelligent answers to the questions given. At one point the producer stated that "cheap" handguns should be illegal since they were readily available to gang members. When I explained that if they did make low priced guns illegal, gang members would not obey the law and they would remove the only way for lower income people to defend themselves from the bad guys. You could almost see an actual light bulb come on over his head when it was explained that way.
At another point he explained that some countries removed nearly all firearms from private citizens and that gun crime was very low. I used this analogy with him. "A lion in a cage at a zoo was very safe, but had absolutely no freedom". Most Americans place a very high price on their freedoms and would not trade Liberty for alleged safety.
One old timer gave me a hard time for having a film crew at a gun show. He said that the media will always spin the truth to make gun owners look bad.
I told him two things. First, that it was my show and my decision on who I let in. Second that the anti-gun crowd will seek out any media outlet that they can find to spew their anti-gun rhetoric. Gun owners should be just as willing to talk to the press and give a positive side to the gun control argument.
I'm sure that they will talk to crime victims, and anti-gun groups to get their side of the issue. That is what they should do to give well rounded story.
The film crew spent the whole day Saturday at my show and with me and Sunday at H&H gun range in OKC. I hope that we represented the firearms community well.
But back to the original question. Should gun owners be afraid of the media, or should we face them straight on and put out our story the way we see it?
At another point he explained that some countries removed nearly all firearms from private citizens and that gun crime was very low. I used this analogy with him. "A lion in a cage at a zoo was very safe, but had absolutely no freedom". Most Americans place a very high price on their freedoms and would not trade Liberty for alleged safety.
One old timer gave me a hard time for having a film crew at a gun show. He said that the media will always spin the truth to make gun owners look bad.
I told him two things. First, that it was my show and my decision on who I let in. Second that the anti-gun crowd will seek out any media outlet that they can find to spew their anti-gun rhetoric. Gun owners should be just as willing to talk to the press and give a positive side to the gun control argument.
I'm sure that they will talk to crime victims, and anti-gun groups to get their side of the issue. That is what they should do to give well rounded story.
The film crew spent the whole day Saturday at my show and with me and Sunday at H&H gun range in OKC. I hope that we represented the firearms community well.
But back to the original question. Should gun owners be afraid of the media, or should we face them straight on and put out our story the way we see it?
