Almost 9 million YouTube viewers have seen Beyoncé and Lady Gaga - scheduled to perform on the Grammy Awards this Sunday - in their recent music video, "Video Phone."
The music was fine, but I wonder why they went out of their way to glorify guns in their production. Beyond the sexual stereotype of guns in general, it's hard to understand why they are in the video at all.
What's more, Lady Gaga has been using fake machine guns as props in her live shows as well, pretending to shoot into the crowd.
Finally, rapper Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter was also announced yesterday as a Grammy Award show performer, just months after he pleaded guilty to a gun charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February and is expected to serve as much as a year in jail.
I can hear people say, "Hey, it's just show business," and that Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne each put on a good show. I understand that.
Yet it is difficult to deny the influence that these entertainers have on our popular culture and the young people who absorb it. Guns aren't toys, even when they're made with pretty colors or sung about in rap songs, and it is dangerous to treat them that way.
To Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Lil' Wayne, the Grammy Award show producers, and CBS, I have a video that I'd like you to promote sometime that gives a different perspective on guns.
Colin Goddard was shot four times at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, and lived to tell his story to the world. In this video, he describes what it was like that morning, and asks us to call on our elected officials to make it harder for dangerous people to get guns.
Colin is no performer, but he knows that the reality of gun violence isn't pretty or entertaining.
It is a deadly problem that more of us - including celebrities - should take seriously.
(Note to readers: This entry, along with past entries, has been co-posted on bradycampaign.org/blog and the Huffington Post.)
First-person shooter games are another common target for criticism, but again, the issue is not adults but impressionable children. Children, however, should not be playing those games, not because they "glorify violence" but because they confuse the issue. Children, especially children raised in homes with firearms, should get a clear message about the destructive power of firearms. They need to understand the real damage guns can do to a living beaing in the real world. My son is not permitted to play video games that simulate the use of firearms. Shooting, while often a competetive sport, is not a game. Anyone shooting should feel the force of the discharge, hear the noise of the report, and witness the impact of the bullet in the target. They should be fully aware of all safety measures required for safe handling of firearms. Video games teach none of that.
Jade/Lynn keeps trying to distract from his statement:
"* I did note that filing down a firing pin on a particular semi-automatic could make it fully automatic."
Will he ever explain how that works? We're waiting.
Will he explain how there are only 300 gang related murders in the US (which he also 'noted') when Chicago accounts for 135 of them and LA 190. That's over 300 just for two cities.
Will he explain why he claimed that Chicago has a larger population than it did in 1980 (not 1990 like you tried to switch to later) even in the face of the numbers provided by the Census Bureau.
Of course he won't. Instead he'll pop something else up w/ no evidence and a bunch of other spurious accusations and claims.
Think about it. Do you see the AMA devoting a great deal of time to attacking sites that offer advice on how to make tinfoil hats because the Govt or aliens are reading your thoughts? Of course not. Because the AMA frankly doesn't see them as any sort of threat.
OTOH, the NRA fans do see the BC as a threat.
One only need look at polling data on gun policy. Two thirds of Americans wish to see stricter gun laws. Single digits wish to see gun laws relaxed. Even among NRA members, bans on assault weapons are favored.
Meanwhile, the NRA is losing clout. Recently, they tried to derail the Sotomayor nomination by vowing to punish any Senator who voted for her. That did not go well for them. 2008 the NRA spent over $40M--they lost big time.
The answer is apparent.
Think anyone will take this seriously either?
To keep them on the run, counter there misleading and incorrect information. It is a preventative measure.
"Two thirds of Americans wish to see stricter gun laws. Single digits wish to see gun laws relaxed. "
Well if the Luntz/MAIG survey is as accurate as Brady and MAIG say:
Question 7: In general, do you feel that the laws covering the sales of guns should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are now?
NRA members (purported):
Kept the same 48%
Less strict 35%
More strict 16%
Non NRA members (purported)
Kept the same 53%
Less strict 18%
More strict 26%
There goes that theory.
I don't think so. I think this is a desperate attempt to regain the attention of an influential demographic that has, like most politicians and the public in general, stopped paying attention to them or sending them money.
Gone are the days when 'Stars Flocked to get on the NRA Blacklist'. Current mentions of it are met w/ amusement and/or scorn. Hollywood isn't lining up to make anti-gun movies nor are the actors who claim to support gun control doing much about it. Instead, their own spokespersons make movies w/ quotes such as:
John J. Rambo: You bringing any weapons?
Burnett: Of course not.
John J. Rambo: Then you ain't changin' nothin'.
The Brady Campaign has gone from a National organization to a barely functioning state level one where their endorsements aren't even given the time of day. I have no doubt their current attempt to shame these once supporters into again picking up the banner will have little to no effect at least as it pertains to the Brady Bunch.
I hereby nominate them for the Razzie Award for Worst Death Scene on the political stage.
"* I did note that filing down a firing pin on a particular semi-automatic could make it fully automatic."
He continues to defend this claim.
Think there's anything 'sage' about that statement?
I am not sure what your purpose is in continuing to post what you do. If it is to reach possible fence-sitters, you are failing miserably.
By posting here on this site, I would think that you would want to try to convince educated, constitutionally-minded, pro-gun liberals and centrists such as me that stricter gun control, or possibly a repeal of the 2nd Amendment is a good idea. I was once a "civilian disarmament advocate." It was on the merits and evidence--and the reality of living in a place for a long time where I could not count on rapid police response--that I changed my views on this issue. I should be your target audience, because I should be swayed by the honest deployment of reliable statistics into accepting the point of view those statistics support. If the numbers actually support your position, your endless evasions, prevarications, and downright mis(dis?)information have effectively undermined it.
All you have offered is repetition, ad hominem, strawmen and--to put it delicately--untruths.
If you are intent on preaching to the choir, so be it. They can make a wonderful, validating audience. Just keep on keeping on.
If you are intent on making a difference and changing minds on this issue, you may want to reevaluate your approach and offer more facts and less propaganda.
Good luck.
Lynn does troll, though. Makes me wonder if it is an agent provocateur.
Your claim to be a "truth-teller" as stated on your bio page, is gravely soiled with this diatribe against intelligent poster and reporter of fact, Lynn Oge.
But, WOW! It is an amazing example of tripe. I have to say I am awestruck!
Like when he said you can turn a semi-auto into a full-auto by filing down the firing pin?
" although Odin'sEye claims (based on wikipedia) that the term is in Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine, Page 307. McGraw-Hill Medical, 2005. Since you can search this book online--it is pretty easy to discover "hoplophobe" doesn't exist in that book." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/19/virginia-shooting-multipl_n_428818.html?show_comment_id=38591122#comment_38591122
with this image from that book: http://picasaweb.google.com/odinseye.public/Reference#5431881978738782914
" although Odin'sEye claims (based on wikipedia) that the term is in Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine, Page 307. McGraw-Hill Medical, 2005. Since you can search this book online--it is pretty easy to discover "hoplophobe" doesn't exist in that book." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/19/virginia-shooting-multipl_n_428818.html?show_comment_id=38591122#comment_38591122
with this image from that book: http://picasaweb.google.com/odinseye.public/Reference#5431881978738782914
The 107 number--it's 108 now--is an incomplete number because it relies completely on newspaper accounts. IOW, if a newspaper mentions that a murderer has a CCW permit, then it gets tallied. Of course, if the newspaper doesn't--it doesn't get counted. Additionally, many states make it difficult to impossible to ascertain if any crime was committed by a CCW holder. For example, in GA, the head of the GA Bureau of Investigation admits they have no way of knowing if a CCW holder has committed a crime. If the state law enforcement agencies don't have this info, it's extremely doubtful a newspaper would.
Wasn't it you who was carping about OUR inconsistency? Yet there you go, cherry-picking the numbers you like! Hypocrisy, your name is "Green One!"
Now, about that citation from the Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine you li.ed about…
Old SF MJT
Again, when you talk about CCW holders being law-abiding--the facts simply don't support you.
Please substantiate this assertion.
" For example, in GA, the head of the GA Bureau of Investigation admits they have no way of knowing if a CCW holder has committed a crime."
Please provide a relevant quote in support of this claim.
"* I did note that filing down a firing pin on a particular semi-automatic could make it fully automatic."
Think there's anything 'sage' about that statement?
Several problems with Mycroft's 'analysis.'
First, the NRA and you are claiming CCW holders are law-abiding and virtuous. As I sagely noted, the NRA refers to CCW holders as "community leaders." Yet, here we see--in FL--felons get CCW permits. Can't have it both ways.
Second, the 107 number is not the sum total--it is merely those CCW holder murders that can be identified. The actual number is far higher.
Third, you seem to be blaming gun violence on being black.
Semper fi
Please substantiate this assertion.
"* I did note that filing down a firing pin on a particular semi-automatic could make it fully automatic."
Any questions?
http://freep.com/article/20100201/NEWS03/100201034/1320/Man-hurt-in-explosive-backyard-sled-stunt
"* I did note that filing down a firing pin on a particular semi-automatic could make it fully automatic."
Will he ever explain how that works? We're waiting.
Will he explain how there are only 300 gang related murders in the US (which he also 'noted') when Chicago accounts for 135 of them and LA 190. That's over 300 just for two cities.
Will he explain why he claimed that Chicago has a larger population than it did in 1980 (not 1990 like you tried to switch to later) even in the face of the numbers provided by the Census Bureau.
Of course he won't. Instead he'll pop something else up w/ no evidence and a bunch of other spurious accusations and claims.
I wonder what Jadelynn's reaction would be if NRA members made up 12-13% of the population and committed 53.9% of all homicides?
Keep posting jade, you're doing great.
I wouldn't want jade/lynn to mistake my spelling error for racism.