Kevin Starrett, Executive Director of Oregon Firearms Federation, has been corresponding with a reporter at The New York Times to see if “the paper of record” can be persuaded to show interest in apparently condoned straw purchase activities in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the wider “Project Gunwalker”* story now reaching into both chambers of Congress, the Justice Department, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Mexican government, and the White House itself.
Starrett shared some of the email exchange with Gun Rights Examiner, and two relevant responses from his correspondent at “The Gray Lady” are revealing:
I'm realizing now where this ATF story is coming from. I think it was first uncovered by a non-profit investigative journalism outfit, the Center for Public Integrity. (By the way, not exactly a conservative organization--you'd probably consider it "liberal" in that it just fits in with other mainstream media).
Starrett, of course, corrected that wrong assumption. But it is telling that, at this stage of the story's development, this is how informed a professional reporter (that is, an “Authorized Journalist”) from arguably one of the most prestigious newspapers in the world, is on a major scandal for the administration that would be recognized as such if most of the establishment media were doing its job.
The second point the reporter made is even more telling:
Besides the issues I mentioned to you before about how our reporters in Mexico and Arizona are pretty busy, I think another reason we haven't jumped on this is just the realities of journalism--we don't often follow big, original, exclusive investigative scoops by other organizations. It's just too difficult to replicate, for one. Anyway, the point is, it's not liberal bias...
No, of course not. It’s not like The Times has a reputation for hostility to gun ownership, and of support for every citizen disarmament proposal to come down the pike.
And what a “nose for news” this reporter has, like the story has already played out, and there is nothing more original to be uncovered. If The Times’ deliberate indifference is not attributable to bias, then incompetence is the only other reason that makes sense. Either that or, if we already know all there is to uncover, Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars and I should just knock off now and fold up our tents—because if a veteran pro with the resources of one of the largest newspapers in the country can’t find any fresh angles, what chance do we have?
Perhaps it’s just ignorance and naiveté on the part of mere “citizen journalists,” who don’t understand how things work in big newsrooms. If original scoops are all The Times’ is interested in, how proud they must be of today’s front page, where their reporters are evidently the ones who uncovered that:
- The U.S. economy added jobs in March
- A Qadaffi envoy is visiting London
- There are protests in Syria
As for turning a blind eye to a major scandal that reaches up to “all the president’s men,” what would have happened had The Times stuck to scoop über alles journalism and dropped the ball on, say…Watergate?
Oh…wait…bad example, never mind.
Also see:
A journalist’s guide to ‘Project Gunwalker' Part One and Part Two for a complete list with links of independent investigative reporting and commentary done to date by Sipsey Street Irregulars and Gun Rights Examiner.
*Note to newcomers to this story: “Project Gunrunner” is the name ATF assigned to its Southwest Border Initiative to interdict gun smuggling to Mexico. “Project Gunwalker” is the name I assigned to the scandal after allegations by agents that monitored guns were allowed to fall into criminal hands on both sides of the border through a surveillance process termed “walking” surfaced.
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Outing FOIDers
GUNS Magazinehas posted my July “Rights Watch” column.
Click here to read “Release the Names of Gun Cardholders?”
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Trigger Sports RECORDED!
If you missed Wednesday’s episode of Trigger Sports LIVE!, no worries. The show is up on the American Trigger Sports Network website, so you can watch it, as host James B. Towle says, “On your computer, 24/7, when you want to see it.”
In addition to my discussion with James about guns on campus, here’s what you’ll see:
Special Guests: Rachel Parsons-Why NRA Refused to Meet with Pres. Obama's Panel on Gun Issues, Mark Walters-Defending Your Home, Angeles Shooting Range, Mammoth Biathlon Preview
Click here to watch. Event DVD's available from the ATSN.tv store.
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Help wanted--inquire within
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