By Fred Riehl
Manasquan, NJ –-(Ammoland.com)- So how are we the bad guy? Was it miss placed anger or frustration? Was it naivete or just plain mindless disconnect between reality and imaginary worlds?
It seems AmmoLand’s Twitter account has been the topic of some back and forth by seemingly pro gun (for and against) and not so pro gun Twetters (all against), as they were annoyed or down right pissed off that AmmoLand would be broadcasting gun related news, something we do 247/365, in the wake of the horrible Connecticut school massacre.
The crux of the sentiment was we were being disrespectful carrying on the daily feed of news from the Firearms Industry, including gun products and opinion or commentary pieces. Much of it scheduled to run days if not weeks in advance of this tragedy, but some of it in direct response to the CT. mass murder.
Responses among Twitter users to the back and forth seemed pretty evenly, for and against, AmmoLand shutting down normal business in favor of some grieving period or out of respect for the families of victims.
Regardless, we have continued business as usual because we know we have nothing in common, nothing to do with and in no way endorse the acts of a psychotic killer. The use of tools, called guns, by a mentally deranged person is not our industries fault, no more than if he had used a baseball bat. Would you expect Major League Baseball to shut down, send all their coaches, players and announcers home if such an event had occurred? What if he had used a car, would the auto industry be expected to close all their factories, close all auto dealers, send home all their car loan officers? The logical answer seems it would be NO, so why should we be treated differently?
Suppose we bought into that misplaced belief and did shut down, how long would that then need to be? Two days, a week, a month, the families effected will be grieving for the rest of their lives.
In my mind it would be like some twisted admission of guilt or culpability that what we do in our industry is some how dirty or evil. When it is completely the opposite, we are the gate keepers of the tools that protect freedom, and just like any tool, be it a hammer or a chainsaw, it could be used to hurt or kill others by someone intent on evil. It is our job to keep a steady rudder into the wind as we whether these horrible, awful attacks on our fellow friends and neighbors.
I say sorry to the haters that feel otherwise, but for us we will be open and publishing the same news and articles that people need to see, now more than ever, as you know those opposed to freedom will be working hard to tear our god given rights from us on the backs of this tragedy.
God bless and hold close all those who were effected by this sick evil killer, you are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Fredy Riehl Editor – AmmoLand Shooting Sports News [email protected] www.Ammoland.com
Gun control has failed, just like the 1994 Clinton ban failed and "gun free zones" have failed. Lets ban cars, because drunk drivers kill more people that people with guns kill. Why does anyone need a car that will go over 80 MPH? Guns are more modern and the 2nd Amendment meant guns that were in line with military guns, not an absolete gun that leaves you open for attack, by someone with more modern guns.
9000 gun deaths a uear in the U.S. Mas-killings every other month, people being killed or crippled daily from gun violence. Statastics show that the person most likely to be hurt or killed by a weapon (primarily a hand gun) is a family member or known person, not a criminal. Like it or not, this IS reality. In my 52 years I have never felt the need to pull a gun on any person for self protection/defense. Perhaps that day will come and "you" can say "I told you so" for not being armed. That is not the world or… Read more »
Ammoland and the gun industry is no more responsible for this tragedy than the Auto industry is for car accidents.
Should the Auto Industry shut down after a bad car accident?
The story and facts of this case have changed over the last several days; the only Fact that is constant is that NONE of the people at the school were sufficiently armed and capable of providing an adequate defense
Jeff Myers: I am a mentally challenged person. (By the way, I kind of like that term). So is my 13-year old daughter. So is my 8-year old niece. So is my 44-year old sister. Better arm yourselves to the teeth because we're coming after you!
It made me sick to my stomach when I heard the news about these poor children. We know that the liberal media will make it about guns and control of ownership. The brother of the shooter said he was mentally disturbed. We won't hear much about that kind of evil because the liberals think it is OK to allow mentally challenged people to have a place in society without any kind of protection of the public!
I got one for you. TURN off twitter, it's for idiots.
@Reality Bites: Once again you are showing your ignorance and that you have no clue what you are talking about!! "AMMOLAND SHOOTING SPORTS NEWS" does not sell anything!
They in no way profit from firearms products. Not only that but in your typical liberal stupidity you are have no idea what true conservation involves, the rest of your comment is a racist, name calling diatribe.
Knowing your kind you probably think the constitution is an outdated piece of paper and you probably think anyone who believes in God is also a fool.
Excuse me…deniers…A word, if I may…This is the voice of your conscience. Remember me guys? The thing you keep buried in the basement like the wacked out kid brother mommy and daddy taught you not to talk about? Ammoland, baby, you make money off slaughter. You don't care what is slaughtered, you just want the money you make off the slaughter and the guys you push this form of…uh…"recreation (re-destruction really since there is no creation to it) are of 2 types: 1. thre REAL hunter that kills only for food and to cull herds..he doesn't buy your brand of… Read more »
I take responsibility for my personal safety and know I would defend myself accordingly. Law abiding gun owners have nothing to be ashamed of,we did nothing wrong. Let your congressmen know where you stand and expect them to vote.
Did they mean that you should shut down like the news media shut down out of respect? The answer to violence like the hideous actions that occurred in Connecticut last Friday is to have an armed, trained security agent in every school throughout the U.S. The agent would be no more than 30 seconds from any classroom. Larger schools would require more guards. Schools have money for everything else, they can pony up for security. The next time some miscreant points a gun at a teacher or kid in school, they need to be taken out before they can pull… Read more »