# The AR-15 and the Navy Yard shooting **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 22, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443 "2013-09-22T14:03:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/61 "2013-09-22T23:31:20Z")
I’m not seeing the problem here. Early media reports are often wrong. Corrections are generally sparse. Incompetence or ignorance seems more likely than something with intent. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/62 "2013-09-22T23:38:10Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I’m not seeing the problem here. Early media reports are often wrong. Corrections are generally sparse. Incompetence or ignorance seems more likely than something with intent. Under ordinary circumstances I would agree with you, but when those reports and lack of retractions are accompanied by editorials pushing the same opinion, what you have is something that looks like a dedicated campaign, even if it’s not. When the objectivity of a party expected to be objective is called into question, it behooves those organizations to be more responsible with what they report. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/63 "2013-09-22T23:44:13Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And since I specifically pointed out I was rejecting the concept of “conspiracy” in the exact post you replied to, I would love to know why you felt it necessary to explain why this wasn’t a conspiracy. Just in case anyone else wanted to keep discussing the possibility of a conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/64 "2013-09-22T23:59:59Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The bias towards instant reporting of news. > > But notice that that error was very quickly corrected when it became apparent, that the initial information was wrong. I can effortlessly post ten links here to prominent corrections making it clear that only one shooter was involved. > > The efforts to correct the AR-15 reporting, in contrast, are quite thin. Anemic, even. Do you think that there’s a more compelling reason to clarify that there aren’t two I identified murderers on the loose, as opposed to what weapon was used? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/65 "2013-09-23T00:12:14Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Do you think that there’s a more compelling reason to clarify that there aren’t two I identified murderers on the loose, as opposed to what weapon was used? Yes, undoubtedly that’s true. But are you seriously suggesting that the delay in correcting the AR-15 error (and the continuing failure to completely correct it) derive only from some view of urgency? The reports quickly identified the store in Virginia which sold the item in question. Was that identification also of “compelling reason?” What’s the compelling reason to find the store but continue to perpetuate the AR-15 error? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/66 "2013-09-23T00:27:27Z")
Is the lack of coverage on the misreporting of the pistol part of this same anti-gun bias? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/67 "2013-09-23T00:31:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What’s the compelling reason to find the store but continue to perpetuate the AR-15 error? I don’t see the “continue to perpetuate” situation. You have presented a single reporter from the NYT who made the correction one day later that the authorities. On the other hand, CNN had corrected the error before 9:00 a.m. the same day that the authorities made their own correction. I have no idea whether Schmidt of the NYT was dragging his heels or whether he was chasing down a different aspect of the situation (or even a separate story), but I do not see a 24 hour delay by one reporter to be a big deal when other outlets had already provided that information in a timely manner. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/68 "2013-09-23T00:49:02Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I don’t see the “continue to perpetuate” situation. Ok, then let’s check my theory. Based on the New York Times story, as currently corrected: Did the shooter attempt to buy an AR-15? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/69 "2013-09-23T00:51:42Z")
Bit of a comedown from “the media” and their “bias” there. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/70 "2013-09-23T01:06:07Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. Something I learned from the legislature of Virginia. Directly, or from the media? ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/71 "2013-09-23T01:07:39Z")
> **[Defense contract worker behind Navy Yard shooting rampage that killed 13,...](https://www.foxnews.com/us/defense-contract-worker-behind-navy-yard-shooting-rampage-that-killed-13-including-gunman)** > > The deadly attack at the Washington Navy Yard was carried out by one of the military's own: a defense contract employee and former Navy reservist who used a valid pass to get onto the installation and started firing inside a building, killing 12... Is Fox a part of the same media problem of which you lament? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/72 "2013-09-23T01:15:55Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Directly, or from the media? Directly, through the Code of Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/73 "2013-09-23T01:20:00Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/17/defense-contract-worker-behind-navy-yard-shooting-rampage-that-killed-13/](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/17/defense-contract-worker-behind-navy-yard-shooting-rampage-that-killed-13/) > > Is Fox a part of the same media problem of which you lament? Not generally. But that article is from the Associated Press. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/74 "2013-09-23T01:22:37Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Not generally. But that article is from the Associated Press. Actually, let me correct this statement. Fox News is not generally a part of the specific instance of this problem: holding back on detail about the Ar-15’s non-involvement. However, they are among the worst offenders in the more general case of this problem: refusing to report on facts which are inconvenient to their narrative. In fact, apart from MSNBC, they may be the absolute worst in this area. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/75 "2013-09-23T01:31:45Z")
So you admit, then, in this particular instance, since the article I linked to appeared **on the Fox News website** (yes, they were republishing content from another news provider), and they are responsible for and choose the content they publish, that in this case they did\* no differently\* than the problem media of which you complain? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/76 "2013-09-23T01:35:03Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > On September 17th, the NYT ran a story claiming that Alexis tried to buy an AR-15 but was stymied because Virginia law prohibited out-of-state buyers from making such purchases. > > How many days after being notified that this was factually untrue should we expect a correction? After how many days would you agree that something beyond misunderstanding was at work? > [@Procrustus](#): > > What makes you think it is “factually untrue?” Something you learned from the media? > [@Bricker](#): > > No. Something I learned from the legislature of Virginia. > [@Procrustus](#): > > Directly, or from the media? > [@Bricker](#): > > Directly, through the Code of Virginia. I’m waiting for the next desperate question that can somehow show that the media played a vital role in the enactment of Virginia law, or in my being able to read Virginia law. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/77 "2013-09-23T01:36:40Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > So you admit, then, in this particular instance, since the article I linked to appeared **on the Fox News website** (yes, they were republishing content from another news provider), and they are responsible for and choose the content they publish, that in this case they did\* no differently\* than the problem media of which you complain? Sure. In fact, as I indicated above, in other areas, they are offenders in their own right, and champion offenders at that. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/78 "2013-09-23T01:37:04Z")
When you read this law, was it written down somewhere? Well, **writing is a medium**! Take _that_! ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/79 "2013-09-23T01:37:55Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > When you read this law, was it written down somewhere? > > Well, **writing is a medium**! Take _that_! Yes, I suppose he’s desperate enough for that. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443/80 "2013-09-23T02:21:35Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sure. In fact, as I indicated above, in other areas, they are offenders in their own right, and champion offenders at that. What about\*\* this\*\* area? Doesn’t this damage your whole thesis rather badly? What makes this an exception? Apparently Fox News is part of the media that desperately wants to demonize the AR-15! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ar-15-and-the-navy-yard-shooting/669443.md?page=5)