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Howard Kurtz

Leave Piers Morgan and David Gregory alone

What’s striking here is that gun enthusiasts often make the argument that they just want government to leave them alone, yet seem perfectly comfortable unleashing it against a member of the mainstream media, supporting the Second Amendment by trashing the First.

The same kind of animus has been directed at CNN’s Piers Morgan, an outspoken advocate of gun control. For no other reason than that they don’t like his views, more than 90,000 people have signed a petition calling for the British journalist to be deported…

Those who believe that guns are being unfairly blamed, led by the NRA, are lashing out at politicians, video game makers, entertainment conglomerates and, of course, the media. To the extent that leading journalists are in the forefront of this debate, they are feeling the sting of that anger. The uproar against the Journal-News newspaper for printing a map of gun permit owners in two suburban New York counties, which I view as violating their privacy without a good reason, can attest to that.

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yet seem perfectly comfortable unleashing it against a member of the mainstream media, supporting the Second Amendment by trashing the First.

Moron. The first does not make one immune to the law. If I were to take your view it would be perfectly okay for a journalist the rape or murder someone on live TV to demonstrate their point. Again the left manages to twist something into what it is not.

Dr. Frank Enstine on January 1, 2013 at 3:04 PM

supporting the Second Amendment by trashing the First

Read no further. The guy is obviously not even familiar with the First Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

INC on January 1, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Dr. Frank Enstine on January 1, 2013 at 3:04 PM

Interesting that we both picked out the same phrase!

INC on January 1, 2013 at 3:06 PM

How about,, I’d like to beat the crap out of both of them.

Is that too harsh?

wolly4321 on January 1, 2013 at 3:07 PM

What’s striking here is that gun enthusiasts often make the argument that they just want government to leave them alone, yet seem perfectly comfortable unleashing it against a member of the mainstream media, supporting the Second Amendment by trashing the First.

Try again, Howard. Nobody wants to see Gregory thrown in jail, because none of us believe that DC’s hyper-restrictive gun control laws are just. We do, however, see it as a nice object lesson for the MSM… If Gregory has a few sleepless nights fearing prosecution on a weapons charge just because he held a magazine in the air on TV, maybe he and his MSM buddies would begin to understand why we oppose those laws.

Outlander on January 1, 2013 at 3:12 PM

People like Kurtz, Morgan, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum don’t go away until you go after their advertisers.

There is no reason why we, the American people, should be subsidizing anti-American propagandists hell bent on taking away our rights.

No reason at all.

An organized conservative consumer movement — i.e. tax-paying Americans — could end the socialist stranglehold on our media if only we would mobilize against them and their sources of $$$.

It’s either boycotts or the further erosion of our country, liberties, and identity. You decide.

Punchenko on January 1, 2013 at 3:14 PM

I just read this column this afternoon:

America Doesn’t Have a Gun Problem, It Has a Gang Problem

Chicago’s murder numbers have hit that magic 500. Baltimore’s murder toll has passed 200. In Philly, it’s up to 324, the highest since 2007. In Detroit, it’s approaching 400, another record. In New Orleans, it’s almost at 200. New York City is down to 414 from 508. In Los Angeles, it’s over 500. In St. Louis it’s 113 and 130 in Oakland. It’s 121 in Memphis and 76 in Birmingham.

Washington, D.C., home of the boys and girls who can solve it all, is nearing its own big 100.

Those 12 cities alone account for nearly 3,200 dead and nearly a quarter of all murders in the United States. And we haven’t even visited sunny Atlanta or chilly Cleveland.

These cities are the heartland of America’s real gun culture. It isn’t the bitter gun-and-bible clingers in McCain and Romney territory who are racking up a more horrifying annual kill rate than Al Qaeda; it’s Obama’s own voting base.

He goes on to compare the Chicago murder rate to Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. And New Orleans is worse than Chicago! The Blue State/City culture is a remarkable thing.

A breakdown of the Chicago killing fields shows that 83% of those murdered in Chicago last year had criminal records. In Philly, it’s 75%. In Milwaukee it’s 77% percent. In New Orleans, it’s 64%. In Baltimore, it’s 91%. Many were felons who had served time. And as many as 80% of the homicides were gang related.

INC on January 1, 2013 at 3:15 PM

News flash, Howard: You punch me, I punch you back.

I used to believe in turning the other cheek, but the radical left has made that tantamount to suicide.

petefrt on January 1, 2013 at 3:15 PM

Not any better than your first effort Howard. Pretending to not understand others’ motives so you can engage a straw man argument won’t work for you. Only Obama can do that.

forest on January 1, 2013 at 3:15 PM

It’s a “hate crime” to criticize men like Piers Morgan, David Gregory and their ilk.

Pork-Chop on January 1, 2013 at 3:18 PM

First Amendment for me but not for thee! ~~ Journalistas

Blake on January 1, 2013 at 3:19 PM

Deport Piers Moragan.

Prosecute and imprison David Gregory; or else overturn DC’s un-American gun laws and restore equal justice.

FloatingRock on January 1, 2013 at 3:21 PM

Howard Kurtz, suck my d–k. You’re too stupid to tie your own shoelaces. Stop writing these foolish op-eds and being so proud of your mind-numbing stupidity. It’s rather unseemly.

Go back to junior high school, retard.

ThePrimordialOrderedPair on January 1, 2013 at 3:21 PM

He should be arguing for prosecution against Gregory….if he were consistent.

CW on January 1, 2013 at 3:23 PM

Prosecute and imprison David Gregory;
FloatingRock on January 1, 2013 at 3:21 PM

Would seem fair…right? I love that word. Too bad the left doesn’t know what it even means.

CW on January 1, 2013 at 3:24 PM

Why should we leave them alone?

dczombie on January 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM

What’s striking here is that gun enthusiasts often make the argument that they just want government to leave them alone, yet seem perfectly comfortable unleashing it against a member of the mainstream media, supporting the Second Amendment by trashing the First.

Back at ya, Howie. What’s striking here is that Big Brother’s Gotta Do Something types like you don’t hold Gregory to the same standard you’d want to apply to some farmer in Alabama.

ddrintn on January 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM

David Gregory’s only intent was to commit journalism.

It’s a strict liability crime. Intent doesn’t matter. Howie would have no problem with a black gang member being arrested for having the magazine. Howard Kurtz is a racist.

rbj on January 1, 2013 at 3:28 PM

Outlander on January 1, 2013 at 3:12 PM

I want to see Gregory treated like Brian Aitken, Mark Meckler, First Lt. Augustine Kim or any of the thousands of Americans harassed by the legal system for “crimes” every bit as ridiculous as possessing a magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds.

As for Piers, I just want to seem him thrown out of the country in order to reduce the number of jerks.

iconoclast on January 1, 2013 at 3:29 PM

supporting the Second Amendment by trashing the First.

LOL, so there’s a First Amendment right to possessing a high-capacity magazine.

ddrintn on January 1, 2013 at 3:33 PM

They nitpick and analyze and hyperbolize every single thing said and done by conservatives. They get their talking points from organizations that hire people to listen to Rush et al to catch any slip of the tongue or easily misunderstood comment and blow it all out of proportion.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot they whine like infants, believing themselves not only to be above the law but above criticism and their own tactics.

29Victor on January 1, 2013 at 3:36 PM

As for Piers, I just want to seem him thrown out of the country in order to reduce the number of jerks.

iconoclast on January 1, 2013 at 3:29 PM

Oh, let the idiot talk and talk and talk. The more he does, the more idiotic he looks. Read this and see how many inaccuracies and downright lies you can find.

ddrintn on January 1, 2013 at 3:39 PM

Try again, Howard. Nobody wants to see Gregory thrown in jail, because none of us believe that DC’s hyper-restrictive gun control laws are just. We do, however, see it as a nice object lesson for the MSM… If Gregory has a few sleepless nights fearing prosecution on a weapons charge just because he held a magazine in the air on TV, maybe he and his MSM buddies would begin to understand why we oppose those laws.

Outlander on January 1, 2013 at 3:12 PM

I want Gregory prosecuted to the full extent of the law like everyone else would be who isn’t part of the elite journalist/political class. Laws have consequences and it’s only when everyone suffers under them equally will they be seen as ridiculous as they are.

gwelf on January 1, 2013 at 3:39 PM

LOL, so there’s a First Amendment right to possessing a high-capacity magazine.

ddrintn on January 1, 2013 at 3:33 PM

So it would follow there is also a 1st Amendment right to possess meth, kiddie porn, nuclear launch codes, Scud missiles, your neighbor’s ATM pin number and/or kidney, etc…

29Victor on January 1, 2013 at 3:39 PM

I want Gregory prosecuted to the full extent of the law like everyone else would be who isn’t part of the elite journalist/political class. Laws have consequences and it’s only when everyone suffers under them equally will they be seen as ridiculous as they are.

gwelf on January 1, 2013 at 3:39 PM

Yep. Me too. Equal protection under the law part of the foundation of civilized society. If I’d go to jail for it, so should he.

29Victor on January 1, 2013 at 3:41 PM

David Gregory’s only intent was to commit journalism.

Oh, so he can break gun laws. But people actually intending to protect their families and livelihoods should be prevented from doing so. Committing journalism is more important than protecting your family of course.

gwelf on January 1, 2013 at 3:45 PM

And it’s not just Gregory. There was a conspiracy to commit the crime. Who got the magazine and where? Who told them to do it? Who else handled it inside DC?

forest on January 1, 2013 at 3:47 PM

To the extent that leading journalists are in the forefront of this debate, they are feeling the sting of that anger. The uproar against the Journal-News newspaper for printing a map of gun permit owners in two suburban New York counties, which I view as violating their privacy without a good reason, can attest to that.

Howard seems confused. IMO journalists shouldn’t really be involved in the debate – they are supposed to be neutral reporters – not participants leading.

As for the anger the Journal-News is receiving – their 1st Amendment defense is being trumped by common decency and the right to reasonable privacy. If they don’t like their personal info outed perhaps they should have considered how gun permit holders might feel.

katiejane on January 1, 2013 at 3:49 PM

Rule 4: Make opponents live up to their own book of rules.

Rebar on January 1, 2013 at 3:59 PM

I’m sure Mr. Gregory will dance right out of this kerfuffle.

Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on January 1, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Bah. You guys bleed too easily, Howie. Buy some styptic pencils or throw in the towels, but quit complaining about your effete dancing and weightless jabs hasn’t stopped our punches from hitting your noses.

Dusty on January 1, 2013 at 4:28 PM

And it’s not just Gregory. There was a conspiracy to commit the crime. Who got the magazine and where? Who told them to do it? Who else handled it inside DC?

[forest on January 1, 2013 at 3:47 PM]

And not just a conspiracy to commit the crime but a conspiracy to commit the crime as a hate crime. That hate was present up and down the conspiratorial ladder.

Dusty on January 1, 2013 at 4:36 PM

If Piers Morgan is so head strong about his cause, then apply to become a citizen of the US, then give up his British citizenship.

It is so easy for a foreigner to criticize another country’s system, because if the change is made and it is a failure…the foreigner can always go back to his country to escape the consequences.

albill on January 1, 2013 at 4:51 PM

Deport Piers Moragan.

FloatingRock on January 1, 2013 at 3:21 PM

Easy now, boy.

The Brits refused to issue Michael Savage a tourist visa because he was deemed ‘hateful’.

You don’t want to go down this road.

CorporatePiggy on January 1, 2013 at 4:54 PM