May Sweeps Bring Anti-Gun Story Showers

Updated: Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 8:24 am -- Still nothing on the WSYX ABC 6 website. A non-story that they didn't bother to post on their site. But the teasers prior to airing led you to believe such dangers lurked in your neighborhood that you would be afraid to step outside. Hmmm . . .

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Updated: Sunday, May 11, 2008, 10:40 pm -- So if this story were so important, something everyone needs to know, why was it not posted to the WSYX ABC 6 website? I have checked twice a day since the story aired on the 11 pm slot last Thursday -- the 8th of May. I don't think it has ever been posted. So much for news you NEED to know . . .

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Two words: May sweeps.

That means TV stations are running provocative stories -- often more scandalous than reality -- to boost ratings, which means their "book" for the month is more positive . . . which means they can charge MORE money for advertisements.

Get the picture?

So its no wonder that WSYX TV (ABC 6) in Columbus ran a piece on the 11 pm news tonight with the working title, "One of these houses is a hidden gun store." The story is about individuals who have FFLs, but do not operate out of a storefront. And, of course, the whole "hidden gun" wordplay is straight out of the Brady Campaign (formerly Handgun Control Inc.)/Violence Policy Center/Ohio Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence playbook.

"Hidden" . . . just the word is a negative, isn't it? It first popped up in the arms wars here about five years ago, as part of a catchphrase created by the anti self defense crowd to make moms who wanted to carry a firearm with a CCW (in order to protect their kids) somehow seem nefarious and dangerous. Far from it. Still, the so much of the legacy media jumps right in with nary a thought as to how they are being used.

I'll post a link as soon as WSYX TV puts one on their website.

h/t to Ellen Wickham