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I thought I would include this notice, originally posted in the NRA-ILA Alerts email last Friday, April 6, for those who may not have seen it:

Gun ban groups often claim that private citizens rarely, if ever, use guns in self-defense. ABC News' "20/20" is now putting that claim to the test, asking viewers to submit their own real-life "Armed Citizen" stories. ABC's website asks:

Have you ever defended yourself from a crime in your home, in your business, or in public by using a gun? Perhaps you warded off a potential attacker by simply showing a gun?

If you’ve personally used a gun in a legitimate act of self-protection against a criminal attacker, we encourage you to tell your story to ABC News. To tell your story, go to http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3015150 and complete their web form.

And to ensure that we at NRA know how many responses ABC gets, please send us a copy of your story by e-mailing armedcitizen@nrahq.org. You can also call NRA Public Affairs at (703) 267-1193.

In my own very humble opinion, these would best be stories not of tactical shoulder rolls and overwhelming shock-and-awe firepower , but of the concise, fact-based, human-interest type excerpted at the beginning of each issue of the NRA's American Riflemen. And since the NRA asks that you email a copy of your story to them, while you're at it why not post it here in this Topic so we can all share in what Forum members submit to ABC for possible televising?

If you don't receive American Rifleman, here's one story gleaned from the current issue. Any you submit would almost certainly be longer than this, but I think this is a good example of a journalistic snapshot that would get attention:

The safety of his mother and his nephew was all 22-year-old Phillip Mendoza could think about after six armed men invaded their home. Mendoza snuck into a bedroom and grabbed a shotgun. "I knew they had my mom with a gun and my little nephew," he recalls. Police say one of the intruders kicked open the bedroom door and Mendoza fired a load of buckshot, critically injuring the suspect. Then another intruder appeared in the doorway and Mendoza fired again, killing one of the men. The other intruders and the wounded suspect fled. Two were apprehended. (The Tucson Citizen, Tucson, AZ, 01/04/07)

I think that this is a good idea, but I can't help but have some reservations.

The question is can ABC and 20/20 be trusted to report the story truthfully? I sure would hate to see them turn the situation around and and try to imply that use of a handgun or deadly force could have been prevented.

Just a thought.

I agree with ScubaSigGuy. I believe the source of the solicitation may not resonate with total sincerity. Kinda reminds me of the Tortoise and the Scorpion:

A scorpion was walking through a feild one day when he came across a river with no bridge. He looked up and down the river for a method of passage but could find none until he saw Tortoise. Tortoise and Scorpion had never been friends, but recently, Tortoise had been getting in the way of Scorpion more and more often.

As scorpion walked up to Tortoise, tortoise backed away into the river and swam there, keeping his eyes on Scorpion. Scorpion walked up to the riverbank and said 'Friend tortoise, why do you recoil so? I merely request passage across the river.

"If I let you on my back, you will sting me, Scorpion" Said the Tortoise slowly.

"If I sting you on this bank, I cannot get across the river, if I sting you in the river, I will drown, and Once you have brought me across the river, I cannot sting you, because I owe you a favor, please, friend tortoise, let me on your back."

"What you say makes sense, Scorpion, I will let you on my back."

And so the tortoise swam up to the scorpion and let him on his back, then began the slow swim across the river. Halfway across the river, the tortoise felt a sharp sting in his neck, and turned around to see Scorpion removing his tail.

Tortoise's head began to swim, but he couldn't understand why this would happen. "Now that you have stung me, you will drown, why have you done this?"

Scorpion looked at Tortoise with a slow smile and said, "I can swim".

I have this nagging feeling that 20/20 may be holding something back while we (the potential suckers) are led down a garden path to our own ill-fate.

nuparadigm wrote:I have this nagging feeling that 20/20 may be holding something back while we (the potential suckers) are led down a garden path to our own ill-fate.

It's called HR 1022...

Or possibly another AWB down the road after '08...

All the sincerity of the media at this particular juncture will not ever erase or diffuse the years of deliberate misinterpretation and outright lies presented to Joe Q. Citizen of the United States of America by their hands...

But I guess that just makes me a nut for some reason...

ScubaSigGuy wrote:The question is can ABC and 20/20 be trusted to report the story truthfully?

It's 20/20, so it's got to pass John Stossel before it goes on the air.

I would bet you'd get a sympathetic treatment.

Kevin

Isn't this the outfit that did the segment on dispelling the gun control myth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9RN_iSKtg&NR

I've had that video bookmarked from the very first time I saw it. It can really open the eyes of those who have their doubts.

GlockenHammer wrote:Isn't this the outfit that did the segment on dispelling the gun control myth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9RN_iSKtg&NR

That's a good point. I had not seen that video before. Thanks.

Great newscast. Penn and Teller show: gun control is bull is another good one.

John Stossel for prez '08

I have never seen that video piece before; just sent it to the wife as 'homework'.