New York Times Gun Toting Reporters

NewsMax | 1/4/2004 | NewsMax

[JimRed]

The New York Times seldom passes up an opportunity to attack that pesky Second Amendment. But did you know its own reporters are armed and dangerous?

At least some of the ones in Iraq are, and the paper's thought police are in a tizzy.

Even though the Times sticks its nose into every other corporation's business, it refuses to discuss its internal feud, but according to the Wall Street Journal the Times' Baghdad bureau chief, Susan Sachs, is mad that reporter Dexter Filkins has had the nerve to carry a gun for self-defense.

Sachs "objects to what she perceives as the Times becoming 'too armed.'"

So even one pistol is "too armed" in the eyes of the media elitists.

"I have my own strong views, but I also trust that the newspaper understands all the issues involved and the difficult issues involved in trying to balance security and our profile as journalists there," huffs the city slicker Sachs.

And there's more. "Security guards working for a CNN crew, for example, drew criticism when they fired at attackers who were shooting at them in April," the Journal reports.

The Journal doesn't reveal who was whining about the CNN underlings who had the audacity to defend themselves, but we can surmise it's some safely ensconced pencil pushers.

Something that calls itself Committee to Protect Journalists insists that media types should "never carry arms" and "may be jeopardizing their status as neutral observers" if they use armed guards.

"Normally, the greatest protection you have as a journalist in a conflict zone is your perceived neutrality," says Joel Simon, deputy director of the committee. "Carrying a weapon can change that perception."

Oh, please. Since when did anybody think the Democrat voices of the Times and CNN were neutral?

The naysayers do make one valid point, though. How could the yuppie anti-firearms zealots of the media establishment hit the broad side of a barn with a Red Ryder double-action BB gun?

Thomas Rosenstiel, director of Columbia University's Project for Excellence in Journalism, told the Journal, "I can't imagine they'd be good shots."

[JimRed]

A Times guy has his very own pistol? CNN people have ARMED security guards? Oh the Horror...

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[Lexington Green]

CNN and NYT reporters will soon recieve this memo:

Turn in your guns. Wear your DON'T SHOOT I'M A JOURNALIST t-shirt.

[DaveCooper]

When I first heard about this, I sent this letter to The New York Times. Don’t know if they’ll print it, but at least one pair of eyes over there will see it.

Dear Sirs:

I was pleased to hear that your Baghdad reporter Dexter Filkins has been carrying a gun. There is certainly some risk in traveling to that part of the world, and I’m glad that The New York Times acknowledges that Filkins as a human being has an inherent right to defend himself.

I’m sure that you’ll agree that the lives of New York’s citizens, who live with the risk of violent crime every day, are just as precious as that of your reporter. Accordingly, I look forward to seeing you reverse your long-held stance in favor of repressive antigun legislation, and I eagerly await future editorials taking a tough, uncompromising, unequivocal stand in defense of our right to keep and bear arms.

After all, you wouldn’t advocate denying us average American citizens the same right to self-defense that Filkins is allowed to exercise, would you? I’d certainly hate to think that you people were egregious hypocrites on this issue.

Sincerely,

...

[marktwain]

"Normally, the greatest protection you have as a journalist in a conflict zone is your perceived neutrality," says Joel Simon, deputy director of the committee. "Carrying a weapon can change that perception."

Good Grief! Haven't the ever heard of ARMED NEUTRALITY!!.

[Bonaparte]

Another day, another example of blatant, screaming liberal hypocrisy...

Million Mom March co-organizer illegally carries gun, takes revenge on innocent boy who is now paralyzed for life

Washington Post reporter Carl Rowan shoots trespasser with unregistered gun, claiming self-defense -- still believes others should be without firearms

Anti-gun crusader Sarah Brady makes straw purchase of firearm for convict son -- anti-gun crusader Diane Feinstein packs heat, has armed body guards -- same story for anti-gun crusader Rosie O'Donnell

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

All you need are press credentials. Just ask Daniel Pearl.