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The Journalists’ Guide to Guns (How Not to Look Like an Idiot When Writing About Firearms)
thefirearmblog.com ^ | 9/29/2014 | Steve Johnson

Posted on 09/29/2014 10:28:13 AM PDT by rktman

Journalists. Bless their hearts. As a rule of thumb, any time we read a news story about a subject or incident we already know a lot about, it turns out that about 25% of what’s reported is simply wrong.

This is why knowledgeable gun owners distrust many news stories involving guns: because too many “journalists” display an ignorance of firearms that would be laughable if it weren’t so appalling. If they can’t get their facts straight about gun technology and shooting, then we don’t trust them on much else.

For over 24 years as a patent attorney, I’ve taken pride in my ability to explain stuff effectively. I’m known as “The Firearms Patent Attorney” because I represent more firearms companies than any other patent attorney or law firm in the world (by a wide margin). That means I spend lots of time explaining how guns work. And I have to keep it simple because I’m not just writing for specialized patent examiners, but for juries and judges, in case there’s ever a lawsuit.

The best compliment I ever get from inventors about a patent application is “Wow! You really understand my invention!” So maybe if I’m good at making gun tech understandable, I might be the right guy to help out the technically-illiterate journalists. Here we go:


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: 2a; banglist; guncontrolnazis; journalists
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Heck, a lot of us might be "the guy" but they could care less. Whatever sells they dyno print is what they'll write. There are a few "good" ones out there but few and far between. And, no, I'm not blessing their hearts.
1 posted on 09/29/2014 10:28:14 AM PDT by rktman
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To: rktman

Its a magazine!!


2 posted on 09/29/2014 10:32:32 AM PDT by envisio (Its on like Donkey Kong!)
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To: rktman

Oh yeah, any rifle that is black is an “assault rifle”.


3 posted on 09/29/2014 10:33:48 AM PDT by envisio (Its on like Donkey Kong!)
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To: envisio
Its a magazine!!

Ha. Beat me to it.

4 posted on 09/29/2014 10:35:47 AM PDT by Veggie Todd (The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. TJ)
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To: envisio

Crap. What an easy solution. I’ll just have all mine finished in camo thus, no evil black gun. That is if I can locate them after the canoe accident.


5 posted on 09/29/2014 10:35:58 AM PDT by rktman ("The only thing dumber than a brood hen is a New York democrat." Mother Abagail.)
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To: rktman; All
"The Journalists’ Guide to Guns
(How Not to Look Like an Idiot When Writing About Firearms)"

 photo piersmoganar30.png

6 posted on 09/29/2014 10:36:54 AM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: rktman
First, learn how to identify you weapon.


7 posted on 09/29/2014 10:37:29 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (The IRS: either criminally irresponsible in backup procedures or criminally responsible of coverup.)
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To: envisio

A pistol grip and adjustable stock make it so much more deadly.


8 posted on 09/29/2014 10:40:16 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: rktman

Have it finished in that fake wood grain Detroit used to put on later model, fake “Woodies” so that it magically becomes a hunting rifle. Point out that a .223 rounds down to a .22 so it’s really just a plinker.


9 posted on 09/29/2014 10:40:37 AM PDT by muir_redwoods (When I first read it, " Atlas Shrugged" was fictional)
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To: envisio
Oh yeah, any rifle that is black is an “assault rifle”.

That's why mine is "Hello Kitty". I can shoot even a member of the protected criminal class in my home and not worry about prosecution. My AR is cute, not scary, and it doesn't have a bayonet lug or even a grenade launcher.

10 posted on 09/29/2014 10:40:57 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: Blue Jays
Dear Journalist, you likely did NOT mean to write "semi-automatic revolver" in your feature story."
11 posted on 09/29/2014 10:43:45 AM PDT by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: rktman

“If you must know, clips are for loading rifles that don’t take magazines.”

The part of most firearms where ammunition is stored and loaded from is the magazine, granted the M1 Garand, Short Magazine Lee Enfield, SKS, Broom Handle Mauser pistols, Mauser rifles, and so on were fed with stripper clips, they also have magazines, some detachable, some not.


12 posted on 09/29/2014 10:44:07 AM PDT by Antihero101607
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To: rktman

Remember the “armor piercing ammo” for the .22lr the other day?
And in the same article the reporter wrote that .22lr is called Mr due to barrel length?
I told that reporter he needed to learn some stuff, backed it up with facts.
His response was to pretty much sniffle and hide behind the “cop told me so it is correct” angle.


13 posted on 09/29/2014 10:45:27 AM PDT by Darksheare (People who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: rktman

I would rather not educate liberal opinion piece writers regarding guns. It’s like ‘educating’ muslims on how to blend into society undetected. Let them out themselves.


14 posted on 09/29/2014 10:48:11 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Antihero101607

Dang. And here I thought by “clip” they meant the front portion of a chevy pick up truck. DOH! :>}


15 posted on 09/29/2014 10:48:17 AM PDT by rktman ("The only thing dumber than a brood hen is a New York democrat." Mother Abagail.)
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To: Pollster1; envisio
<Oh yeah, any rifle that is black is an “assault rifle”.

Hmm, sounds racist. Which, generally speaking, liberal "journalists" are.

Does that mean that black men with black carbines are more dangerous than white men with wood/chrome lever action rifles?

My Marlin 30/30 carries a little more whump than my AR (out to 100 yards - which is about what my eyes are good for with iron sights).

16 posted on 09/29/2014 10:48:24 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ((If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there)
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To: 353FMG

Really.

I have a .40s&w HiPoint carbine. (It shoots 10+1 rounds of 40s&w pistol cartridges. Its all black, collapsible stock, picatiny rail, reddot scope, foregrip, laser. It looks mean as crap. (Cheap price and never a failure.)

But remember... it shoots 10+1 rounds of .40s&w pistol rounds.

I also have a plain S&W sw40 pistol. It fits in my pocket and shoots 14+1 rounds of 40s&w.

Now, which one would a journalist say is an ‘assault rifle’ to be banned for the carnage it can deliver?


17 posted on 09/29/2014 10:49:45 AM PDT by envisio (Its on like Donkey Kong!)
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To: rktman

“Clip” is what your mommy does to the top of your head with the back of her hand when you say a filthy word.


18 posted on 09/29/2014 10:50:12 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ((If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there)
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To: KarlInOhio

I’m in good shape, then. My pistol is a Ruger. They’ll never recognize it...


19 posted on 09/29/2014 10:54:02 AM PDT by raybbr (Obamacare needs a death panel.)
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To: ChildOfThe60s

Clip is what I put on a opened tater chip bag.

Hearing the sound of a clip from an enemy shooting an old mauser is how you know its safe to fire back.


20 posted on 09/29/2014 10:58:52 AM PDT by envisio (Its on like Donkey Kong!)
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