It’s no secret that the gun control debate is an emotional one. Unfortunately, many of the news reports about the issue are biased, agenda-driven and misinformed. This was the case on Wednesday’s PBS NewsHour, which devoted an entire segment to promoting federal laws that restrict how gun owners store firearms in their own homes.
The segment began by recalling two cases of small children gaining access to the guns of their parents. While the father of one child was arrested, and the mother of the other might be arrested, PBS NewsHour used these cases to set up a discussion of laws restricting gun owners in their own homes, even though concealed carry holders tend to be substantially more law-abiding and responsible on average.
The guest on the show was Josh Sugarmann of the Violence Policy Center, and he began by lamenting the lack of federal laws on the matter. He complained about legal gun owners and declared that there is a “mania” about guns in America that endangers children.
This segment was filled with anti-gun rhetoric and misinformation. For example, Sugarmann advised that the most important thing parents can do to ensure child safety is not to have a gun in the home. However, statistics show that having a gun in the home actually decreases the risk of homicide, suicide, and unintentional injury to children. He also criticized the gun industry for marketing its products to young people, even though the industry has made strides towards responsible gun ownership.
This segment on PBS NewsHour was a shameless attempt to demonize gun owners and push for more restrictive gun laws. But the truth is, responsible gun ownership is a key part of the Second Amendment. It’s important for people to understand the facts before they make up their minds about the issue. Gun owners should not be treated like criminals, and laws should not be passed that restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens.