“A lie left unchallenged becomes the truth.” This is why this post is necessary. For in this painfully foolish clip from the “O’Reilly Show” Bill argues that we need more federal gun regulations and FBI surveillance for firearms purchases.
He is completely ignorant that these laws he is calling for have been in effect for decades. I only share the original clip as a reference, for O’Reilly is completely mistaken and shares no legitimate facts.
The first false statement that Bill makes is that there is no regulations in check for buying “heavy weapons” claiming any person can go anywhere and buy “mortars, howitzers, and machine guns” and the FBI won’t know.
“Heavy Weapons” are defined as:
large but transportable armament
armament - weaponry used by military or naval force
cannon - a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
field artillery, field gun - movable artillery (other than antiaircraft) used by armies in the field (especially for direct support of front-line troops)
No explanation should be necessary for this. Yet here Bill is telling us that these “heavy weapons” need to be regulated because any American can buy them anywhere. Yet since The National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 ownership of any machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns, silencers and Destructive Devices (cannons, howizters, etc) and even “Any Other Weapons” has been restricted and very regulated. You “may” own one of these devices, but you will have to pay the $200 tax, get approval from a Chief local law enforcement officer, get approval from the ATF (takes about 9 months), and get approval from the FBI per NICS check. Now if you ask me that sure sounds likes regulation!
Next Bill makes another false statement that anyone can buy any “weapon you want, including a real AK47 from a gun show”. AK47s are regulated and restricted per NFA of 1934. Further,in 1986 the NFA was even expanded to make all newly manufactured machine guns completely banned from civilian ownership. After 1986 prices soared now makes it financially unobtainable for most of the population for an actual AK47 or M16 will cost upwards of $25,000. Bill is probably mistaken even further in thinking a sporting rifle that looks like an AK47 is actually an AK47. AK47s are fully automatic, and therefore an assault rifle. You will not see these for sale! Now you can buy “AK47 looking” rifles. But they fire no faster than the 75 year old M1 Garands used in WWII. They are mistakenly called “AK47s” when they are in fact a semi-automatic variant such as a WSAR-10.
As for the gun purchasing “loopholes” (as liberals call it), in some states you do not need a FBI NICS check for a face-to-face firearms transfer. So if my friend that has a gun I wish to own, I can legally buy it from him. But every other firearms sale in a gun shop, Walmart, and even gun shows must have a NICS check ran by the FBI for all firearms. Even for the new itty-bitty Savage Rascal .22LR youth model I bought to shoot with my son the local gun shop had to call the FBI and get the “mother may I” from them.
Bill argues that “if there would have been an FBI reporting for the firearms sale then there wouldn’t have been this problem”. Another crazy statement. First, because the FBI does know about every FFL transfer, and further, how about Fort Hood? The Muslim terrorist was on the terrorist watch list and had been reported to the FBI, yet nobody did anything about it. Interesting. (Update: FBI didn’t investigate because of “political correctness”)
Bill then argues that there needs to be a federal watch list for ammunition ownership and sales making the false claim that the idiot shooter from Colorado had over 60,000 rounds of ammunition. First, the reports state that he had a collection of 6,000 rounds. Next, how would you like it if the FBI showed up at your house after you bought 2- 550 packs of 22LR for rimfire practice? Sound logical? Or before your next 3 Gun match you were raided by the ATF because you bought 1,000 rounds of .223 for practice and the weekend match?
There are plenty of regulations already in check for firearms ownership. These regulations already infringe on our 2nd Amendment rights. We need to remember that the 2nd Amendment has absolutely nothing to do with hunting, sports or even self defense. It is a God given right to preserve our freedom by allowing the citizens of America to be armed and able stand against tyranny of the government. That was the intent, and it is where American’s must draw the line.
A gun has nothing more to do with crime than car does in a drunk driving “accident”. We need to place the responsibility on the actual criminals and stop these petty arguments and lies.
O’Reilly Lies on Gun Regulation
Can’t believe they can have someone so misinformed on Television with their own show…
I don’t think it was accidental that Bill was misinformed. I believe his brazen statements were tactfully inserted to scare our citizens into demanding harsher gun laws by playing into the high emotions of the situation and the knowledge gaps by non-informed or non-gun owners.
I sadly knew immediately people would try and twist this horrible incident into a political rampage.
My heart goes out to the victims and their families.
Bill has a frequent tendency to play fast and loose with the real facts, making HIM the PINHEAD.
NONO!! Don’t tell him anything! Let them ban “heavy weapons” .. give them that, and they’ll think they won..
Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.-Andy Rooney
O’Reiley’s misinformation is so far afield from the truth, he must be deliberately pushing some personal agenda. No one in his position and experience could possibly be so wrong about so many facts in one 5-min rant. His only response to being challenged on his statements was by repeating a loud and ignorant “Come ‘mon!”
Very well written. Concise,informative, and authoritative. I hope that the right people heard it. Ignore O’Reilly. He’s pandering to the anti-gun crowd. Hoplophobes!
I used to like Bill until he overdosed on obama’s Kool-aid. Dustin is absolutely correct in his statements, especially the origional intent of the 2nd Ammendment, which I believe is becoming more important everyday. It is unfortunate that there are evil people in the world who will kill no matter what if they want too, no regulation would have stopped this creep from carrying out his mission of death, look at the Norway killer, but if the punishment phase would fit the crime, I bet it sure could prevent one in the future. Pray for the poor souls that were murdered and injured by this scuzbucket and pray for our country. K. Evans
These kinds of articles should include an easy method for contacting the idiot, in this case O’Reilly, so he knows there are a lot of citizens out there that knows he is a liar. I am sure he got plenty of atta boys from his liberal friends.
Excellent idea Dennis – you can contact BIll and let him know here: oreilly@foxnews.com
Sent my letter
Dustin, thanks for an excellent article that is well reasoned, well supported and well articulated. Liberals’ arguments have none of those qualities. THAT is what sets us apart from the liberal fear-mongers (sorry, I couldn’t think of a better description that would not involve profanity!). Their arguments and positions are premised on what they believe and what they are told by those like them–regardless of the facts. Notice how O’Reilly reacted when Chaffetz started to make a reasoned response–he jumped in, raised his voice and repeated the same garbage in a louder voice. He would not let Chaffetz speak because he knew that a factual response would impair his argument. THAT is the liberal way. They will not allow or listen to reasoned arguments. They make me sick! Keep up the fight Dustin.
Holy crap. It’s like watching a teenager argue with their parents! It’s not even a news show at this point, it’s just watching a guest from Jerry Springer give their opinion not caring that they don’t know what they’re talking about. It makes me want to reach through my TV screen and choke him yelling, “Why can’t you just read some factual information and quit acting like a spoiled 13 yr old!” *sighs in disappointment…
Bill O’Really is a tool. He frequently tries to intimidate his guests by standing up/bowing up and showing how big and tall he is. Whenever anyone counters his argument, he always does the same thin, getting louder and repeating himself. As if volume indicates that you’re right or something. The only time I watch him is when someone like you posts a video of him bullying his guests or him acting like a fool. Which seems to be happening more and more lately.
O’Reilly is a loon. The man is simply not letting a crisis go to waste… for the sake of his ratings.
Prayers go out to the families affected by death, as well as to the shooter’s family. They all need prayer right now.