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The Pima GOP's Glock

Notes by:  Forrest Carr, KGUN9 News Director

One thing we've been able to count on over the last two years:  when stories from Arizona in general or Tucson in particular splash into the national headlines, the results ain't gonna be pretty. 

The latest forceful example of that principle in action is now on full display in newspapers, on news broadcasts and on websites across the country.  It began when the Pima County Republican Party decided it would be a swell idea to raffle off a Glock pistol as a fund-raising gimmick.  A writer for the Huffington Post website got wind of that, and posted an article comparing the pistol to the one Jared Lee Loughner used on January 8.  Author Alex Brant-Zawadzki slapped the GOP around, questioning its taste and sensitivity, and sarcastically inviting readers to see if they could get off more shots with the prize pistol than Loughner had managed to fire with his.  Before you knew it, pundits, pontificators and pulpit-pounders from coast to coast were fuming and sputtering over the party's breath-taking lack of sensitivity, taste and decorum. 

And once again, Arizona gets held up as the land of wild-eyed, gun-toting crazies who'd just as soon shoot you as look at you.  Last month, a writer for Newsweek claimed that Tucson was overrun with meth-dazed weapons-sprouting gang-affiliated hoodlums and narcotraffickers, painting a picture of a landscape crowded with mouth-frothing maniacs that was just short of a scene from Quarantine 2.  Author Rick Moody said that in light of all the bodies stacked in ravines around town, the January 8 shootings were no surprise -- as if Tucson's culture were uniquely responsible for the atrocity. (Notably, the writer made no mention of presumably more placid and sane locales afflicted by similar or worse tragedies, of which there have been many - California, Texas, Virginia and Colorado, to name a few.  The Arizona Daily Star's Josh Brodesky wrote a really good rebuttal to the Newsweek piece, by the way).

Also in August, the national audience got treated to a hoot of a story about a Chandler man who managed to shoot off his -- well, you know what he shot off.  That story fit perfectly with the national narrative about Arizona, a narrative where everyone just knew what would happen sooner or later because of the state's "lax gun laws."

Is there any way out of this image-destroying mess? In the short term, probably not.  Every village has to have its idiot, and if it can't find one, it'll draft one.  For now, our fellow Americans, or at least some of them, seem content to have appointed Arizona to that role.

Maybe we deserve it. Maybe we don't.  But the most recent burst of belly laugh-provoking national ridicule aimed in our direction certainly has KGUN9 viewers talking.  Some feel the criticism is justified.  Many others aren't buying it.  Quite a few feel that this is not even a newsworthy issue -- and some of those are aiming their ire squarely at KGUN9 News (yes, after the story broke  nationally, we were among those covering this issue and the reaction to it, along with most other news outlets in town.)

"jibarhnan" writes:  "I didn't know guns were referred to as 'fully loaded' like cars to indicate that they came with accessories. Or did you insert that term to elicit an angry response from the ignorant who would assume that meant it came full of bullets?"

"cactuslover" writes: "I am so horrified at the Republican Party raffle. Frankly I am embarrassed for their stupidity. This certainly isn't the type of decision making and supposed leadership that we need here in Tucson, or ANYWHERE! Shame on you Republican Party!!!"

"ATSD3" writes:  "WOW Must be a SLOW news day. I loved seeing the reporter running/tracking people down and giving a brief description of the 'story' and then ask their thoughts. REALLY!! BOOOO on this 'story.'  You guys are not very bright!!!"

"Brodie Caudle" writes:  "This bunch of liberal idiots would be 'ticked off' no matter what kind of gun was used. I expect they will next want the word 'Glock' stricken from the English language. The left has nothing of substance to say. This is the best they can do? Idiocy."

"arizonajim" writes:  "How do I get a ticket for this raffle? This is a nice pistol and I would love to own it. All of you tree hugging tinkerbells try using your 'be nice' attitude when you are in trouble and see how that works out.  By the way I am a Democrat, or was."

"ahcomon" writes:  "1.  They should have had security at the 1/8 event and nobody would have been shot other than the crazy man who caused so much pain.  2. If he would have used a car to kill all those people would they be upset if they were giving away a car in the raffle?"

"Jamvee" writes  "Choosing a pistol for the prize in a political raffle was probably not the best choice. However, there is nothing illegal, or immoral about it.  The Anti-Gunners are focused on 'spinning' a negative image for anything to do with guns."

Barney Rael writes (via Facebook):  "I question why the story says the gun is similar to the one that Jared Loughner used. Could you not have said it is identical to one that is a very popular firearm for police?"

Lori Critser Weaver writes (via Facebook):  "I have the exact same gun. I think people need to worry about more important things."

John Manning writes (via Facebook):  "So if Jared used a Chevy truck should we ban all raffles on trucks? Come on people, we have people out there who have lost their homes, jobs, and loved ones. Shouldn't we be trying to change that? This raffle is just another way to earn money. If the Democratic party decides to auction or raffle off a vehicle in the near future or anything that could be use to kill an innocent child I will be highly against it!"

Ld Newman writes (via Facebook):  "Constitutional right! I enjoy guns, but I obey the law. Criminals don't."

Daune Cardenas writes (via Facebook):  "Bad taste. Ask Gabrielle."

Carl Hall writes:  "Poor taste whether or not Loughner used a Glock. The comparison just makes it more embarrassing. Raffling a semi-automatic pistol? A weapon which its sole purpose is to kill other people, in defense or otherwise, is a poor, poor choice. I was born and raised Republican and held on to their precepts and propaganda into my mid-to-late 20s.  I'm glad I overcame the brainwashing."

Wendy Dunham writes (via Facebook):  "I am a responsible gun owner and I find this in extremely poor taste. Creepy, actually."

Terri Proud writes (via  Facebook): "Proud of Mike Shaw's interview re: the raffle. It's time we began holding PEOPLE accountable instead of locations and objects. Liberals are watching way too many Disney movies where objects have feelings and talk."

Join in.  You can post your comments here at the bottom of this story; email us at comments@kgun9.com; or post on our Facebook page.