Richmond Times-Dispatch
Letter-to-the-Editor
Editor:
The recent article by Mark Bowes on gun sales and reduced
crimes may be a classic example of manipulation of the facts. First, the
Times-Dispatch asked VCU Professor Thomas Baker to do their research. Baker studied under pro-gun Professors Gary Kleck
and Marc Gertz at Florida State. The paper apparently wanted the end result to
be pro-gun rights. There are scholars whose research is not tainted by past
associations. Second, the spike in Virginia gun sales is probably an anomaly
directly attributable to the hysteria (fed by manufacturers and gun shop owners
to increase sales) that President Obama is going to take guns away from
law-abiding citizens. Therefore the results (and conclusions) are skewed.
The Times-Dispatch has retreated from the outstanding investigative
journalism done in connection with the shooting at Virginia Tech. The paper now
outsources its work. With the departure of reporter David Ress, the
Times-Dispatch apparently has not found anyone to carry on his hard-hitting
research and writing.
David Cariens
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