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I would have laughed if you had told me last week that Associated Press would agree to gun-rights advocates regarding correct terminology in reporting. It wasn’t just a guffaw. It was more of a belly laugh with milk coming out my nose. It seems that anything is possible. The Associated Press recently made changes to its stylebook and advised journalists to stop using terms such as “assault rifle” and “assault weapon”.
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The Associated Press changes its stylebook
I don’t know what caused the change. Perhaps they were tired of people laughing at incorrect terms being used in “news” outlets. Perhaps they are learning more about the topic they love reporting on. The AP tweeted the updated terminology to promote the new guidelines for journalists.
The Stylebook’s weapons entries provide guidance on terms such as semi-automatic rifles, assault rifles, assault weapons, military-style rifles, modern sporting rifles, and assault rifles. pic.twitter.com/RvNrZp1lu2– APStylebook (@APStylebook) July 13, 2022
Alan M. Gottlieb, founder of the SAF and executive vice president, said that it was time for the media to realize the terms ‘assault rifle’ and ‘assault weapons’ are inflammatory. “Those terms have become part the gun prohibition lobby’s vocabulary, and unfortunately, journalists across America have been all too willing to adopt their vocabulary and use it repeatedly in their reports.
It is also a nice thing to see the AP admit that semi-automatic rifles do not qualify as “weapons or war.” Kudos. It is a huge blow to the credibility of the media when they misrepresent facts and make false claims about politicians.
This is a good example of it. In 2016, Representative Alan Grayson commented on Orlando nightclub massacre on CNN. He claimed that “[if] he wasn’t able to purchase a weapon that fires off 700 rounds per minute, a lot [of those people] would still be alive.”
It would be great if there was a journalist to correct the record. The claim was made by CNN so Erin Burnett was the journalist.
“You are correct about that. Thank you so much.
Restoring Public Trust
This change may actually be beneficial to restore some trust in media. It will take journalists to do their bit, and I don’t expect them to be able to do it on their own.
Does this mean that the Associated Press could become conservative and defend the Second Amendment? It is unlikely. It is at least willing to be truthful in its reporting. That is a good start.
Gottlieb continued, saying that “This laudable effort of the Associated Press may help rebuild the level of trust that the public should have in media.” It will be interesting to see how the media challenges politicians and antigun lobbyists when they use such terms. This is especially true since “AR” never referred to “assault rifle”, but to Armalite Rifle. Gun control advocates have always known this.
If politicians and gun control lobbyists can be persuaded to follow the new stylebook, then we might be able to make it work. But I wouldn’t bet on it, as the frightening terminology is all they have. They need it to drive a narrative which would fail miserably if it wasn’t.
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