A little while ago after the shooting in Orlando, journalist
Gersh Kuntzman went to Double Tap Shooting Range and Gun Shop to experience
first hand what its like to fire the weapon that has been involved in several
shootings, the AR-15. In his article “what is it like to fire an AR-15? It’s
horrifying, menacing, and very very loud”, (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/firing-ar-15-horrifying-dangerous-loud-article-1.2673201) Kuntzman explains to his viewers what it felt like to fire the weapon for
himself and to talk about how easy it is to buy such a weapon. He says in his
article that firing this weapon was like firing a bazooka and sounded like a
cannon. He goes on to say that weapons was loud like an explosion, deafening
even with ear protection, that the recoil was so strong that is bruised his
shoulder, and gave him temporary PTSD. He also talks with the storeowner Frank
Stelmach about the weapon, what background checks and screenings the government should put in
place before being able to buy one. Stelmach goes to say that he won’t sell to
people that he deems to be unfit for weapons because they look a little funny
or asked what he believes to be stupid questions like “what happens to me if
the gun is stolen?
After reading the article and watching the video I have to
say that this type of journalism is hurting America. Kuntzman had a chance to
inform his viewers who he admits in a follow up piece never been around the
AR-15 before, about what it was really like to fire the weapon and to discuss
some of the truths as well misconceptions this weapon has but instead he
decided to exaggerate the details to adhere to his viewer’s beliefs that the
AR-15 is the most dangerous gun on the market and should be banned. This type
of journalism isn’t about giving the reader the truth so they can make a
decision on their own about what to be done but instead it shapes the
information for the viewer to dig himself or herself deeper into their own
micro segmentation. Whether this was done to push Kuntzmans own political
agenda on his dislike for the gun or to get more views and shares I can not
tell you but what I can tell you is that this article is pure infotainment.
Now you may have your own opinions on what should be done
with the AR-15 and that is fine. The problem is how exaggerated this story
really is. Being someone that has fired the AR-15 before I can personally say
that the rifle is not as bad as it has been described and that the information was skewed for his article. For those that say that this was just his opinion to the
weapon, opinions are fine to a certain point. If I said a fire cracker going
off was extremely loud that’s one thing but if I said a firecracker going of
was as loud and explosive as an IED then I’m just fabricating the truth.
