http://www.nraila.org/grassroots/20000602-AntiGunGroups-001.shtml
"ROSIE THE HYPOCRITE" OR "ROSIE THE PARANOID"?
Rosie O'Donnell, fast becoming the nation's most outspoken anti-gun extremist, has been having a tough time with the media lately. Last week, it was revealed in the press that one of the beleaguered talk-show host's bodyguards has applied for a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Connecticut (see FAX Alert Vol. 7, No. 22). In light of her past statements that only the police should be allowed to own firearms, and that gun owners should be jailed, this latest revelation had many in the media calling O'Donnell a hypocrite. Now Rosie is trying to defend her anti-gun, and thus anti-personal protection, views while also defending her employment of bodyguards most Americans simply cannot afford. She started with her on-line newsletter, where she claimed to speak for all "gun control advocates," stating "[o]ur mission is NOT to prevent law abiding citizens...from owning a licensed and registered gun.... We are not trying to take away your gun...." Her newsletter then went on to criticize the newspaper that reported the story, and then claimed that the local police were "politically motivated" when they investigated whether or not the bodyguard O'Donnell had stationed outside her son's school was illegally carrying a firearm. Either Rosie does not believe that the police should investigate possible criminal acts when they involve celebrities, or she has simply convinced herself that she is the target of some conspiracy. She also doesn't seem to want people to think that she is responsible in any way for her having professionals hired to protect her and her family, as her newsletter closes by stating her bodyguard "works for a security firm" (a rather pointless assertion, as most bodyguards do), and that the firm was hired by Warner Bros., which employs O'Donnell. However, she earlier stated "I chose to have a ‘bodyguard' for my children." So is it her decision or Warner Bros.?
Rosie's next attempt to defend her hypocrisy and paranoia came on Thursday, when she appeared on NBC's Today with Katie Couric. O'Donnell reiterated her claim that a local Connecticut police department has targeted her for political reasons, and implied that the media has treated her unfairly by reporting her "do as I say, not as I do" attitude. Rosie did reveal to Couric, however, that she has had armed security protecting her home from time to time while at the same time she continues to promote restrictions on Americans who wish to provide for their own protection. O'Donnell even made the outrageous implication that NRA has somehow attempted to scare and threaten her. But some efforts to further her gun control agenda actually made some of our points. She complained that the article about her security guard exposed the fact that he was currently unarmed, and that she felt the illusion that he might be armed added to his effectiveness as a deterrent to violent, criminal attacks. Of course, advocates of Right to Carry laws have been saying for years that if criminals don't know who is armed, but know that virtually any of their potential victims might be armed, then they will be less likely to attack anybody. This view is supported by extensive research, including that done by Yale senior research scholar John R. Lott, Jr., which evolved into the 1998 book More Guns, Less Crime, the seminal work on the benefits of fair, non-discretionary Right to Carry laws. As stated last week, though, we doubt Rosie is about to support the Right to Carry movement and help lobby for the passage of laws establishing such systems -- especially considering rumors circulating that the talk-show host is being groomed as the new spokesperson for HCI. With O'Donnell's television future in question (there are rumors that her TV show will not be back next year because of sagging ratings), and Sarah Brady apparently looking to step down from HCI's helm, Rosie would appear to be ready to step into a role for which she has been rehearsing.
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Ugh... Excuse me, I think I'm going to puke!
Skyhawk
"ROSIE THE HYPOCRITE" OR "ROSIE THE PARANOID"?
Rosie O'Donnell, fast becoming the nation's most outspoken anti-gun extremist, has been having a tough time with the media lately. Last week, it was revealed in the press that one of the beleaguered talk-show host's bodyguards has applied for a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Connecticut (see FAX Alert Vol. 7, No. 22). In light of her past statements that only the police should be allowed to own firearms, and that gun owners should be jailed, this latest revelation had many in the media calling O'Donnell a hypocrite. Now Rosie is trying to defend her anti-gun, and thus anti-personal protection, views while also defending her employment of bodyguards most Americans simply cannot afford. She started with her on-line newsletter, where she claimed to speak for all "gun control advocates," stating "[o]ur mission is NOT to prevent law abiding citizens...from owning a licensed and registered gun.... We are not trying to take away your gun...." Her newsletter then went on to criticize the newspaper that reported the story, and then claimed that the local police were "politically motivated" when they investigated whether or not the bodyguard O'Donnell had stationed outside her son's school was illegally carrying a firearm. Either Rosie does not believe that the police should investigate possible criminal acts when they involve celebrities, or she has simply convinced herself that she is the target of some conspiracy. She also doesn't seem to want people to think that she is responsible in any way for her having professionals hired to protect her and her family, as her newsletter closes by stating her bodyguard "works for a security firm" (a rather pointless assertion, as most bodyguards do), and that the firm was hired by Warner Bros., which employs O'Donnell. However, she earlier stated "I chose to have a ‘bodyguard' for my children." So is it her decision or Warner Bros.?
Rosie's next attempt to defend her hypocrisy and paranoia came on Thursday, when she appeared on NBC's Today with Katie Couric. O'Donnell reiterated her claim that a local Connecticut police department has targeted her for political reasons, and implied that the media has treated her unfairly by reporting her "do as I say, not as I do" attitude. Rosie did reveal to Couric, however, that she has had armed security protecting her home from time to time while at the same time she continues to promote restrictions on Americans who wish to provide for their own protection. O'Donnell even made the outrageous implication that NRA has somehow attempted to scare and threaten her. But some efforts to further her gun control agenda actually made some of our points. She complained that the article about her security guard exposed the fact that he was currently unarmed, and that she felt the illusion that he might be armed added to his effectiveness as a deterrent to violent, criminal attacks. Of course, advocates of Right to Carry laws have been saying for years that if criminals don't know who is armed, but know that virtually any of their potential victims might be armed, then they will be less likely to attack anybody. This view is supported by extensive research, including that done by Yale senior research scholar John R. Lott, Jr., which evolved into the 1998 book More Guns, Less Crime, the seminal work on the benefits of fair, non-discretionary Right to Carry laws. As stated last week, though, we doubt Rosie is about to support the Right to Carry movement and help lobby for the passage of laws establishing such systems -- especially considering rumors circulating that the talk-show host is being groomed as the new spokesperson for HCI. With O'Donnell's television future in question (there are rumors that her TV show will not be back next year because of sagging ratings), and Sarah Brady apparently looking to step down from HCI's helm, Rosie would appear to be ready to step into a role for which she has been rehearsing.
************************************************
Ugh... Excuse me, I think I'm going to puke!
Skyhawk
