Mainstream media handling of gun violence debate

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Vice president Joseph Biden all over the news this week in -- push to reduce gun violence.

The topic is getting a lot of attention after the deadly school shooting in Newtown Connecticut and of course the theater massacre this summer.

So has coverage of the issue by the news media been fair.

CNN's piers Morgan got into a shouting match with a radio host Alex Jones during a heated debate on the Second Amendment.

Gabby Giffords and her husband retired NASA astronaut mark Kelly sitting down for a lot of air time -- ABC's Diane Sawyer launching a new group.

Aimed at fighting the gun lobby.

The -- Moines register published an opinion column endorsing the death of gun owners saying quote.

If some people people refused to give up their guns then prying the guns from their cold dead hands thing that works for me.

The writer of that peace now claims he was just being satirical.

Following the lead of -- newspaper in the suburbs to the north of one website published a list of licensed gun owners in New York City.

On top of that the headline called the gun owners and expletive which was then crossed out and replaced with hand some law abiding citizens to own guns.

Let's -- -- this with -- Kirsten Powers is a columnist for the Daily Beast both are Fox News contributor is purist -- you grew up in Alaska you have some familiarity -- guns.

But you both think there ought to be more controls on weapons to I have that right -- few first.

-- I think there should be a comprehensive approach to it that looks at all the different aspects of it and most important of all would be mental health.

Issues and how we deal with the mentally ill one of the issues that that I don't think is getting enough discussion.

Is the fact that we RT -- 300 million.

Guns that are -- Own in this country.

So the horses kind of left the barn I because -- answer -- a million people in the country.

And the guns are already out there and so we have to figure out a different ways to address this problem and rather than just demonizing people who are legal gun owners you know there's nothing wrong with owning a gun and immediately he did these are not criminals -- and and people who own -- should not be treated as criminals you know well.

-- full disclosure Judy I've talked about this with you before I'm one of those people who -- handguns.

Does so so publishing my name more or that kind of thing what does that do to advance gun safety in this country.

I think it provides.

Fellow Americans with a list of people who feel that it is their right and to own a weapon.

And the Second Amendment gives them that right at least as of two years ago that last interpretation by the Supreme Court I think -- what I have trouble with.

RV allegedly knew troll journalists who are actually taking aside in this debate I think your piers Morgan or if -- Hairston or me.

We are commentators we are entitled to have a point of view we make no bones about it.

But people who pretend to be neutral anchors who then weigh in on one side or another and don't let and the American viewers.

Or readers know that they have a bias I think that's what bothers me about the coverage so fine.

Well -- the piers Morgan thing with Alex Jones got a lot of coverage you know on television and and on the Internet and so forth.

Alex Jones is a bit out there and and to put him on television as a represented -- -- the average gun owner.

-- and I think most average gun owners wouldn't find that a little bit unfair.

I think that's the point.

You know -- it is today make it look like if you're -- on -- or some sort of crazy lunatic when in fact.

There are a lot of people who own guns some people are -- easiest some people have them for self protection.

But you -- what we want people to all of them legally end date and to go through a process and -- background check and have a comment and all those things and and I don't think that people like piers Morgan are actually open even to that idea he doesn't.

Seem to respect our constitution he referred to it as our little book.

And and so I think you know.

I that we do have a constitutional right to bear arms in this country but but that doesn't mean it's an unlimited right they can't have some.

You know restraints put on and I think he can't.

But the NRA Judy said that -- -- they've had their time with Vice President Biden -- -- Been tasked with writing up some of the recommendations that he plans to present to our President Obama.

They said that essentially.

The meeting was all about.

And controlling guns and not about controlling you know some of the violent images of the movies the video games that kind of thing that.

That might sort of tend to push people to want to use the real thing.

-- only NRA clearly is an organization that has -- stated agenda.

They have -- -- -- most restrictions.

They continue to try and got them once they're even approved and long.

I think it's not surprising that they wouldn't like what Joseph Biden has to say that I think there is.

Consensus beginning to grow in this country in the wake of these horrible shootings column buying the -- film.

Massacre and -- new town that something needs to be done that 121500.

Gun murders a year.

Eighty -- day.

Seven of whom involve children -- is simply unacceptable that we must do something and therefore I'm.

-- disappointed but not surprised at the NRA did is choosing not to work with that Joseph Biden on us.

-- you know than the journal news the newspaper and White Plains senator Mike planes got a lot of thought coverage for four for publishing.

This list this interactive map of gun owners putting their -- is out there and and and so forth.

Let's just say that they have done that two weeks before Newtown.

What they have accomplished anything.

Now I am in because they're not they're not they're not a legally -- -- says they're not doing anything wrong I'm -- I would say.

I guess if you're somebody who wants to -- burglarizing homes you now know which ones don't have guns so it's probably very helpful.

And that and that manner and it also what about people who have stalkers do you know what about people who have violent ex husbands who feel that they need to protect themselves -- mean there are a lot of different reasons that people on guns.

And are you listen to be publishing this -- like some like like they're criminals.

And I just dumping is appropriate and that wasn't it home -- that it was that you're a jerk if you can own a gun.

And that I just you know I don't agree with that and and not sure exactly what they were trying to prove by doing well.

Some some thorny questions yet to be wrestled with will see what happens what -- the vice president comes up with in his recommendations to the president thank you both.

Thank you thank you can catch more of these great guests and I mean as we cover the coverage of all the week's big news stories tune into FOX News Watch.

Tomorrow Saturday 2 PM eastern time.

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Mainstream media handling of gun violence debate

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