R. Doug Wicker — Author

A SIG Sauer Semiautomatic Pistol

Many of you may be wondering why nearly all my blogs have been travel photography related for the past several months at the expense of other areas of personal interest such as aviation safety (and Malaysia Air 370 in particular) and handguns (and the most recent high-profile mass shootings). The reason is simple: I’ve been out of the country more than in it from mid-April through the first week of June, and almost all the blogs for the past several months were prewritten and scheduled well in advance of current events.

Since last I addressed gun control there have been several high-profile shootings accompanied by the inevitable calls to strip from the law abiding tools that were misused by, let’s face it, criminals and the insane. And readers of this blog are aware of my stand on that — The rationale for taking away handguns from those who do not misuse them because of those who do is the same rationale that at some point may be used to strip from you the ability to own a car or even possess a kitchen knife (and, yes, there really is a movement currently gathering momentum in the United Kingdom to do away with chef knives beyond an arbitrarily decided upon length).

While you’re at it, take a look at this incredibly misinformed anti-knife individual:

Let us now discuss the 2014 Isla Vista killings (not to be confused with the 2001 Isla Vista killings, more of which you’ll read about shortly). You would be forgiven for thinking that I should refer to them as the Isla Vista shootings, but that would ignore the facts. Despite the media’s fixation on the three deaths that occurred through the use of perpetrator Elliot Rodger’s three 9mm weapons — a Glock 34 and two SIG Sauer P226 handguns — the implements used in the other three deaths received far less press coverage. That’s because there are far more Hoplophobics (people with an irrational fear of firearms) in this world than there are people who are deathly afraid of knives (aichmophobia), machetes, hammers, and BMWs (ochophobia).

You’ll notice how a slyly snuck in that reference to Mr. Rodger’s BMW 328i Coupe. And if you’ve been reading my blog posts for any length of time you know that I routinely post parodies of gun control arguments when someone misuses a vehicle to mow down some unsuspecting victim, either through impairment or intentional assault and murder. (See: When Will We Reign in these Deliverers of Death? and Hate to Say I Told You So, But . . . )

Which brings us to the 2001 Isla Vista killings, the abuse of Freedom of the Press, and the media’s role in copycat atrocities. Elliot Rodgers killed six people on May 23 of this year. Only three died by gunfire. Three others were reportedly killed by stabbing. Although police have not yet identified the implement used, they did confiscate a knife, a machete, and a hammer from the scene of the stabbings. An additional thirteen people were wounded — eight by gunfire, four by BMW, and one unattributed injury.

So, what has this to do with a mass killing in Isla Vista some thirteen years earlier? Ever wonder about the route Elliot Rodger took when he decided to turn a ton and a half of metal into an instrument of assault and mayhem? It just so happens to coincide with the route taken by mass murderer David Attias when he took his deadly 1991 Saab onto the same street — Sabado Tarde — and mowed down five defenseless pedestrians. Final toll: Four dead, one critically injured with crushed legs and severe head injuries.

Think that’s a coincidence? Neither do I. But as long as the media grant psychos “fame” and “glory” (at least in their eyes) lunatics will continue striving for recognition in the only way they can get it in the most expeditious manner available to them.

So, is the press to blame? While you’re pondering that question, remember this: Although Adam Lanza’s motive for the Sandy Hook shooting was never stated in the final report, those close to the investigation stated quite adamantly that Mr. Lanza considered himself in competition with Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivek, and wanted to better Mr. Breivek’s “score” of 77 dead and 319 wounded.  By the way, Mr. Breivek did not need a gun for his first 217 victims (eight dead, 209 wounded); he used fertilizer and fuel oil for that.

At any rate, while I feel for Mr. Richard Martinez, father of Rodger gunshot victim Christopher Michaels-Martinez, I vehemently disagree with his assertion that, “Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA.” No, Mr. Martinez. Your son died because an insane person took his life. That same person took lives with a stabbing implement as well, and attempted to murder others with a BMW. Let’s put the blame squarely where it belongs, because as Mr. Rodger proved that day, he didn’t need a gun to kill, maim, or injure. He merely needed the will to do so and a media stage upon which to perform.

As I’ve noted before, I find it odd that those in the media now advocating for restrictions on Amendment 2 offer nothing in terms of restraint on their part (such as refusing to publicly identify by name the perpetrators of such crimes) in the exercise of Amendment 1.