Want a laugh? Some gungeoneers are trying to tell me FAUX and the Moonie Times are more reliable

[Electric Monk]

than mediamatters.org

It's in regards to this story about a guy in DC who had a couple run-ins with the law because he couldn't not keep gun paraphernalia in his house, despite knowing the local laws regarding it. He has since become a conservative gunthusiast hero, apparently. Tonight was the first I'd heard of him.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/02/12/how-a-man-accused-of-threatening-his-wife-with/198027
Witaschek's legal problems began in the summer of 2012. Following alarming allegations that Witaschek threatened his "estranged wife" with a gun, police visited his home on two occasions. During both visits, police found unregistered ammunition in Witaschek's home. In Washington, D.C., only individuals who have registered firearms may possess ammunition. Witaschek was charged with violating Washington's gun laws. The charge from the first police visit was thrown out because even though Witaschek consented to a search, the visit was conducted without a warrant. Witaschek was offered a plea deal that included no jail time and a $500 fine to resolve the charge from the second police visit, which was performed with a warrant. Witaschek rejected the offer and plans to go to trial on the remaining charge.

(snip)

In some cases conservative media have even distorted the circumstances of Witaschek's case to present him as a more sympathetic figure.

He has since been found guilty by a judge.


Our resident gunthusiasts have taken his side, because gunz, of course


Anyway, here's the gungeon thread if you want to see for yourself http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172161250

Duckhunter935 asked (practically double dog dared, lol) me to post the story in GCRA to see what our reaction might be, so here it is. I don't think he wanted me to frame it quite this way, though

You're invited to reply here or there if so inclined, but don't have to by any means. It's not like we owe them anything but scorn. Sometimes I like to humor them a bit, but I have fairly thick skin.

[Hoyt]

1. Most of those gungeoneers think randy Weaver - who ran guns to racists in Ayrian Nation - is a hero

When it comes to that kind of stuff, they'll side with gun lovers, even folks like Zman and weaver, every time.. Just read some of the junk they post.

[flamin lib]

3. You have to consider the reading material.

Last edited Fri Feb 20, 2015, 01:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Police state.com, ammoland.com, bearingarms.com and breitbart.com all echo each other and present stories like this very selectively. Hey, if all these sites say the same thing it has to be true, right?

For instance it looks like Texas will pass open carry for those who have concealed carry permits. Sharon Watts of MDA said it was at least a defeat of "constitutional carry", any yahoo without training or background check carrying anywhere. Breitbart characterized that as declaring victory.

In their defense everyone likes to have closely held beliefs reinforced and tend to take sources that do that more seriously than others that may challenge those beliefs.

[jimmy the one]

4. agree, probably guilty

Yes, I think gunnut Witaschek guilty of something involving illicit gun or ammo possession. He's IUPG, innocent until proven guilty, but the overall conviction rate of someone charged with a crime is about 71%, so it's more like, innocent until proven guilty, tho probably guilty....
I think you should've provided more info, EM, needed to demonstrate his complicity, and note to unfamiliar readers that electric monk's use of faux = rightwing fox news and moonie times = rightwing 'Washington times', iirc:

media matters: A man accused of violating D.C.'s gun laws is conservative media's latest dubious "hero" in its ongoing effort to attack stronger gun laws. Right-wing media are defending a D.C. man on trial for possessing unregistered ammunition by making a flawed comparison between his situation and NBC News host David Gregory's display of a high-capacity ammunition magazine on Meet the Press..
Conservative media's complaint that D.C. financial advisor Mark Witaschek faces trial while Gregory faced no criminal charges ignores that those two situations rest upon entirely different circumstances

Witaschek's legal problems began 2012. Following alarming allegations that Witaschek threatened his "estranged wife" with a gun, police visited his home on two occasions. During both visits, police found unregistered ammunition in Witaschek's home. The charge from the first police visit was thrown out because even though Witaschek consented to a search, the visit was conducted without a warrant. Witaschek was offered a plea deal that included no jail time and a $500 fine to resolve the charge from the second police visit, which was performed with a warrant. Witaschek rejected the offer and plans to go to trial on the remaining charge.

It's a stretch to compare the allegations against Witaschek to Gregory's display of an ammunition magazine for educational purposes, yet conservative media have lauded Witaschek, crying unfair persecution. In some cases conservative media have even distorted the circumstances of Witaschek's case to present him as a more sympathetic figure.
Fox News has also hyped the flawed Gregory comparison to defend Witaschek.. "It seems to me a double standard. David Gregory of NBC when he held up on camera a 30-round magazine and he got let off scot-free." Morris concluded the segment by wishing Witaschek "the best of luck" at an upcoming court hearing.
A January 25 Witaschek appearance on Fox & Friends featured no mention of the initial domestic abuse allegation. In fact, the issue was obfuscated by co-host Tucker Carlson who asked, "Do you have a long record of violent crimes?" to which Witaschek replied, "Nothing, absolutely nothing."

Carlson said that "it's hard for our viewers to believe this happened in America," suggested we are living in a "police state," and described Witaschek as "a victim of gun control gone completely crazy." http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/02/12/how-a-man-accused-of-threatening-his-wife-with/198027