Pinthouse Pizza
Great Article About the Chicken Little Hysteria on Guns
RECEIVED Thu., May 28, 2009
Dear Editor,
Jordan Smith has once again proven herself one of the best reporters in Austin. "Gun Crazy!" [News, May 22] belongs in a basic journalism textbook as an example of how to write a levelheaded, evenhanded, nonjudgmental, and well-researched article about the Chicken Little hysteria surrounding a deeply polarizing issue. Most articles on contentious subjects head straight to the lunatics and jackasses for sensational quotes and present the moon bats of every side as if they were the mainstream. Ms. Smith found the loonies – hard to keep from tripping over them at this point – but also actively searched for clear heads and sensible opinions and let everyone speak for themselves. She also took the time to point out something that's underreported but really should be obvious: Most of the hysterical predictions of a gun-grabbing Obamapocalypse ignore the fact that the Democrats have probably figured out by now that the so-called "assault weapons" ban in 1994 tipped enough close races that it cost them control of Congress.
Thank you, Jordan Smith, for yet another outstanding piece of journalism.
Jordan Smith has once again proven herself one of the best reporters in Austin. "Gun Crazy!" [News, May 22] belongs in a basic journalism textbook as an example of how to write a levelheaded, evenhanded, nonjudgmental, and well-researched article about the Chicken Little hysteria surrounding a deeply polarizing issue. Most articles on contentious subjects head straight to the lunatics and jackasses for sensational quotes and present the moon bats of every side as if they were the mainstream. Ms. Smith found the loonies – hard to keep from tripping over them at this point – but also actively searched for clear heads and sensible opinions and let everyone speak for themselves. She also took the time to point out something that's underreported but really should be obvious: Most of the hysterical predictions of a gun-grabbing Obamapocalypse ignore the fact that the Democrats have probably figured out by now that the so-called "assault weapons" ban in 1994 tipped enough close races that it cost them control of Congress.
Thank you, Jordan Smith, for yet another outstanding piece of journalism.
Jason Meador