Gun Rights On Primetime TV

Gun Rights On Primetime TV

National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. –-(Ammoland.com)- NRA members are rightfully concerned about the protection of gun rights and the longevity of the shooting sports.

We know the successes we have enjoyed in the past are due in no small part to our strength in numbers.

Furthermore, the key to maintaining and building on our past victories is not only to sustain, but to also grow the size of our organization. To that end, NRA tries to provide and promote opportunities for people to get involved in the shooting sports.

The media, anti-gun groups and the entertainment industry, however, have long portrayed the shooting community as archaic, extremist, and dangerously outside the mainstream of society. Consequently, we have received recent inquiries from members and non-members alike, who have expressed skepticism at several recent attempts by cable channels to showcase the shooting community via new gun-related reality programming.

NRA has always sought to educate the public that the Second Amendment protects more than a hunter’s deer rifle and now the media, of all people, appear to be helping us do that.

The History Chanel’s Top Shot debuted last year and features teams of contestants who compete in various shooting challenges with the goal of winning a cash prize. The History Channel has additionally run the show Tales of the Gun and other firearm-related shows for years.

The Discovery Channel’s Sons of Guns showcases custom gun manufacturer Red Jacket Firearms and its owner Will Hayden. The show has drawn a degree of criticism from some quarters of the shooting community who think the show focuses too much attention on “black rifles” and thus perpetuates what they consider a negative stereotype that alienates the non-shooting public, rather than win them over.

While we can understand the thought process leading some to suggest these shows do more harm than good, at the end of the day the anti-gun crowd doesn’t care what type of gun it is or how it is used. If they see a .50 BMG Barrett rifle (Top Shot Season 2) they say it is too big and shoots too far. A semi-automatic AK-47 variant (frequently appearing on Sons of Guns) shoots too many rounds and frightens them.

Even the more traditional hunting-themed shows are seen by the anti-gun crowd as “glorifying a violent gun culture.”

These shows provide exposure to firearms and sporting activities that would otherwise be missed. Some gun owners are not necessarily interested in hunting or traditional target shooting. Instead, some are attracted to faster-paced competition shooting and tactical firearms. These programs allow those with little or no prior connection to the firearms community to see the variety of shooting sports and firearms that are available to them. They also provide a counter balance to shows like the National Geographic Channel’s Wild Justice program, which often portrays gun owners as drug-addicted poachers.

No TV program will please everyone, but in the end, shows like Top Shot and Sons of Guns are presenting gun owners to the public as the legitimate competitive shooters and law-abiding businessmen, that in reality, they are.

One way to further the fight to protect our gun rights is to add new shooting enthusiasts and showcase the shooting sports. These programs are another way to do so.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

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Bob Cassady

Finally a REAL-ity show for the rest of us. I love the show Son's of Guns and try to catch every episode. Is it faked, are there multiple takes? I don't know, and neither do any of you. It's a reality show, they do what they do for TV. Is it interesting – yes I think it is; is it informitive – I think it is; is it entertaining -hell yeah, it is to me; is it for everybody – no not by a long shot (pun intended). Bottom line is this, if you like it then watch it and… Read more »

Rich Gangi

….I am a citizen of the greatest country in the world…my right to defend myself using an appropriate amount of force for the situation is gauranteed by our constitution…those who do not appreciate the grandness of that privilege will base their opinions on almost anything except the statistical truth…they hopefully are not setting themselves up to be victims…I myself do enjoy both reality based competetive gun shows mentioned above as well as sporting shows depicting effective conservation thru hunting…

Paul England

SOG is an interesting show, as is Pawn Stars. I take them both with a grain of skepticism. Many in the non gun community do not understand Will's opening statements about class III license requirement for machineguns and silencers. This ignorance may cause them undue fear. The show is flashy, perhaps depicting a micro segment of the gun owning society. The truth is mainstream gun owners' lives are to boring to televise. I have never scene a home show magnify the location of fire extinguishers in kitchens or grilling areas. I have only once scene a brief discussion of a… Read more »

Ed Talmo

SOG is desperately attempting to find followers although the program lacks intelligent direction. We don't need a series like GUN NUTS. This type of programing goes hand in hand with GUN PSYCHIC the story of a southern gentlemen who who can hold a weapon and tell you it's history. Please get back to intelligent programing and reality!

Richard Corley

I think that this is a great show, it covers areas that are not seen in other shows, like a hunting show. It gives me great satisfaction seeing different ideas above the regular shows.

JD

You do know that much of SOG is faked, right? They do no over the counter retail sales. Their "showroom" was built specifically for the show. The people that come in with projects are not real customers, or are "customers" that have been paid a fee by the show.

The show is about as "real" as a scripted drama. Much of the "customer" interaction is scripted or uses multiple takes.

Jeff Cedar

A show like Sons of Guns will attract negative attention from one or both "sides" no matter how they "portray" firearms. I'm an avid fan of SOG and what I find important is that the show stays truthful to what they do and who they are. Skewing a show such as this to favor one opinion or the other strictly for ratings would be appallingly evident and become quickly nauseating. Some other "reality" shows have followed that formula and are "reenacting" what they say really happens. Truthfully reenacting reality makes it just another fake soap opera.