ABC's Ross: 'Some Say' Right to Bear Arms a Scandal

Yes, "Good Morning America" did let us hear from a member of the VA Tech gun club saying he wished he could have had a concealed carry permit and "that I would not have felt that I was totally just a helpless victim at the mercy of this lunatic." But when it came to people in positions of authority, GMA, during it's first half-hour this morning, aired only the views of anti-gun advocates in a segment on how Cho got his guns. And a senior ABC reporter passed along the lament of those opposing the right to bear arms.

Narrating the segment, ABC investigative reporter Brian Ross [file photo] rolled a clip of Josh Horwitz of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, who complained: "Virginia's [attitude] is let's sell it and not find out anything about them and that may have led to a tragedy in this case."

That, of course, is palpably untrue, as Virginia like all other states subjects handgun buyers to a background check. That was done in this case, and Cho, who had no criminal record, apparently purchased his guns legally.

Later, NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly seemed to be shocked by the Second Amendment. Speaking of Virginia's approach, he complained: "It is, quite frankly, an easy state in which to buy a weapon. The philosophy is that it appears to be an entitlement to own a handgun."

Well, yes. There is an entitlement. It's called the Bill of Rights. To paraphrase one of Rush's incomparable parodies: the Second Amendment -- yeah, it's in there.

Ross closed the segment by lamenting our constitutional rights: "The fact is, until he stepped on the campus with his weapons, everything about Cho's purchase of those two guns was entirely legal under current U.S. And Virginia laws. Some say, Diane, that's the scandal."

Scandalous, that darn Constitution.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net