The picture of James Harrison’s personalized Draco. (Photo: Instagram)
President Trump released today his much-anticipated Fake News Awards, a laundry list of the untrue articles and tweets published in the past year by members of mainstream media.
But fake news encompasses more than just simple fabrications. Exaggeration also falls within the expertise of our venerable journalists, as a recent “controversy” surrounding New England Patriots linebacker James Harrison shows.
Harrison posted an image of his new AK-47 pistol, which had been engraved with his number and nickname, “Deebo.” “That new Deebo Draco,” Harrison says of the gun that still includes the tags from the manufacturer.
Many of his commenters praised the post, but to read the coverage from the Huffington Post and the Boston Globe, you might think that Harrison’s photo sparked a firestorm and that the Patriots were at risk of losing Sunday’s playoff game against the Jaguars.
Mark Shanahan at the Boston Globe begins breathlessly, “Yikes. Newest Patriot James Harrison posted a picture of an assault rifle on his Instagram account because, well, we’re not sure.”
Ron Dicker at the Huffington Post follows suit: “Here’s a distraction the New England Patriots may not need as they prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in the AFC Championship.”
The articles exclusively highlight Harrison’s critics on Instagram, saying, as Dicker does, that the post “invited backlash (and some admirers).”
While it’s true that a number of commenters criticized Harrison, the vast majority of users expressed support for the linebacker.
“You’re a role model man. I love it and good to see a 2nd amendment lover on my favorite team. Let’s go Pats,” one user wrote.
“Sick piece bro. Enjoy your new baby,” another commented.
Many comments react to the small number of Harrison’s critics: “When you trigger a Libtard, you’re doing something right. Go Deebo!!!!”
SEE ALSO: NFL Quarterback Forced to Defend Bird Hunting after Twitter Backlash
Shanahan and Dicker explain that Harrison is a long-time supporter of the Second Amendment, at one point posing shirtless for Men’s Journal while holding two handguns. Harrison also expressed support for arming teachers and students to prevent school shootings.
These facts are relevant to Harrison’s Instagram post, but both articles also include an account of a 2008 incident in which Harrison broke down a bedroom door and slapped his girlfriend in the face. All charges were dropped when the linebacker entered a counseling program, and the incident didn’t involve a gun.
Neither article expresses it outright, but the implication is clear: a man who likes guns must also be prone to violence. James Harrison’s support of gun rights and his actions towards his girlfriend are connected, and NFL fans should be cautious before supporting anyone who enjoys shooting sports.
It’s ridiculous, of course, but that’s the state of journalism today. Shanahan and Dicker ignore the thousands of Americans who support gun rights while highlighting the small number who oppose. If Americans want truthful firearm coverage, they might have to turn to other news sources.
I have a fully automatic squirt gun that cannot shoot semi auto. Its a garden hose.
I have “A List” – a list of companies, organizations, State “govern”ments, and individuals who continue to display anti-American, anti-Constitution, anti-Military, and anti-Commonsense. That list continues to grow as more and more entities and individuals join the “sheeple” movement in this Country. Most of the “news” we are regurgitated each day, is at best inaccurate (“Assault Weapons et al for example), and at worst simply far left opinionated mumbo jumbo specifically written to parrot the beliefs or attitudes of the owner or CEO of whatever rag is spewing it. Now for the good news – most Americans are streetwise mutts who can quickly identify BS from reality (because they, unlike the uber wealthy, famous, or self entitled elected “leaders” are out in society every day, unprotected, and working for a living by the sweat of their brow or back). We identify the morons and bad guys (and gals) out there and refuse to give them any of our hard-earned scratch. And eventually their ivory towers and BS ideas and products are no longer viable. A great example is Hollywierd. Over the last decade that cesspool of immoral perverts has seen their revenue continue to drop as more and more of us say “No more” and simply stop going to see their crap. Another wonderful example is Donald J. Trump! Simply watch old news broadcasts from early 2016 and fast forward to election night 2016 and see how almost everything they said earlier falls to pieces – BS, fake news, out-of-touch with Americans, etc. etc. So keep the faith – 2020 will be another fabulous November election as we all get out and vote and send more Demorats to the holes they came from.
I see a theme here of top athletes chasing their girlfriends into bathrooms. Luckily this chap didn’t spunk off a full mag into a closed door…
Well I own 2 of these but just a few inches more barrel, and of course more then a few MAC style firearms. I say this mainly to show I am a Gun Guy, and have been for over 50 years. The point of this email is Simply to say, Lets Knock Off The Fake News Stuff. Yes Trump coined it, but then most of what he says he says with a Forked Tongue. News is News, I watch them all, and they all have Fake News. So it boils down to the news I don’t like or agree with is Fake. Well My Friend that makes you a Fake. Dave
Isn’t it ironic that we have ever increasing numbers of liberals who are too scared and in most cases incapable of picking up a weapon trying to control the country by banning weapons. But if we didn’t have real men and women fully capable of picking up a weapon defending this country there wouldn’t be a country for the liberals to try to control.
That firearm fits the definition of Assault Weapon in Massachusetts . . . and is illegal to own there. Unless of course it can be shown to have existed in Mass in ’94 or earlier.
It’s a pistol, not a rifle….
Harrison probably still ‘lives’ in Pittsburgh where his kids have grown up and go to school.
A “distraction”??? From what, the game???
Are we to believe that someone is going to be ‘distracted’ because they’re having a cow about a player buying a gun??
THAT’S the definition of a snowflake, right there.
But is IS Dicker at the HuffPo, so that tells you pretty much all you need to know.
OMG! Is that what Tom Brady caught his thumb in! Those things ARE dangerous!
Don’t forget the Boston Globalist recently printed an article calling for the banning and confiscation of all guns.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/boston-globe-on-confiscation-hand-over-your-weapons/#comment-162324
As with Maj Toure, spreading the word of responsible gun ownership is a good thing.
Hope he doesn’t being that to MA. Everything is illegal…except pot…and being an illegal immigrant…and defrauding the system for food stamps/gov’t benefits…go pats
Not a good idea to post that picture. Nice gun!!!
“Assault Rifle” !!!!
Umm…..pretty sure that is considered to be a pistol.
Don’t let the truth get in your way.
To a libtard, anything that goes “bang” is an “assault rifle”….
Rule #1 never post pictures of your guns on social media
HOLUP! The MSM is STILL a thing?!?