hogwylde
New member
Here's a copy/paste of his Facebook post:
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OK... so here's the story about how I was chosen to be on CNBC's "AR-15 project." They decided to do a 1-hour special on the AR-15, since it's the lightning rod of the "gun debate" and it's the target for being banned. CNBC wanted to present both sides, including featuring "normal" people who own AR-15s.
At the production meeting, they were discussing finding "normal" people who own AR-15s. One producer said, "We need to find someone like.... a DENTIST." So, they Googled "AR-15 dentist." And, they found my blog article. They contacted me by email and asked if I'd be interested in being interviewed. MOI? Interested in being on TV?? Naaaaaaaaaaaaa! Not my style!
So, they flew down to Florida and spent some time shooting (video) me at my office being a dentist. Then they came to my son's hockey practice and shot video of me being a "hockey dad." That was yesterday.
Today, we went to the range. Before arriving, they asked me if I could recruit other AR-15 owners who were "normal" regular people. As it happens, I knew a couple of my patients who did, and they were happy to participate. We spent about 5 hours at the range doing interviews and shooting video footage of us shooting our AR-15s.
The reporter who interviewed us is a real pro. And, he did not lob up softballs for us. He hit us hard with questions... questions that represent what the antis are asking. But, I expected that, and I stood my ground with factual, unemotional counterpoints. It was all off-the-cuff for me, of course. But, I like thinking and speaking on my feet. I think I did pretty well, and all those who observed told me I did. My patients / friends also did very well.
It will be very interesting to see what parts are edited out vs. what makes the final cut.
Overall, it was actually fun. It felt good to have the opportunity to present "our side" of the debate. Ultimately, with editing, my efforts might be for naught. But, if ANY part of what I did makes it through and has a positive effect....that's a good thing.
I took my role quite seriously, as I believe it is an issue of utmost importance. It is, quite literally, an issue of life or death. If there is one instinct that is universal among living things on this Earth, it is the survival instinct... self-defense. The same people that would decry the de-tusking of elephants and the de-fanging of tigers (for the "safety" of humans) oddly (and hypocritically) support disarming fellow humans. It makes no sense to me. It defies the laws of nature.
Finally, there are millions and millions of gun owners, JUST LIKE ME, who have never committed a crime and never will. The notion of punishing law abiding citizens as a way to "prevent" crime is simply a vacuous attempt at assuaging the fears of the people (while fanning those fears at the same time). "We MUST do SOMETHING. (even if it's the wrong thing)" I say NO. We must do the RIGHT thing... always.
Thomas Jefferson said, "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences of too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it."
We must NOT infringe upon the freedoms of citizens in the name of preventing criminals from perpetrating their evil deeds.
BTW, this project is much bigger than just my 2 friends and me. They're going all over the country doing this. They expect the special to air around the middle of April.
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OK... so here's the story about how I was chosen to be on CNBC's "AR-15 project." They decided to do a 1-hour special on the AR-15, since it's the lightning rod of the "gun debate" and it's the target for being banned. CNBC wanted to present both sides, including featuring "normal" people who own AR-15s.
At the production meeting, they were discussing finding "normal" people who own AR-15s. One producer said, "We need to find someone like.... a DENTIST." So, they Googled "AR-15 dentist." And, they found my blog article. They contacted me by email and asked if I'd be interested in being interviewed. MOI? Interested in being on TV?? Naaaaaaaaaaaaa! Not my style!
So, they flew down to Florida and spent some time shooting (video) me at my office being a dentist. Then they came to my son's hockey practice and shot video of me being a "hockey dad." That was yesterday.
Today, we went to the range. Before arriving, they asked me if I could recruit other AR-15 owners who were "normal" regular people. As it happens, I knew a couple of my patients who did, and they were happy to participate. We spent about 5 hours at the range doing interviews and shooting video footage of us shooting our AR-15s.
The reporter who interviewed us is a real pro. And, he did not lob up softballs for us. He hit us hard with questions... questions that represent what the antis are asking. But, I expected that, and I stood my ground with factual, unemotional counterpoints. It was all off-the-cuff for me, of course. But, I like thinking and speaking on my feet. I think I did pretty well, and all those who observed told me I did. My patients / friends also did very well.
It will be very interesting to see what parts are edited out vs. what makes the final cut.
Overall, it was actually fun. It felt good to have the opportunity to present "our side" of the debate. Ultimately, with editing, my efforts might be for naught. But, if ANY part of what I did makes it through and has a positive effect....that's a good thing.
I took my role quite seriously, as I believe it is an issue of utmost importance. It is, quite literally, an issue of life or death. If there is one instinct that is universal among living things on this Earth, it is the survival instinct... self-defense. The same people that would decry the de-tusking of elephants and the de-fanging of tigers (for the "safety" of humans) oddly (and hypocritically) support disarming fellow humans. It makes no sense to me. It defies the laws of nature.
Finally, there are millions and millions of gun owners, JUST LIKE ME, who have never committed a crime and never will. The notion of punishing law abiding citizens as a way to "prevent" crime is simply a vacuous attempt at assuaging the fears of the people (while fanning those fears at the same time). "We MUST do SOMETHING. (even if it's the wrong thing)" I say NO. We must do the RIGHT thing... always.
Thomas Jefferson said, "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences of too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it."
We must NOT infringe upon the freedoms of citizens in the name of preventing criminals from perpetrating their evil deeds.
BTW, this project is much bigger than just my 2 friends and me. They're going all over the country doing this. They expect the special to air around the middle of April.
