ABC’s Diane Sawyer acted more concerned than the reporter on the scene on Monday’s Good Morning America over a small town in South Carolina arming itself against a serial killer. She asked the local sheriff, “The community has apparently been arming up and we’re reading that ammunition is selling out at some of the stores. How concerned are you that people are standing at their doorways with guns right by the side?”
ABC News correspondent Jeffrey Kofman filed a report from Gaffney, South Carolina six minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour on the five murders apparently perpetrated by the same suspect over the course of a week during late June/early July. After stating the community was “reeling over events of the last week, and it’s not overstating to say that people here are terrified,” Kofman highlighted how people in the Southern small town “left lights on and doors locked. This small South Carolina town is living in fear- and it is arming itself.”
The correspondent unemotionally interviewed a local small business owner, who bluntly admitted that he was armed:
ROBERT IRVIN, JEWELRY STORE OWNER: We’ve got guns pretty much everywhere. I’ve got a gun in the truck, and I’m carrying a gun right now.
KOFMAN (off-camera): You’ve got one on you?
IRVIN: I’ve got one on me right now. I’ve got a .25 automatic with me right now. I’m going to be ready. You have no idea. You’ve got to be ahead of this man.
Minutes later, Sawyer played a taped interview she did with the local sheriff. Near the end of the interview, she asked her “gun right by the side” question:
SAWYER: As we reported, the community has apparently been arming up and we’re reading that ammunition is selling out at some of the stores. How concerned are you that people are standing at their doorways with guns right by the side?BLANTON: The people that I’ve spoke to, they’re concerned. Some are fearful, surely, and they have a right to be concerned, but- the ones that I spoke to said they’re not going to let this man- and- and I send this message that we don’t- we’re not going to let this man put us in a bottle, in a prison, and- and dictate our lives on what he does next. We’re just trying to keep all innocent people safe, and like I say each day, this task force is getting a little bit closer, we think.
SAWYER: Well, we hope you are closer still every minute, and that we have better news soon. Thank you so much, Sheriff Bill Blanton.
Sawyer must not be familiar with the independence and self-reliance found in many people in small-town America.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
What's the matter Diane?
July 6, 2009 - 15:40 ET by jdlybrandIs she afraid someone might (gasp) try to protect themselves or their family?
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Follow The Leader
July 6, 2009 - 15:47 ET by JDWObama: I like Medvedev
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny.
When government fears the people there is liberty.
Aye, there's the rub...
July 6, 2009 - 15:52 ET by moderncommentaries83It's perfectly fine for the President, celebrities, and other left-wing personalities to defend themselves. Many can afford to hire (or have someone, like the taxpayers, pay for) armed security personnel to keep THEM and their family safe.
But when average, small-town John Q. Public takes up arms to defend himself and his family, it's not allowable. How dare we peons think our lives are as worthy of protection from violent, pyschotic thugs as the liberal elites Diane Sawyer rubs elbows with.
And that's the question I'd like people to start asking of these anti-gun types:
Why is my life, and the life of my family, not equal to that of the countless celebrities and politicians who can afford to hire armed personal security guards to protect them?
And I wouldn't stop asking it until I got a straight answer. My feeling tells me is the champions of "equality" think some lives (liberal elites) are more important than your average Joe. Because, just as most people are deterred by the mere presence of an armed security guard, most criminals will cease and desist their criminal activities if a law-abiding citizen merely shows them a gun. Firing a shot is, in most cases, not even necessary.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
In addition, when pols and
July 6, 2009 - 18:45 ET by Dan DiegoIn addition, when pols and hi-vis celebs visit an area they require extra security from local law enforcement which leaves locals vulnerable or forced to pay the overtime.
Good Sheriff
July 6, 2009 - 15:49 ET by BeanManThis Sheriff sounds like a reasonable guy. If he were like our excellent Sheriff right here in Frederick County MD, he would be less concerned with the people who have guns and more concerned about the people who don't have guns and of course even more concerned about the killer.
There wouldn't be much sympathy for the killer around here when he got caught (or shot). It sounds like pretty soon he'll pick the wrong house.
Since government is coercion, politics is largely the exercise of deception regarding the intended use of coercion - George Orwell
Sheriff Chuck Jenkins is
July 6, 2009 - 16:11 ET by MazziSheriff Chuck Jenkins is awesome! In this fascist state, Jenkins and
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett are two of the few voices of reason. Frederick is
being encroached though. It's just a matter of time till all the
bleeding heart NIMBYs from down the road kill what used to be beautiful
about our little city.
"I would rather be historically accurate than politically correct" ~ My husband's T-Shirt
Sawyer is a retard, she
July 6, 2009 - 15:51 ET by George S PattonSawyer is a retard, she won't understand until she is raped and beaten. Typical liberal moron, "we hope,we hope", don't do anything just hope.
Defend yourself!
July 6, 2009 - 15:59 ET by IckGosh, I know! This man that has committed these 5 heinous murders could... could... [gasp]....... be INJURED or even KILLED whilst committing his next crime. Don't think of the children! Think of the criminals rights being violated!
If there was some kind of nut-job like this running around my community you wouldn’t find me defenseless. Remember: When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away! It isn’t the fault of the police if an able adult CHOOSES to be a helpless victim.
For goodness sake I sure hope people at least try to stand up to this guy and defend themselves.
Size matters
July 6, 2009 - 15:53 ET by FranksamA .25 auto is not enough, IMO. A 9MM or .40 is better protection, and inside the house, a 12 gauge pump can't be beat. The fact that ammo is selling out is not unique. My favorite carry is a .380 auto, but I haven't been able to buy ammo for the last three months.
Coincidence, I think not.
franksam
July 6, 2009 - 16:03 ET by bassndudeMy personal carry is a Ruger .45 auto. My in home is a .44 mag loaded with .44 Spc. hollow points. There is a side by side 12 ga also. Charter arms has a new revolver out, its a .327 with a 2 or 4 inch barrel. Balistics on this round is impressive.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
I don't have any handgun
July 6, 2009 - 16:14 ET by ConservativeRexI don't have any handgun that doesn't start with a .4. I agree a 12 gage inside the house prevents it from going across the street and hitting your neighbor. Besides, when I talk to people about it, I use this example. When you are awaken at 3 AM would you rather have a weapon that shoots a relative circle about the size of a man's chest, or a hole the size of a pencil? The choice is obvious.
Is South Carolina a concealed carry state?
My personal fave at this
July 6, 2009 - 16:35 ET by BuxomAnnieMcGreggorMy personal fave at this moment is my Kimber Ultra CDP II .45 . It's hand crafted spacifically for enhanced concealed carry and has the stopping power of a Mack truck. It has low profile Tritium night sights which makes shooting in complete darkness a deadly accurate advantage. I just love this country!
"We retort..... you decide."
I agree Annie. Besides,
July 6, 2009 - 16:42 ET by bassndudeI agree Annie. Besides, shotguns are so messy and would really stain my wood floors. A .44 with an under barrel laser site is deadly at 15 to 50 feet. Gut shoot a guy, most of the blood is inside. Very little mess to clean up.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
I'll admit it, I'm jealous.
July 6, 2009 - 17:29 ET by SpaceManSpiffI'll admit it, I'm jealous.
.25 is too small
July 6, 2009 - 17:28 ET by SpaceManSpiffPersonally, I wouldn't go with anything smaller than a .32. .25 ACP is only fractionally better than .22LR. The 'pop' can be effective, but otherwise, the bark is worse than the bite.
I'm still waiting for my
July 6, 2009 - 17:38 ET by bigtimerI'm still waiting for my anniversary present in Oct....
I want a Snub-Nose S&W .44...and I will get it...can't wait.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
HEY BT!!! I think I heard
July 6, 2009 - 18:39 ET by BuxomAnnieMcGreggorHEY BT!!! I think I heard somewhere that the snub-nose was named after Obama.... or that his political weapon of choice is a "snub-nose".... or somethin' like that.... just sayin' ;~)
"We retort..... you decide."
Of course, Diane has no
July 6, 2009 - 15:55 ET by bassndudeOf course, Diane has no idea which end of the gun to point at said target. She is a weapon moron. It is ignorance, like hers, that cause problems for all gun owners. She thinks that because she would run around shooting at everything and everyone, IF she had a gun, that we all do.
Being a moron with a TV show is the real crime here.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Hey Bass, how are
July 6, 2009 - 22:52 ET by NL207Hey Bass, how are you?
Sawyer is a twit. You can't know what this is until you've dealt with it personally: resisted evil on your own. Sawyer is just some fearful twit who will allow evil to dominate good.
I surprised anyone can even
July 6, 2009 - 16:06 ET by kangarooI surprised anyone can even get bullets. To buy them online there is 2 month wait and you can't even get some different types of bullets anymore. The prices have gone through the roof, hell just to get some chincy .22 bullets or shotgun shells in this town in central florida is a stoke of luck.
misposted
July 6, 2009 - 16:10 ET by Mazzimisposted
Diane Sawyer is a nimrod,
July 6, 2009 - 16:23 ET by HockeyKidDiane Sawyer is a nimrod, and ABC is hell-bent on "proving" that guns are bad, bad, bad.
They recently did a hit piece that supposedly represented a year-long study of self-defense with firearms. In it, they set up college students who were interested in self-defense to take training and participate in a set of "experiments".
In their experiments, they used training weapons in a lecture hall scenario where a gunman suddenly storms in and starts shooting. In almost every case, the armed student lost the confrontation. Why? Because the single armed student was always sitting in the same place--first row, center seat--and the "crazed gunman" was actually a trained firearms instructor who was TOLD IN ADVANCE where the armed student was located. So naturally, he storms in, shoots the lone armed student, and the "experiment" is over. Stupid. Even when the student managed to react and get a shot or two on target, Sawyer's crowd criticized them for the potential of harming fellow students. I guess they overlooked the fact that all the students would be dead if the invader wasn't neutralized. Viewers need to understand ABC's agenda any time they present a story with gun-related content. They are completely (and willfully) ignorant of the facts.
Oh, and they'd love to talk to me. .45 in my belt, .380 in my pocket, and my wife's deadly with a 9mm. I pity the fool that tries to attack her...
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Is this the same program
July 6, 2009 - 18:46 ET by Chaitealoverthat I came across while channel surfing? The one where the armed student was wearing an oversized shirt hanging outside his pants and then couldn't get the gun out of his belt? I took one look, muttered "stupid liberal TV show," and kept surfing.
Chai
“When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson
That's the one. They
July 6, 2009 - 21:40 ET by HockeyKidThat's the one. They stacked the deck so heavily against the students, it was almost as bad as when NBC rigged pickup trucks with explosives to "prove" how dangerous their gas tanks were.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Oh the Humanity!
July 6, 2009 - 16:25 ET by mizflame98SAWYER: As we reported, the community has apparently been arming up and
we’re reading that ammunition is selling out at some of the stores. How
concerned are you that people are standing at their doorways with guns
right by the side?
That's not the worst of it. These same people could have bibles nearby too.
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds”
Samuel Adams
Gun+Bible= Patriot
July 6, 2009 - 16:53 ET by nolotrippenGun+Bible= Patriot
I keep at gun at the ready
July 6, 2009 - 16:46 ET by jistincaseI keep at gun at the ready in case one of the state run media terrosists comes to my door.
Sawyer and all your
July 6, 2009 - 16:52 ET by bigtimerEdit and delete
I will have to see if I can get that link here later.
Sorry Chai and DD.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Hey, BT
July 6, 2009 - 18:41 ET by ChaitealoverYour link led me to a sign-on page for Google's G-mail. Is that where you meant me to go? I was curious about it because my grandson goes to school in Big Sky Country [UM] and has become even more of a second amendment supporter than he was before.
Chai
“When all government...in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided...” Thomas Jefferson
Un no Chai... I just
July 6, 2009 - 18:48 ET by bigtimerUn no Chai...
I just clicked the link here twice, it went where it was supposed to on my end...it's a picture that says it all.
Anybody else having problems?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Just tried it
July 6, 2009 - 18:55 ET by Dan DiegoGmail Temporary Error (404)
"We’re sorry, but your Gmail account is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience and suggest trying again in a few minutes."
Chai & DD.... What the
July 6, 2009 - 19:48 ET by bigtimerChai & DD....
What the big old sign said in a great open field on a sunny Big Sky Day was:
"Prayer is the best way to meet the Lord...Trespassing is Faster!"
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Evening BT
July 6, 2009 - 19:57 ET by AnotherFedUpOneYet another Proud Gun Owner here.....one in the house and one in the truck....and like another poster here....neither of them less than a 40cal....
Recieved this today and thought it fitting to the thread:
TRUE STORY FROM...
"THE HOUSTON HERALD NEWSPAPER"
IN HOUSTON , TEXAS
MARCH 5th, 2009
~
Last Thursday Night Around Midnight,
A Woman From Houston , Texas Was Arrested,
Jailed, And Charged With Manslaughter
For Shooting A Man 6 Times In The Back
As He Was Running Away With Her Purse.
~
The Following Monday Morning,
The Woman Was Called In Front Of The
Arraignment Judge, Sworn In,
And Asked To Explain Her Actions.
~
The Woman Replied,
"I Was Standing At The Corner Bus Stop
For About 15 Minutes, Waiting For The
Bus To Take Me Home After Work.
I Am A Waitress At A Local Cafe...
~
I Was There Alone,
So I Had My Right Hand On My Pistol,
That Was In My Purse, That Was Hung
Over My Left Shoulder.
~
All Of A Sudden I Was Being
Spun Around Hard To My Left.
As I Caught My Balance, I Saw A Man
Running Away From Me With My Purse.
~
I Looked Down At My Right Hand And I Saw
That My Fingers Were Wrapped Tightly
Around My Pistol.
The Next Thing I Remember Is Saying Out Loud,
"No Way Punk! Your Not Stealing My
Pay Check And Tips."
~
I Raised My Right Hand, Pointed My Pistol
At The Man Running Away From Me With My Purse,
And Squeezed The Trigger Of My Pistol 6 Times!
~
When Asked By The Arraignment Judge,
"Why Did You Shoot The Man 6 Times?
~
The Woman Replied Under Oath,
"Because, When I Pulled The Trigger Of
My Pistol The 7th Time, It Only Went Click."
~
The Woman Was Acquitted Of All Charges.
And She Was Back At Work,
At The Cafe, The Next Day!
Now that's Gun Control....
FedUp.... Hey
July 6, 2009 - 20:53 ET by bigtimerFedUp....
Hey neighbor....I love it...and...
Waitresses Unite!
We know how to serve it...Right!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
SAWYER: How
July 6, 2009 - 17:06 ET by gopsteveSAWYER: How concerned are you that people are standing at their doorways with guns right by the side?
Here is what should have been the response:
BLANTON: I am more concerned about the unarmed citizens, and thanks for letting the suspect know we are arming ourselves, Diane.
PS - I am NOT a gun owner, but totally support the 2nd Ammendment.
Remember, when seconds
July 6, 2009 - 17:51 ET by Ruths husband BenRemember, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho
Ben
July 6, 2009 - 18:42 ET by pagg30Spot on! Trying to catch bad guys after the crime is the job of the police. Not becoming a victim is everyones job.
My choices for defense:
Carry: Sig 226 9mm JHP
Home: Remington 870 12ga 00 buck
Safety comes from practice!
"we’re reading that
July 6, 2009 - 18:52 ET by Dan Diego"we’re reading that ammunition is selling out at some of the stores."
Ammo has been selling out since the first Tuesday of Nov 08.
jessieH
July 6, 2009 - 19:10 ET by jessieHjessieH All Barack Channell is just a bunch of hacks. The people in S.C. has the right to defend themselves from harm. The sooner the liberals understand this the better the country will be, but don't hold your breath. I have guns, too. I keep them loaded, just in case ACORN shows up on my doorstep. Deal with that!!!!!
Good News, Apparently The Killer Is Dead
July 6, 2009 - 19:44 ET by DutchHere's the breaking news:
http://www.wltx.com/...
Although not entirely unexpected, it's pathetic she's allowed her personal agenda to populate her line of questioning. People were not only arming up because they have a right to, but because this guy was a real any time, any where threat. Three of the victims were killed in their homes, the other two (a man and his 15 year old daughter) were killed in their family's furniture store.
These victims weren't prostitutes or drug dealers, whose lifestyle invited the possibility of death, nor did they err by walking by themselves down dark alleys in bad neighborhoods late at night; they were simply living their lives, and this guy MURDERED them FOR NO REASON.
He was killed when he pulled a gun on arresting officers. I say THANK GOD these citizens in Gaffney were armed and ready to shoot. Sadly, I think Diane Sawyer is too old and too dumb to ever understand this.
Hypocrit
July 6, 2009 - 19:56 ET by nadadhimmiHey, I can flat out assure you that ABC studio has armed guards at THEIR door protecting Sawyers and their elitist asses. With guns "right there". Typical, chickenstuff liberals like O'Donnell, Mellencamp, Springsteen, et al all have armed gaurds because they are "SPECIAL" don't ya know. The little people don't matter you see. Sawyer, Gibson, Couric, Williams, are, with the politicians, the epitome of OLIGARCY!! They must be ridiculed, laughed at, and rendered irrelevant by their non-existant ratings. People have caught on to your crap Diane.
Wouldn't want to hurt a
July 6, 2009 - 20:43 ET by mostlymoderateWouldn't want to hurt a serial-killer or anything, right?
In these times of Hope and
July 6, 2009 - 21:37 ET by RR GOPIn these times of Hope and Change, the arrival of a New Progressive Era I am shocked, bedazzled mind you, that anyone out there would want to hurt anyone else.
Surely they'll "find" some Bill O'Reilly or Glen Beck books in this guy's house.
If they found Rules for Radicals or Prairie Fire, we would never know of course.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Serial Killer shot dead
July 7, 2009 - 07:23 ET by RJWallIn related news, the Gaffney serial killer was caught breaking into a home in Dallas, NC and shot dead by police. An alert neighbor saw a suspicious man in the neighborhood and called police.
Dude has a long criminal record of course and was only out of jail a couple of months.
http://www.gastongazette.com/news/dead-35720-officer-shot.html
saw it comming
July 7, 2009 - 10:20 ET by ozarkapeI saw this amo shortege comming and started buying amo right after the election.For those of you who didn't see this comming you better search for black markets because buying legal amo is a thing of the past.One more industry down the drain,but I guess bullets made in Mexico are better than nothing.
Korean wisdom
July 7, 2009 - 16:12 ET by Unsane"The law is far, the fist is near." - Korean proverb
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Dianne Sawyer
July 7, 2009 - 16:52 ET by Six String SpiffWhy does she ALWAYS look like she she just saw a donut get up and walk away? That silly look on her face is trademark. Anyway, it's despicable that this airhead is more concerned about people arming themselves for protection rather than how fast these poor people have been thrust into a horror movie.
Dear MSM,
Please die in a fiery crash.
- SSS