Last Sunday the major networks put a big megaphone in front of the NRA delusionists mouthpieces and let them broadcast their looney-tunes version of America into households across the land. Voices of gun control advocacy groups who have struggled--for years--to bring some sanity to weapons regulation in this country got much less air time.
We can do something about this. This is an action diary, and I ask you to join me in putting pressure on the so-called "Big Five" Sunday shows to widen the debate. Spend the next 5 minutes letting the major Sunday shows that you want to hear all voices in this debate, that you want to move beyond the paralysis that comes from showcasing extremists like the NRA leadership. The link for each will take you directly to a contact form or mailer. (I can't believe I'm including Fox News on this list, but given last week's developments on Morning Joe, I'm including it).
Meet the Press(NBC), David Gregory
Face the Nation (CBS), Bob Schieffer
This Week (ABC), George Stephanopoulos
Fox News Sunday (Fox), Chris Wallace
State of the Union (CNN) Cindy Crowley
Some relevant organizations and speakers are down below the orange pastry.
Who do we want to see and hear from on these shows? The Brady Campaign is probably the most vocal and successful gun control organization, but below is a partial list of organizations and people taking the lead on gun control initiatives:
American Bar Association
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Brady Campaign
Children's Defense Fund
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Joyce Foundation
League of Women Voters
Legal Community Against Violence
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
Mayors Against Illegal Guns
National Gun Victims Action Council
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Stop Handgun Violence
Violence Policy Center
Spend a few minutes perusing some of these sites, and identify some speakers you'd like to hear from. Then take a few minutes more, and contact the Sunday shows, asking them to put some real gun control advocates on the air.
Your message will be more powerful if you word it in your own way, so I'm not going to add a sample paragraph. But it will be stronger if you make it clear and specific, if you ask for a particular organization or person, for example.
Real, robust debate on this subject is the only way out of the usual "equal time" blather that typifies mainstream news analysis. The Sunday news shows have a big impact on Washington discourse. Let's get some people on the air this Sunday who have spent a lot of time weighing options and solutions, and move this policy debate into a new place.