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Joyce-sponsored antigun group in Ohio
Chad Baus of the Buckeye Firearms Ass'n has a detailed discussion of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence and how it works to create a "phantom public." Very interesting set of tactics. Apparently it's a tiny organization, a fistful of staffers supported by grants from Joyce Foundation. But the media promotes it as if it were a large public body. Then each of the staffers, when testifying, will identify themselves, not as its staff, but as representing some other segment of the public (doctors, church organizations, whatever is applicable to their general line of work). In the end, three or four people can make themselves sound like a large segment of the public (it helps, of course, that the media plays along with the game).
Comments
Here's how you deflate that hot air balloon: a R2KBA watchdog attends the hearings in which they testify, and testifies him/her self thusly:
I apologize to the Committee for taking it's time, but there's a subterfuge here which I think needs to be exposed to the light of reason.
I have here a list of organized medical groups in this state, Madam Chair. I would like to give it to Mr. X who just testified for Group Y. I would request that the Chair recall Mr. X and ask him which, if any, of these organizations are actually on record as having supported Group Y's position on this Bill. You see, Madam Chair, anyone may make any claim at any time, but since the matter before your committee involves limiting rights currently held by citizens, I believe it necessary to make this closer examination before revoking those rights in the name of (state meme).
Posted by: Rivrdog at January 4, 2006 09:50 AM