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Media Matters comes up with a loser
Its headline: "NRA's Cox Deceives Over Arms Trade Treaty.".
It charges: "National Rifle Association chief lobbyist Chris Cox claims in Guns & Ammo magazine that a proposed United Nations Arms Trade Treaty is "completely unnecessary" because the United States "operates what even Hillary Clinton admits is the 'gold standard' of export controls for arms transfers.'" But Clinton made that comment while expressing U.S. support for a treaty that would "promote the same high standards for the entire international community.""
And here's the quote it gives: "On a national basis, the United States has in place an extensive and rigorous system of controls that most agree is the "gold standard" of export controls for arms transfers."
That sounds rather like what he was saying. What Media Matters elaborates is that, since she was arguing for the treaty on the basis that it would raise other countries nearer to the US standard, they think it unfair to quote her, however accurately. Of course, that leaves us with... what difference does it make whether the US signs the treaty or not?
· non-US
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So having a federal law enforcement agency export guns to drug cartels in mexico is the "gold standard" of exporting?
Over the last year or so, Media Matters has become the voice of the Joyce Foundation's anti-gun effort. Apparently, the usual outlets for the message: Violence Policy Center, Brady Campaign, and Coalition to Stop Gun Violence had stretched the limits of incredulity so far that the regular media had begun to ignore their Cassandraic ravings.
Still, Media Matters has made some interesting choices. One of their reliable "reporters" on gun issues is an admitted felon who violated a bunch of Federal gun laws while planning to torture and then kill a former neighbor who had molested him.