New WV doc on gun rights
Stinnett is on the far right in this picture of young Republicans of Wood County.
Ashley C. Stinnett is a Huntington-based actor, director, and writer who is best known for his indie horror film, “Lake Forest.” It is definitely one of the best indie horror films made in WV during the last few years. His most recent creation is a 29 minute documentary, “The Second Amentment - A Guarantee of Freedom.” It will have its premiere at the 2008 Appalachian Film Festival next month in Huntington.
Since this film is a total attack on all attempts to limit fire arm ownership in this country, I have to confess that I am one of the “bad guys” this film attacks. I am one of those “liberals” who greatly wish to control ownership of all handguns, military style weapons, bombs, etc.
However, I watched the entire film and was interested in seeing what logic was used. The film even quotes Hitler about what a mistake it would be to let conquered people keep their fire arms. I have to admit that I have some sympathy concerning this issue - namely, that local militia should always have independent control of weapons. ( I have read that that is really the only right the Second Amendment was really meant to insure.)
The main interviewees in this film are two WV Republican leaders - David Tyson and Congresswoman Shelley M. Capitol. It is an indication of what this film is really about when Tyson is only identified as a “lawyer”,” not the former chairman of the WV Republican Party. There is a Democratic WV politician, Doug Reynolds, interviewed to “balance” the discussion. He also extensively interviews Tom Roten, a Clear Channel talk show host, with whom the director worked - according to his own resume.
Probably the most quoted reason for NOT restricting gun ownership is that criminals will always find a way to get guns, thus leaving non-criminals defenseless if they are prevented from getting weapons. WV was recently in the national press for being one of the states where criminals from the Northeast could come to buy many weapons and sell them making a large profit at home.
As a gun control advocate myself, I would say that is one of a hundred straw-men used by the gun industry, their direct lobbying arm, the N.R.A., and fanatic hunters. No one has ever said that everyone should have all of their guns taken away. It is a total lie, and it is time that the lie is revealed. NRA leader Charlton Heston may have given this state to the Bush campaign by holding a rally in Beckley shortly before the 2000 election.
I myself grew up with a hunter father and older brother. However, I have never actually gone hunting though I have fired a rifle. I did not enjoy it. However, I do believe that all children should take some sort of gun safety course to learn how to handle them, what a safety is, etc. There are billions of weapons in our country, and all children should know how to treat them properly.
As director of Film Services for the WV Library Commission, I purchased several fire arms safety films. I was aware that WV is a leading state for deer hunters. I even bought a film about a blind turkey hunter. People in WV have been hunting for hundreds of years, and the hunters do help control large herds of deer, bear, etc. However, I often recall that my grandfather for the last decade of his life raised pheasants on his farm because of the over “harvesting” of pheasants by hunters including my father who provided us with delicious pheasant meat. ( Shortly before I left Minnesota, I attended a special dinner at one of the local restaurants of pheasant and other game birds.)
I hope lots of people in WV get to see this film given that some of our local leaders, both political and media, police, etc. are interviewed. I also hope people will continue to watch Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine,” which does do a good job revealing what disasters have taken place uniquely in the US because of its gun industry and the N.R.A.
I read a recent story about how Americans are not visiting their national and state parks as they once did, and our children are not learning to love the outdoors as they once did. This is all obvious given that the American population has largely moved to cities from the countryside. I myself think that Americans were probably loving their national parks to death. I also think that few Americans need to learn more about the blood lust that develops when humans use guns to kill defenseless animals like squirrels, rabbits and deer. But YOU decide - watch this new WV-based film, and see what YOU think.
PS I wish that Mr. Stinnett had shown more of the super-powerful guns that are banned or should be. He does show a hollow-point bullet which I have never seen in person.
