A let-wing site that fancies itself a news site was roasted Friday for a lie-filled story in which they claimed to prove it was as easy to buy an AR-15 online as it is to “order groceries.”
Naturally, they left a whole lot of facts out because the truth made their premise to be a complete lie.
The editor-in-chief of so-called news outlet Quartz.com, Zach Seward, tried to float the claim that buy an AR-15 is as easy as going on line, making a few clicks, and *voila,* you have a new “assault weapon.”
Seward posted a Twitter thread claim to show his leftist buddies that guying a dangerous weapon of war is easy as one-two-three in gun-soaked America.
We bought a gun—the same Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 assault rifle used in Uvalde. It was like ordering groceries. Click, checkout, done. https://t.co/s5DVw2CvIB
— Zach Seward (@zseward) May 26, 2022
In the “story” that the tweet links to,Seward claimed that all it takes to buy an AR-15 is “five clicks.”
Here is what he claimed:
After Tuesday’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas left 19 children and two adults dead, we wondered how difficult it was to order a DDM4V7, one of the two rifles the gunman bought a few days after turning 18 years old, according to reports.
The answer: Five clicks.
The AR-15-style weapon, made by Georgia-based Daniel Defense, sells online for $1,870, plus tax. Shipping to a local gun shop is free.
After clicking “place order” we received an email confirming the purchase, promising to send a tracking number once the gun was on its way to the pickup point.
At no time were we asked for proof of age or of a clean criminal record, both of which are legally required to buy a firearm.
“Aside from that, it was a routine purchase, not unlike ordering a Lego set from Amazon or a pair of shoes from Zappos. Except, of course, for the lethality of the product,” the story said.
What Seward didn’t bother to tell his readers is that this is not all there is to buying a gun online in the U.S.A.
In other words, his story is built on a lie.
That is because, after your “five clicks,” you have a universal series of actions to take before getting you gun.
- First, you then have to have the gun sent to a nearby gun dealer. You can’t have it sent to your house “like groceries.”
- Then you have to go to the dealer and present your ID at the gun dealer.
- Then the gun dealer has to submit an FBI background check.
- Then you have to satisfy any local laws.
And ALL that before taking possession of your gun. And it has to be done in every state.
And only American citizens can do this, too. Foreigners and illegals are not allowed to buy a gun this way in the U.S.
So, in other words, it isn’t “just like” buying groceries.
This liar was quickly ratioed online:
In the end this entire story is about this guy being surprised the background check and vetting is done before pickup instead of in the ordering process.
“It’s like ordering groceries..” if Safeway had access to your criminal records and personal info to sell you a strawberry. https://t.co/kTwahwYUsF
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 27, 2022
Except he had to go to a FFL, fill out a 4473, wait for NICS to come back clear before ever leaving with it. Funny, I’ve never had to do that for groceries — and in some states you wait a few days. https://t.co/sfjyDKHLeD
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 27, 2022
Again, these are not similar. When you buy alcohol you are not submitting to a criminal background check.
You can be surprised at the speed of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) which is constantly being improved..
But don’t be so proud of ignorance https://t.co/FaC3X3bWjF
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 27, 2022
Just like ordering groceries if ordering groceries meant going to a specially licensed dealer and passing an fbi background check. (Also it’s not an “assault rifle”) https://t.co/QO2HlBnm9r
— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) May 27, 2022
These people are such liars.
You will have to go to an FFL dealer to pick it up. Before you leave with it, you will be subjected to a background check.
Only when you pass the background check will you have “bought the gun.” https://t.co/hvOThjMuyT
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) May 27, 2022
"Buying a gun is just like buying groceries!" Because we all know you have to pass a federal background check when you go to pick up your curbside order at Wegman's.
They're being deceptive about this on purpose. https://t.co/9SXdDBQLZY
— John Cooper (@thejcoop) May 27, 2022
Not a single person in this entire media organization thought this story felt incomplete before publishing it. That’s cultural illiteracy – and it’s just as bad as a news organization devoid of women, or one without the perspective of non-white employees. https://t.co/9IIi5okJ43
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) May 27, 2022
Yes, ordering groceries, something that famously requires proof of a clean criminal record https://t.co/Iu7Bt4szzt pic.twitter.com/pcFRl0FoY3
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) May 27, 2022
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Tags: Commentary guns media bias
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