As the US introduces ammo vending machines, Caroline Roddis unwittingly unlocks her inner faragista as she is forced to admit a grudging admiration for our ‘Nige’
A fascinating development across the pond: vending machines for ammunition. Installed in the states where you don’t need a permit to possess a firearm, these 2-tonne machines have a system much like an electronic passport gate: insert your ID, then have the camera verify your face against the picture. Unlike an electronic passport gate, however, there’s seemingly nothing to stop you using a fake ID, but that’s a conversation for another place and time. Presumably there is still the neverending annoyance of the machine stubbornly refusing to recognise you, no matter whether you keep your eyes wide open, remove your hat or stand on one leg.
What’s interesting from a media point of view is the relatively neutral reporting of the story in the available press online. By which I mean that the American media seems to have reported the topic, including referencing both its pros and cons, without hysteria. Can you imagine, by contrast, the tabloid reaction if these machines were introduced in the UK?
And yes, different place, different customs. But should the principles of reporting be that different? It’s not that I’m advocating for ammunition vending machines over here—in fact I’m struggling to think of a single reason they’d be either wise or necessary—but if there were a need I’d like to live in a country where the media coverage would at least attempt to be rational and calm. Reader reactions and social media comments, of course, are something else entirely: on these articles they range from pithy remarks on how these 24/7 machines are finally serving the heretofore-uncatered-to late-night mass murderer market, to suggesting that they are a secret government ploy to create a national register of gun owners.
Homegrown
Because I grew up in the UK I can’t imagine what it’s like to live in a country where there isn’t a national register of gun owners. (Freeing? Terrifying? Unremarkable?) But then I also never imagined that I’d write the sentence I’m about to here:
Nigel Farage is a role model.
That felt indescribably odd to write, but hear me out. I don’t mean in everything, or indeed in most things—although I suspect he does a creditable job at a yard of ale—but in terms of gun safety he’s actually spot on.
Just before the election Farage went to Catton Hall in Frodsham and, after a meeting with supporters, had a quick go at hitting some clay pigeons. If that sounds in any way spontaneous, however, it really wasn’t: a video on the Independent’s website shows Farage in front of a bank of press photographers, and I’m 99% sure he didn’t accidentally stumble across the annual newsreaders vs paparazzi clay shoot.
Having hit, according to the Daily Mail article entitled “Gunning for power: Trigger-happy Nigel Farage goes shooting on a country estate” a total of four clays (out of how many is apparently a state secret), Farage then turned to pose for the press who’d been busy tanning themselves on the sidelines.
‘As long as there’s no cartridges in it, can you point the gun at us?’ shouts one photographer, speaking with breathtaking confidence given that the Alec Baldwin episode is still very much at the front of people’s minds.
Farage, who looks very pleased with himself and is dressed in jeans, shirt, tie and a shooting vest whose padding looks like it’s made from old leather sofas, replies “Never point a gun, even in jest.”
Nor is he just a poster boy for gun safety. After he’d posed with a broken gun to everyone’s satisfaction, he then went on to do a little promo for the sport: “Shooting, provided it’s safe, under supervision, if you haven’t done it, go shoot some clays” he urges. (The speech does make more sense when you watch the video.)
Man of clay
I’m always whining in this column (and, to the boredom of my few remaining friends, in real life) that we never receive enough positive media coverage for shooting. So I’m not going to complain when it does present itself, even if I don’t think it’ll inspire anyone new to try shooting unless they’re Farage super-fans. (Faragians? Faragers? Faragistas?)
And it really isn’t the most compelling footage ever. I love shooting and it didn’t for a second make me think about moving towards my gun cabinet. But it’s still a relatively unremarkable, non-sensationalist video of a man with a gun, who’s being safe (or at least knows how politically damaging photographs of him pointing a gun at the camera would be), and extolling the virtues of a sport that most politicians are too afraid to be seen anywhere near. And it got featured all over the mainstream media.
It’s also an interesting piece of footage in that—at least judging by the Daily Mail coverage – give Farage a gun and you can’t seem to make claims of elitism stick. Put any of his Tory peers in the same position and you’d have skyscrapers of comments on the article calling them sick toffs.
And yes, that’s partly to do with the readership and the publication, but there’s still a distinct tonal shift.
I’m by no means saying that Farage should be the next face of the CPSA, especially if it transpires he only hit 4 out of 100 targets. But I do believe in giving credit where it’s due, which is as good an excuse as any to raise a pint this evening.
Comments are closed