Did Mayor Nagin Take Aim At Chief?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by E.L., Feb 16, 2008.


  1. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    http://www.wdsu.com/news/15301432/detail.html#

    NEW ORLEANS --
    A firestorm of controversy ensued after Mayor Ray Nagin, sporting a broad smile, seemed to aim an assault rifle at Police Superintendent Warren Riley in a Times-Picayune newspaper photo.[​IMG]Watch The Story | Poll: Did He Do It On Purpose?The photograph has pervaded talk radio and cyberspace, creating blog chatter and a forum for public opinion. Many pundits, bloggers and forum-posters took aim at the mayor. The shot was taken at a public unveiling of new additions to the New Orleans Police Department’s arsenal.“When most saw it, they were horrified,” Loyola University professor of communications Dr. Robert Thomas said. “The way people feel about guns, with the murder rate here, it’s something we have to deal with.”Meanwhile, video shows the mayor waving the rifle around in front of the police chief and the crowd, leading some to say that the mayor didn’t intentionally take aim at the chief."It continues the national embarassment from silly things that happen in our city," Thomas said.In a statement, Nagin claimed “the photo grossly misrepresented the mayor and the police chief. The event was to feature the department’s new crime-fighting equipment. The mayor continues to be on the front lines to secure resources for agencies that are struggling to rebuild.”The Times-Picayune would not comment when contacted on its publication of the photo. But, Thursday morning, following its review of the video, the newspaper published the following statement: "A photo in some Metro sections and on NOLA.com on Wednesday showed a laughing Mayor Ray Nagin pointing an M-4 rifle at Chief of Police Warren Riley at a news conference to announce new crime fighting equipment purchased by the New Orleans Police Department. A review of a video taken at the event shows that the mayor momentarily pointed the gun at the chief as he was lowering it but he did not deliberately point it at Riley.
     
  2. SeptemberMage

    SeptemberMage LaMOE Monkey

    I'm torn between thinking that photo was just snapped at an inoportune moment, and accidental, or a perfect example of the anti-gun propogandists that end up being employed in the newspaper industry. The photo is both completely accurate AND Wholly misrpresents what was actually going on. This picture is best forgotten, my bet is that it will be.
     
  3. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    +1
    he swept him with the muzzle we know thats a possibly lethal mistake and poor gun handling...but they are playing it up.
     
  4. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    [​IMG]
     
  5. poacher

    poacher Monkey+++ Founding Member

    At least his finger was off the trigger. Most people who don't have a clue about guns or gun handling tend to grab it and the first thing they do is put their finger on the trigger. Hehehehe maybe we are all wrong, maybe Nagin knows more than he lets on.

    Take care Be safe Poacher.
     
  6. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Why have I doubts? [troll]
     
  7. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    naw, dey bofe idiots..but watch the video of the incident ,( they grabbed one frame.) He was swinging the muzzle down and back
     
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