The liberal denizens in the media were quick to seize on the inept report from the GFWs at Americans for Gun Banning which claimed that a small fraction of gun dealers were responsible for a large percentage of guns used in crime. The fallacy behind the report is obvious in that it neglects to put the numbers into perspective. That is, without acknowledging how many guns a dealer sold overall, the raw numbers are meaningless.

Well now some of the targeted gun dealers are fighting back with defamation and libel suits against the media, who in many cases implied there was some sort of corruption. Specifically, John Monson, owner of Bill's Gun Shop and Range in Robbinsdale is suing the Minneapolis Star Tribune And Fox 9 KMSP for defamation.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune filed a remarkable story defaming Bills, entitled "Robbinsdale Shop Named in Study of Guns, Crime". They falsely implied, among other things, that Bills is or has been involved in illegal gun trafficking.

Equally remarkable was Channel 9, KMSP TV's defamatory statements regarding Bills, falsely calling into question compliance with federal firearms regulations and falsely implying among other things, that Bills "is a bit shady", an actual quote.

Proving that the perpetually liberal Minneapolis Star Tribune (who refuses to call a suicide bomber a terrorist, and declines to report on the Washington "Redskins" or Cleveland "Indians") may prove difficult. While I have little doubt that they defamed the store, it is hard to prove both the implications and intent. But KMSP's use of the phrase "a bit shady" seems reckless. While it's not a slam dunk, it'll be harder for them to hide behind the First Amendment.