Editor, Times-Union: The weekend “Outdoor Scene” went beyond what I expect from a column with that title, appearing in the “Sports” section of the paper. Opinions on gun control can be marginally justified as “belonging” in a column such as that written by Dr. Davis. The section on “Fast and Furious” goes over the line into pure political opinion better located in that section of your paper. Worse yet, it was not factually accurate at all, with little regard to the history of the program.
The ATF came up with a pilot project in Texas in 2005 as Project Gunrunner. The stupid idea was expanded into Operation Fast and Furious the next year. The stupid idea was that by selling guns to Mexican criminals we could prevent the sale of guns to the same folks. Please note that when this program began, it was during the administration of George W. Bush and then Attorney General John Ashcroft.
As much as Dr. Davis would like to make accusations directed to the Obama presidency, the worst that can be said is that Attorney General Holder did not learn about the program quickly enough and put a stop to it. But to omit from the column that the stupidity began with Ashcroft and Bush is to improperly mislead the reader. Improper misleading and factual misstatement, again, belongs on the opinion page and not in an ostensible sports column about the outdoor scene.
