What we’re reading: Week 6

By Jessica Boehm

Georgia ‘guns everywhere’ bill takes effect (7/01, Al Jazeera) Georgia’s sweeping gun rights law that allows people with the proper permit to carry guns into bars, classrooms, government buildings and more went into effect Tuesday.

Gun-friendly restaurant lives up to its name in Rifle, Colorado (Sarah Larimer, 7/02, The Washington Post) At Shooters Grill in Colorado, patrons can get dinner and a firearms training course for a package deal.

Leave the guns outside, Target asks (Reid J. Epstein, 7/03, Wall Street Journal) Responding to requests from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Target said it would “respectfully” ask customers not to bring guns inside stores.

Why we can’t talk about gun control (James Hamblin, 6/29, The Atlantic) Dick Metcalf, a former columnist for Guns & Ammo magazine, recalls the backlash he received when he suggested some gun regulations in a column.

Jessica Boehm is a News21 Hearst Fellow.

Oklahoma machine gun shoot draws thousands

Gun shots and explosions fill the firing range at the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show in Wyandotte, Ok. on June 21. Jim Tuttle

By Alex Lancial and Jim Tuttle

One of the largest of its kind, the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show last month drew several thousand people to an isolated property outside the tiny town of Wyandotte, Oklahoma to fire countless rounds of ammunition from machine guns.

“We’re here for a weekend of fun and excitement; renting and shooting and blowing things up on a hillside here in Oklahoma,” said Mike Friend, founder of the event.

More than 90 licensed vendors were there with weapons representing more than 100 years of military technology, including M134 mini-guns capable of firing three thousand rounds per minute. People who attended were allowed to shoot these exotic weapons for the cost of rental and ammunition.

Their targets included a range full of old appliances, televisions, boats and a school bus packed with explosives. One of the weekend’s highlights was called “kill the car,” in which a sniper’s bullet set a car rolling downhill and dozens of people opened fire until the vehicle was consumed by a huge fireball.

Licensed firearms dealer Kendall Beaver fires a fully automatic M60 rifle during the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show in Wyandotte, Ok. on June 21. Jim Tuttle

“It’s a very American thing, and I think that’s why I was drawn to it,” said Jerry Lovik, owner of Jerry’s Machine Guns in Plymouth, Louisiana. “You can tell by the crowd here today that everyone’s having a good time.”

The cost varied depending on the type of weapon and ammunition and the number of rounds being fired. For example, it cost $75 to shoot 100 rounds on the mini-gun, while one 75mm artillery shell cost $250. More common guns like the M-16 or the AK-47 typically cost between $30 and $50 to shoot a magazine.

Friend said the rare thrill of shooting fully automatic attracts people to the event.

“They go back to their semi-auto and it’s just not really enough,” he said. “They really like the adrenaline rush of the machine gun.”

Alex Lancial is an Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation News21 Fellow.

Spotlight on The Fellows: Aaron Maybin

Aaron Maybin reports in Flint, Michigan. Photo by: Jacqueline Delpilar

Name: Aaron Maybin

School: Marquette University

Style of reporting: Broadcast, multimedia and investigative reporting

Previous internship or work experience: I was previously a news intern at KPHO in Phoenix for the Meredith-Cronkite fellowship, a news/production intern at WABC-TV New York, an intern for “The Morning Blend” at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee and a multimedia intern for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Favorite reporting experience: The most memorable and my favorite reporting experience I’ve had was investigating the stark differences between men’s and women’s collegiate basketball. I sat down with coaches, former players, sports journalists and academics to find out why money, treatment and fan loyalty are far from similar. I even got to interview CBS sports reporter and Sports Illustrated analyst Seth Davis.

Connect with me: Tweet me at @aaron_maybin

Website: www.aaronrmaybin.com

Favorite app: Instagram

Spotlight on the Fellows: Brittany Morris

Brittany Morris reports in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo by: Natalie Krebs

Name: Brittany Elena Morris, Hearst Fellow

School: The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University

Style of reporting: Multimedia reporter specializing in investigative/in-depth storytelling

Previous internship or work experience: The Arizona Republic, Cronkite News Service, The Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict at Arizona State University, The Yellow Bird Project, The State Press

Favorite reporting experience: It’s a toss up between my travels to Kuwait City, Kuwait where I investigated the reasoning behind the separation of men and women in public classrooms, or my time in Chiapas, Mexico where I spent time with a farmer whose success was irrevocably stymied by the effects of NAFTA.

Connect with me: @brittemorris

Website: https://about.me/brittanyemorris

Favorite app: Charity Miles—I love running, but I love running for a cause even more.

Spotlight on the Fellows: Jim Tuttle

Jim Tuttle reports near Bryan, Texas. Photo by: Sydney Stavinoha

Name: Jim Tuttle

School: Syracuse University

Style of reporting: Documentary photography and video

Previous internship or work experience: Before I went back to school to get my masters degree in photography, I spent about four years working as a police and courts reporter at community newspapers in southern Virginia and Pennsylvania. Last year I worked on a small team that created a short film about investigative journalists in post-war Liberia. This past winter I interned with the visuals team at National Public Radio in Washington, D.C.

Favorite reporting experience: Picking one favorite is really tough. One of the best things about journalism is that it allows you to learn about so many different subjects and have so many experiences that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. I love the experience of being allowed into another person’s life for a while, connecting with them on a personal level and coming away with a meaningful story to tell. That’s what keeps me coming back.

Connect with me: @iamjimtuttle (Instagram)

Website: www.iamjimtuttle.com

Favorite app: Chicken fingers