Gun Control Group Skirts Questions of Plagiarism

CNSNews.com ^ | February 7, 2003 | Michael L. Betsch

[H8DEMS]

(CNSNews.com) - Gun control groups are downplaying questions about plagiarism after one organization issued a statement to the media containing language that is, in some instances, identical to passages in a copyrighted news report published four days earlier by the Associated Press.

Leah Barrett, executive director of Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse (MAHA), denied any wrongdoing in issuing a statement Monday that contained numerous statements that were mirror images of portions of an AP article that appeared in the San Jose Mercury News and other media outlets Jan. 30.

When asked if Barrett obtained permission from the AP to use copyrighted material in the MAHA statement, she replied, "The quotes and the feelings are absolutely authentic."

Several attempts were made contact the Associated Press about its position on advocacy groups using the news service's copyrighted material without permission or attribution, but numerous telephone calls and electronic messages were not returned.

Black Letter Plagiarism?

Barrett issued a statement to CNSNews.com Feb. 3 in response to an inquiry for a news article being prepared about the Department of Justice taking over the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), confirming that the statement was sent by her exclusively to the Internet news wire in response to its inquiry.

"The rabid NRA has no better ally in Washington than Attorney General John Ashcroft, once featured in a National Rifle Association magazine cover story as 'a breath of fresh air' in the capital," read a portion of Barrett's statement.

In a Jan. 30 AP article about gun control, reporter Curt Anderson wrote: "Gun owners may have no better ally in Washington than Attorney General John Ashcroft, once featured in a National Rifle Association magazine cover story as 'a breath of fresh air' in the capital.'"

Barrett's Feb. 3 statement contained other passages that were identical to parts of Anderson's AP article.

In commenting on the Justice Department's takeover of the ATF, Barrett said: "The switch gives Ashcroft the opportunity to weaken oversight and regulation in such areas as federal licensing for gun sellers, how banned assault weapons are defined and whether to expand a ballistics matching system that traces guns used in crimes."

Anderson's Jan. 30 dispatch included a paragraph reading: "The switch gives Ashcroft the opportunity to weaken oversight and regulation in such areas as federal licensing for gun sellers, how banned assault weapons are defined and whether to expand a ballistics matching system that traces guns used in crimes."

The word 'plagiarize' is defined in Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary as "to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own: use (a created production) without crediting the source."

Barrett's Feb. 3 statement included remarks referencing certain changes in firearms policy over the past two years, which she attributed to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

The language in Barrett's statement on those changes was identical to the language used in Anderson's AP report, which did not include any attribution to any source. Anderson was not available for comment, so it's unclear whether his report included verbatim statements by the Brady Campaign or whether the AP writer composed the passages.

Also included in Barrett's Feb. 3 statement was the remark: "You have the most pro-gun attorney general in history taking over the controls of the ATF."

Anderson's Jan. 30 AP report included a quote attributed to Matt Nosanchuk, litigation director of the Violence Policy Center (VPC). The AP article quoted Nosanchuk as saying: "You have the most pro-gun attorney general in history taking over the reins of the ATF."

According to Barrett, it is not uncommon for "sensible gun control" groups to use each other's talking points when issuing statements to the press because the anti-gun groups' "sentiments are absolutely the same."

Barrett refused to say whether she sought or received permission to use a statement attributed to Nosanchuk by the AP, saying only that the two "speak a lot, so, you know, the sentiments are there."

Barrett also disputed the similarities between her statement and Nosanchuk's. "They're different. They are different. If you look, they are different," said Barrett.

A receptionist at the VPC told CNSNews.com Nosanchuck was out of town and would not be available for comment until Feb. 7.

The Feb. 3 statement by Barrett included another assertion that's virtually identical to a quote attributed to a different person in the Jan. 30 AP article.

Regarding Attorney General John Ashcroft, Barrett said in her statement: "You really have to wonder what level of commitment he will have to regulate guns in this country."

Anderson's AP article quoted Eric Gorovitz, a policy director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, as saying: "You've got to wonder what his commitment is going to be to regulate guns in this country."

Josh Horwitz, director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, did not express concern over the similarities between Barrett's statement and that of his group's spokesman.

"I'm positive it's not plagiarism," Horwitz said. "I'm going to take a look at this, and we'll get back to you."

Basic Honesty

Political experts often advise professional advocacy groups with similar missions to express the same sentiments but with different language to avoid the appearance of a coordinated effort, which may compromise media coverage of an issue.

Politics aside, Columbia Journalism Review Executive Editor Mike Hoyt said people in Barrett's position should "use their own words."

"It's kind of basic honesty," Hoyt said. "It's best to use your own words and not take others'."

Hoyt downplayed Barrett's apparent plagiarism, implying that such an act would merit more serious consequences had she been a journalist and not engaged in political advocacy.

"It's not the end of the world," Hoyt said. "She's an advocate. She saw something she agreed with. She should have said, 'I agree with this' rather than claim ownership."

Barrett came to MAHA last month after working as vice-president of the Montgomery County, Md., chapter of the Million Mom March. Her biography, which is featured on the MAHA Internet website, boasts 14 years of corporate communications experience.

Upon Barrett's arrival at MAHA, the group's president, Matt Fenton, issued a Jan. 9 press release expressing confidence in her ability to effectively promote the anti-gun agenda.

"With Leah's leadership, we can continue our work with concerned citizens to increase the awareness of gun violence in our communities," Fenton said. "She will help MAHA develop the progressive and life-saving gun safety policies that have made Maryland a leader in gun violence awareness and prevention."

[Puppage]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's for the children.

[Vic3O3]

ping!

[coloradan]

Who was the original source of the plagiarised text? If it was AP, then she did plagiarise, and should be sanctioned. But it might also be one of the gun grabbers, in which case the AP is indeed getting material directly from the gun grabbers and passing it along as "news".

[etcetera]

This says a lot about the anti-gun left-wing mentality - the ends justify the means, even lying and cheating.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

While I think this accusation of plagiarism is silly if it keeps the fascist gun grabbers busy talking about something else it's a good thing.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Plagiarism is essentially an academic principle, with no legal meaning. Copyright infringement is a civil matter, giving the AP the right to sue for damages.

What I find fascinating is that the AP is so liberal and hostile to gun rights that the gun-grabbing activists don't even need to modify the language of these "journalists" to send out their aggressive anti-gun message.