Great piece on Hollywood and Celebrity views on guns
The New York Post
October 26, 2005 Wednesday
SECTION: All Editions; Pg. 10
HEADLINE: L.A. LIBERALS PACKIN' HOT LEAD
BODY:
PISTOL-packing Joe Mantegna is blasting a chink in the politically
correct armor of some Hollywood heavyweights - he says they love
to own and shoot guns.
The "Joan of Arcadia" star says that such left-leaning showbiz types
as Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and playwright David Mamet
are all avid shooters.
"Lots of guys in Hollywood love to shoot, " Mantegna, a longtime gun
sportsman, tells Fade In magazine. "But they ain't gonna talk to you."
"Apocalypse Now" screenwriter John Milius agrees. "It's fascinating
that Hollywood is so hypocritical," he says. "Many people own [guns],
but consistently vote against them and never talk about them. I used to
shoot with Spielberg and [Robert] Zemeckis and Robert Stack. But no
one else would admit they had any."
Producer/manager Jay Bernstein, who shepherded Farrah Fawcett
and Linda Evans to fame, carries a gun in public and is prone to
flashing it at Hollywood parties. But even he won't confirm that he has
a Carry Concealed Weapons permit.
"It's one of the most uncomfortable subjects," Bernstein says, "because
'anti-gun' is more popular than 'gun' in Los Angeles."
As if to illustrate Bernstein's point, well-known gun enthusiasts Ben
Affleck, Charlie Sheen, Tom Selleck and Steven Seagal wanted nothing
to do with Fade In's story.
Even gung-ho action director Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon"), who
has a concealed weapon permit, was reluctant to talk. "I am anything
but a gun enthusiast," he said in a terse statement. "The only reason I
would ever own a gun is for the protection of my home, my
environment or my family under the circumstances in which I am
forced to live."
Fade In says Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, music mogul Tommy Mottola
and billionaire Kirk Kerkorian are among a mere 500 people licensed to
carry a gun in public in Los Angeles County (pop. 9.8 million).
Meanwhile, those who can legally pack heat in New York include
Donald Trump, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Seagram owner Edgar
Bronfman, Howard Stern, Don Imus, State Senate Majority Leader Joe
Bruno, Bronx Supreme court judge Richard L. Price and defense lawyer
Barry Slotnick. . . .
Comment:
Donner's statement reminds me a lot of Rosie O'Donnell's justification
for her body guards getting guns. It was OK for her to use guns for
protection, but there are lots of people who feel at risk and can't afford
body guards. The "Lethal Weapon" movies were quite anti-gun, but
Donner understands when he needs protection. By the way, am I the
only one who thinks that the statement "my environment" seems quite
broad? Finally, his statement that "which I am forced to live" is silly.
What about poor people who live in high crime urban neighborhoods?
It would be nice if we lived in a world without crime, but we have to
have laws that deal with reality the way it is.
If I can get the direct link to New York Post piece on the web, I will put
it up.
October 26, 2005 Wednesday
SECTION: All Editions; Pg. 10
HEADLINE: L.A. LIBERALS PACKIN' HOT LEAD
BODY:
PISTOL-packing Joe Mantegna is blasting a chink in the politically
correct armor of some Hollywood heavyweights - he says they love
to own and shoot guns.
The "Joan of Arcadia" star says that such left-leaning showbiz types
as Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and playwright David Mamet
are all avid shooters.
"Lots of guys in Hollywood love to shoot, " Mantegna, a longtime gun
sportsman, tells Fade In magazine. "But they ain't gonna talk to you."
"Apocalypse Now" screenwriter John Milius agrees. "It's fascinating
that Hollywood is so hypocritical," he says. "Many people own [guns],
but consistently vote against them and never talk about them. I used to
shoot with Spielberg and [Robert] Zemeckis and Robert Stack. But no
one else would admit they had any."
Producer/manager Jay Bernstein, who shepherded Farrah Fawcett
and Linda Evans to fame, carries a gun in public and is prone to
flashing it at Hollywood parties. But even he won't confirm that he has
a Carry Concealed Weapons permit.
"It's one of the most uncomfortable subjects," Bernstein says, "because
'anti-gun' is more popular than 'gun' in Los Angeles."
As if to illustrate Bernstein's point, well-known gun enthusiasts Ben
Affleck, Charlie Sheen, Tom Selleck and Steven Seagal wanted nothing
to do with Fade In's story.
Even gung-ho action director Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon"), who
has a concealed weapon permit, was reluctant to talk. "I am anything
but a gun enthusiast," he said in a terse statement. "The only reason I
would ever own a gun is for the protection of my home, my
environment or my family under the circumstances in which I am
forced to live."
Fade In says Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, music mogul Tommy Mottola
and billionaire Kirk Kerkorian are among a mere 500 people licensed to
carry a gun in public in Los Angeles County (pop. 9.8 million).
Meanwhile, those who can legally pack heat in New York include
Donald Trump, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Seagram owner Edgar
Bronfman, Howard Stern, Don Imus, State Senate Majority Leader Joe
Bruno, Bronx Supreme court judge Richard L. Price and defense lawyer
Barry Slotnick. . . .
Comment:
Donner's statement reminds me a lot of Rosie O'Donnell's justification
for her body guards getting guns. It was OK for her to use guns for
protection, but there are lots of people who feel at risk and can't afford
body guards. The "Lethal Weapon" movies were quite anti-gun, but
Donner understands when he needs protection. By the way, am I the
only one who thinks that the statement "my environment" seems quite
broad? Finally, his statement that "which I am forced to live" is silly.
What about poor people who live in high crime urban neighborhoods?
It would be nice if we lived in a world without crime, but we have to
have laws that deal with reality the way it is.
If I can get the direct link to New York Post piece on the web, I will put
it up.
posted by John Lott at 4:15 PM
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