'Gun beat' writer in the Virginias stresses safety and education, but has yet to buy a firearm

Greg Jordan

Sometimes reporters show a flair for writing about a certain topic. Or maybe they just know a little bit more about a subject, or are more interested in it, than their co-workers. And sometimes they get handed a story, and somehow they become the go-to reporter whenever that subject comes up again.

For Greg Jordan, it might be a combination of all three. Jordan, a reporter for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia, has found himself covering the 'gun beat' as the newspaper's unofficial gun reporter. Guns are big news in the region; Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has angered some constituents by calling for stricter background checks while maintaining that he's an avid gun owner and supporter of gun rights.

With the popularity of guns in the region, Jordan has plenty to cover. "It seems I’m becoming the gun reporter at the Daily Telegraph," Jordan writes. "If our list of possible stories includes a gun show, gun demonstration or chance to shoot guns, I’m the one that’s voted most likely to attend. I guess it has something to do with a fondness for flames and explosions."

Jordan says he's not a gun expert, but enjoys using them and plans to own one when he can afford it, preaches safety and education when handling firearms. "Like any tool, you have to use a firearm correctly," he writes. "For instance, if you plan to use a power saw, you have to know how to use it safely, otherwise you’re going to be pruning your fingers."

"And don’t expect television shows and movies to demonstrate safe firearms practices," Jordan writes. "The writers are looking for drama when they put a gunfight in their plots, not accuracy. They would have you think you can hit a target just by pointing your gun in its general direction. And have you ever noticed how the heroes never run out of ammunition until the plot calls for a dramatic moment?"

"When I finally get a gun of my own, I’ll take the courses that show you how to use it the right way," he writes. "Without knowledge to go with it, a gun is nothing but a dangerous paperweight. Like any other tool, you have to use it correctly. Even a hammer or a screwdriver is dangerous if you mess around with it." (Read more)