Staff Reports
In an astonishing display of media ignorance and fear-mongering, the story of Ryan Wesley Routh’s pathetic assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has emerged. The weapon he allegedly wielded, a Soviet-designed SKS rifle, has become the latest poster child for misconceptions about firearms and their capabilities, courtesy of the sensationalist media machine. While Routh’s rifle was reportedly modified to accept a detachable magazine—making it more “dangerous” in the eyes of those who don’t understand guns—the reality is that labeling this weapon as an “assault rifle” is more fiction than fact.
Paragraph after paragraph, the mainstream media gets it wrong. Let’s start with the supposed “11 rounds in an assault rifle” angle. The SKS is hardly the menacing weapon that the press wants to portray it as. In its standard form, it was perfectly legal during the now-infamous 1994 assault weapon ban, which proves that gun control measures often miss the mark and pull at the heartstrings of the misinformed. The effort to twist the narrative surrounding Routh’s firearm into a sensational tale of violence only underscores the disconnect between reality and media rhetoric.
The SKS Ryan Routh tried to use to kill President Trump. It wasn't even an SKS-D, it had one of those crappy 30 round SKS Pro-Mags. Apparently, it was only loaded with 11 rounds. My guess is more than 10+1 caused it to jam. Cheap rifle, cheap scope, but hey it worked for L.H.O. pic.twitter.com/5DjreofQVs
— DC, Last Legion, Infinity Redux (@DerektheCleric) September 23, 2024
Routh’s rifle, outfitted with a modern stock and scope, raises eyebrows not for its threat level but for its user’s poor judgment. While Routh may have been trying to enhance his shooting capability, the modifications did little to compensate for the inherent limitations of the SKS. With a maximum effective range that makes it comparable to your grandpa’s beloved .30-30, it’s clear that Routh had no intention of making his weapon anything but a poor shot in a desperate situation. Loading just 11 rounds into a 30-round magazine speaks to a lack of preparation that is almost comical in its ineptitude.
When examining the modifications, it is crucial to ditch the narrative that presents these changes as indicators of lethal intent. The modern black stock may look intimidating to those unfamiliar with firearms, and attaching a scope might seem like serious business. Still, these do not suddenly transform a mediocre rifle into a death machine. It’s worth noting that the SKS—while it can shoot—has an accuracy level that would leave most avid shooters underwhelmed. If Routh had managed to get off a shot, he would have been more likely to injure himself than pose a real threat to anyone.
More importantly, all props should be given to the law enforcement agents who acted swiftly to prevent Routh from carrying out his deranged intentions. Thanks to their vigilance, the incident ended before it could escalate further, revealing a stark reality: most would-be perpetrators lack the proficiency or forethought to execute their plans effectively. If you add in a lack of understanding of firearms, what you have is a potential assailant who can generally be categorized as a danger to himself more than anyone else.
This entire incident illustrates a larger issue—there is a deep-seated ignorance regarding gun culture and firearms operations among those in the media and political arenas. Too often, fear-mongering takes precedence over factual accuracy, ignoring the real dangers while perpetuating misleading narratives. In an era when the left is hell-bent on disarming law-abiding citizens with sweeping regulations and bans, understanding the actual capabilities of various firearms should be a priority—before they push for more ineffective legislation.
