A Red Star Perspective

Perceptive Rambix reader Brian M. had the following email exchange with Red Star reporter Chao Xiong (start from the bottom):

To: cxiong@startribune.com

At best, your 'policy' is inconsistant.

The murderer of the innocent Minnetonka man near block E recently used a .44 Magnum, which was detailed extensively by your paper.

However, the weapon used by the murderer(s) of the innocent visiting college student who was out for dinner with his mother recently near Uptown was never identified. Nor was the source of the weapon examined, as was the .44 Magnum.

Interestingly, your paper also failed in both of these high profile cases to reveal ANY background information regarding the adults who have been CHARGED in both of these cases.

Not the least of which was the omission of photos of the CHARGED individuals.

Brian M---


-----Original Message-----
From: Chao Xiong
To: XXX@aol.com
Sent: Thu, 18 May 2006 13:37:16 -0500
Subject: Re: Gun

Brian,

Your allegation that we are "anti-gun" is pretty bold and unfounded. We are objective news gatherers. For the record, police rarely if ever release the caliber or type of gun involved in incidents like this or homicides. This is their policy and although we may ask, there is nothing we can do to force it out of them. If you have questions about this policy, you are better off contacting the respective police department. As you may not have noticed, the article states that authorities were not identifying the child, which is common in cases nvolving a juvenile. Without that information, we can not reach the parents.

Best,

Chao Xiong
Star Tribune Staff Writer
612-673-4391/work
612-270-4708/cell
612-288-8482/fax
cxiong@startribune.com

425 Portland Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55488-0002

>>> 5/18/2006 10:51 AM >>>
I am wondering why your article today regarding the five year old that brought a loaded gun to the Head Start school failed to mention the type or caliber of gun it was.

It seems to me that that information is rather relevant to the story.

Was it a revolver or a semi-auto?

.22 calliber or .45?

I mean, I realize that your paper is as anti-gun as is possible, but to leave this information out is simply poor journalism.

I also would like to know if the child's parents were contacted and if so, what their response was.

Again, please try to provide the whole story.

Thank you.

Brian M---

Mr. Xiong may or may not disagree with Brian, but he is handcuffed by the Red Star editorial policies. I give him credit for taking the time to respond. The bottom line is: of course the Red Star is anti-gun.