[OPINION] Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN radio host Bob Davis expressed his hatred of Sandy Hook victims during a recent broadcast, telling them to “go to hell.” According to The Huffington Post, Davis made his comment while expressing his concern that the victims of the tragedy were being used as political tools to in some way curb Second Amendment rights. Davis apparently felt personally threatened, claiming that the victims were being used to take away his liberty. You can hear the segment in the clip above.
Telling families whose children were senselessly killed––who are now dedicating themselves to putting into place legislation that would make it harder for those with criminal backgrounds or mental disabilities to obtain firearms––that they “can go to hell” is itself senseless. Davis demonstrating a complete lack of sympathy and an utter disrespect of the victims (publicly, over the air mind you) is incomprehensible and mind-boggling. Davis, of course, is entitled to his opinion. But when his opinion––in response to violence––is itself expressive of violence, that’s where his First Amendment rights begin to blur.
But here’s where it gets more insidious: “Davis & Emmer in the Morning,” like all radio shows, is dependent upon advertising revenue in order to remain economically viable. In other words, without advertisers willing to pay to air ads on their program, the program wouldn’t exist. That is, of course, how the mass media generally works. So either Davis was trying to boost his ratings by being intentionally inhumane and controversial, or he his genuinely an inhumane and insensitive person. Either way, he shouldn’t be placed in front of a microphone. That his radio station, Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130, continues to allow him on the air should be troubling to everyone.
Thanks to Christina Moore for the tip.
Sources: huffingtonpost.com, Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130
Media Ethics Report 
That clip is so unsettling. I want to know if the host apologized at all for his actions. Thanks for the share, Jeff.
He issued what some have called a “non-apology.” According to The Huffington Post:
“Victims should not be exploited. It does not help them grieve, it does not help us grieve and it does not advance the cause of liberty,” he said. “But they are, and so they become public personalities and part of the political arena. And so be it, and we’ll leave it at that.”
He has a very perverted sense of liberty.
This story really fascinated me…Turns out Bob Davis has not apologized yet and has yet to go on the air since the comments were made. There’s some heated discussion on his and the station’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bob-Davis/134256654140?hc_location=stream
Wow. Very perverted.
Thanks for sharing, Maddie. We can only hope that he’s off the air quickly. He’s repugnant in every way.