Michael Moore pretty much put himself on the map with his controversial “documentary” Bowling for Columbine, in which he criticizes a gun-happy Amerikkka for instilling a culture of fear in North America and spreading it throughout the globe. It now seems he has become a victim of his own success.
Instapundit notes Moore’s bodyguard was recently arrested in New York for carrying an unlicensed weapon in JFK airport. Had I written a review of Bowling for Columbine, I might have mentioned how fascinating it was to see a man whose star was on the rise decry the excessive number of guns present and available to the average citizen in the US. At that point, I don’t believe Moore had started touring the country with an entourage of videographers, limo drivers, and of course, bodyguards. With the media and critical frenzy that accompanied the release of BfC, Moore’s social capital shot through the roof. Soon thereafter, he acquired the trappings only a multi-millionaire can boast.
And what’s a bodyguard going to do to defend such a famous personality without a gun? Whilst throwing daisies or harsh words at someone who gets too close to Moore’s celebrity bubble might be more peaceful and less antagonizing than brandishing a gun, the latter’s got the kind of convincing power that a man of Moore’s stature needs.
Nevertheless, I think this is about the ineptitude or laxity of his personal bodyguard. Moore would not be responsible for his bodyguard receiving the proper authorization. It would be up to the bodyguard himself to become licensed for the state in which he wanted to carry a concealed firearm, and his ignorance or forgetfulness in the face of such rules is exactly what Moore portrayed a gun-toting American public as: ignorant, stupid, dangerous, and irresponsible.
But I suppose with someone you’ve paid to protect your life, it’s more a matter of inconvenience. Surely this man will be fired, and a new, more responsible monkey man will take his place, protecting Moore from all the gun-crazy nut jobs who just happen to have proper permits and licenses.
UPDATE: Via Instapundit, MooreWatch says the story linked story above contains several errors, including the headline and important details.