On August 30 2019, a Facebook user shared a lengthy post (archived here) about her daughter Piper’s purported illness, in a screed blaming “vaping” for the girl’s condition. In the post, Johnson claimed that two weeks previou
Search Results (2367) for: gun
Lead Stories→ Fake News: NASA Does NOT Admit Climate Change Occurs Because Of Changes In Earth’s Solar Orbit, Not Because Of SUVs And Fossil Fuels
Did NASA admit that global climate change occurs because of changes in Earth's solar orbit, and not because of emissions from SUVs burning fossil fuels? No, that's not true: NASA scientists studying climate change have not changed their opinio
FactCheck.org→ Social Media Posts Treat Fictional Harris ‘Quote’ as Fact
Quick Take Facebook users expressed outrage over a statement that is falsely attributed to Sen. Kamala Harris. The quote — about seeking “vengeance” against supporters of President Donald Trump — originated on a website that cal
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Popeyes Chicken Employees Will NOT Be "Packing Heat" To "Smoke" Aggressive Customers
Will Popeyes Chicken employees now carry guns to subdue unruly customers upset about the chain running out of chicken sandwiches? No, that's not true: a tweet with that message seemingly coming from the company was actually posted by a parody
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This the Bedroom of Medgar Evers’ Sons?
On August 23 2019, Facebook user Steven Pokin shared a photograph along with a lengthy status update, claiming that it shows the bedroom that Medgar Evers’ sons slept in: This is where the two little sons of Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers s
Lead Stories→ Fake News: NO Salmonella Outbreak Across Georgia, NOT Linked To Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich
Was a salmonella outbreak reported in Georgia that was linked to Popeye's chichen sandwiches and did it cause at least seventeen deaths? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a fake news site that has the tiniest possible disclaimer hi
PolitiFact→ Amy Klobuchar – Federal law’s ‘boyfriend loophole’ is not so simple
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Federal law’s ‘boyfriend loophole’ is not so simple After the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat who is running for president, called for eliminating the &qu
FactCheck.org→ Viral Quote Falsely Attributed to McCarthy
Quick Take Social media posts erroneously attribute a quote to House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. He didn’t say that “there are no mass shootings in Japan because there are no video games there.” Full Story In the days after th
Snopes→ Four Students Shot at Block Party near Clark Atlanta University
All four injured women were in stable condition after the gunfire.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Someone Act Out a ‘Mock Assassination’ of Trump at a Democratic Fundraiser?
A Democratic state senator in Illinois apologized after confirming that photographs of an “assassination” of a person dressed up like President Donald Trump were taken at a fundraising event. “The incident that took place is unaccept
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Rep. Ilhan Omar Did NOT Graduate From Jihad Academy, Photo Of Woman In Somali Army Is From 1978
Does a black-and-white photo of a uniformed Somali woman with a rifle show Rep. Ilhan Omar attending a Jihad Academy? No, that's not true: The image used to suggest the Minnesota congresswoman attended military training to take part in a Jihad
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Number Of People Killed By Illegal Immigrants In 2018 Does NOT Equal 83,211
Were 194 people killed in mass shootings in the United States in 2018, while the number of those killed by illegal immigrants was 83,211? No, that's not true: Both numbers are wrong, but the number of purported murders by undocumented people i
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Obama And HR4310 Did NOT Make It Legal For The Media To Lie To The American People (It Always Was…)
Did Barack Obama quietly sign into law HR 4310 in 2012 that made it legal for the media to purposely lie to the American people? No, that's not true: HR 4310 was the authorization act for Pentagon funding in 2013 and included many provisions t
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Walmart And Several Police Departments DENY Shooting Threat Rumors Are Real
Did police warn against going to Walmart this weekend because of shooting threats? No, that's not true: several police departments and a Walmart spokesperson denied there is any substance to the story which seems to be entirely based on messag
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Crowd of People Filmed Taunting Philadelphia Police During a Standoff?
A Philadelphia television reporter’s remarks became part of a story in and of itself during a police standoff. During a live report on the standoff on 14 August 2019, journalist Alexandria Hoff was covering the standoff. During her time on the s
Truth or Fiction?→ Were Protesters of American Immigration Policies Hit by a Truck and Injured in Rhode Island?
On August 15 2019, Facebook posts (sometimes covered for graphic violence) appeared about an incident during which protesters at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in (Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island) were reported
Snopes→ Feeling Alone, Man Invites World to El Paso Victim’s Funeral
When 63-year-old Margie Reckard was killed by a gunman who opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, Antonio Basco lost his entire world.
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Video Show Police Spraying Fake Blood on Themselves During a Philadelphia Shooting?
On August 15 2019, the conspiracy-oriented Facebook page “True News 4 U’s” shared a video (archived here) of police officers in Philadelphia purportedly spraying “fake blood” on themselves in the aftermath of a shooting.
Snopes→ Several Police Officers Shot in Philadelphia
At least one gunman opened fire on police as they were serving a warrant in a Philadelphia neighborhood, wounding six officers and triggering a standoff that extended into the evening, authorities said.
PolitiFact→ Michael Bloomberg – Bloomberg correct that NRA’s Wayne LaPierre once supported background checks
The Truth-o-Meter says: True | Bloomberg correct that NRA’s Wayne LaPierre once supported background checks Billionaire and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg took a familiar swipe at NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre during an Aug. 11
FactCheck.org→ Harris, Warren Wrong About Brown Shooting
On Aug. 9, 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black man, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in what the Obama administration’s Department of Justice determined was an act of “self-defense.” B
Lead Stories→ Fake News: US Is NOT 3rd In Murders; Removing Chicago, Detroit, Washington, St Louis, New Orleans Would NOT Make It 189 out of 193
Does the United States rank third in murders throughout the world and would removing the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Washington D.C., St. Louis, and New Orleans from the total make the U.S. 189th out of 193 countries in the world in homicides?
Snopes→ Did Trump Pose With a ‘Thumbs-Up’ Next to a Baby Orphaned in the El Paso Massacre?
The infant’s parents died shielding the baby from the gunman’s bullets.
PolitiFact→ Fact-checking claims about the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton
In the days since the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, we’ve seen a flood of theories, facts and figures to explain the attacks and why they happen in the United States so frequently. If you’ve been reading our site this wee
FactCheck.org→ The Response to the Congressional Baseball Shooting
Quick Take A viral Facebook post claims that “not one Democrat called for gun control” after a 2017 shooting involving Republicans in Congress. While demands for legislative action were quieter, there were some. Full Story In the afterm
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Donald Trump says Democrats distorted his visit at Dayton hospital. Here's what they actually said
The Truth-o-Meter says: False | Donald Trump says Democrats distorted his visit at Dayton hospital. Here's what they actually said When guns and politics meet, nothing escapes scrutiny. After President Donald Trump went to the Miami Valley Ho
FactCheck.org→ Biden Takes Trump Quote Out of Context
In a speech that assailed President Donald Trump for a lack of “moral leadership,” Joe Biden falsely claimed that Trump “asserted that immigrants would, quote, ‘carve you up with a knife.’” Trump said that about MS-13 gang membe
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Mitch McConnell Campaign Did NOT Say ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ After Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Disturbing Groping Pic
Did Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's campaign say "boys will be boys" in its reply to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's criticism of a tweeted photo of teen volunteers groping a life-size cardboard cut-out of her? No, that's not true: "B
PolitiFact→ Bernie Sanders – Bernie Sanders says private citizens have up to 10 million assault weapons, more than US military
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Bernie Sanders says private citizens have up to 10 million assault weapons, more than US military The United States doesn’t require gun registration. So, when U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., claims private
PolitiFact→ Why do some people think mass shootings are staged every time?
The mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, weren’t coordinated by a shadowy, leftist branch of the government. The media haven’t "changed the identity" of the shooters, and the Ohio gunman did not actually die in 2014
Snopes→ Did President Trump Say the Dayton, Ohio, Mass Shooting Was in Toledo?
Nine people were killed by a gunman in Dayton, Ohio, in early August 2019.
PolitiFact→ Bill Clinton – Did mass shooting deaths fall under the 1994 assault weapon ban? Checking Bill Clinton's claim
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Did mass shooting deaths fall under the 1994 assault weapon ban? Checking Bill Clinton's claim It is one of the most controversial gun control policies: A ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines that
FactCheck.org→ Mass Killings Across America
At least 144 people have died in 31 mass killings in the United States since the beginning of the year. Most of them, 141, died of gunshot wounds. The ages of victims ranged from 1 to 83. We mapped the 31 incidents so far this year, using the definitio
Snopes→ Pearl High School Shooting
Rumor: A school shooter in Pearl, Mississippi, was stopped from killing additional victims by an assistant principal with a gun.
Washington Post→ Trump’s claim about prosecuting ‘a record number of firearms offenses’
The president suggested that his administration is cracking down on guns, but he told only part of the story.
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – After mass shootings, Donald Trump says prosecutions for firearm offenses hit record in 2018
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly True | After mass shootings, Donald Trump says prosecutions for firearm offenses hit record in 2018 After weekend mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton left more than 31 people dead, President Donald Trump gave a speec
Snopes→ Was Dayton Mass Shooter a Self-Described ‘Pro-Satan Leftist Who Supported Elizabeth Warren’?
The accused Dayton gunman promoted several progressive causes and candidates.
Snopes→ Trump Vows Action After Shootings, but Gives Few Details
Trump said he wants legislation providing "strong background checks" for gun users.
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Donald Trump Deleting Anti-Immigrant Tweets?
As several mass shootings within just days of one another left the United States reeling, the ideologies of the shooters began to come under scrutiny for possible ties to sites that specialize in radicalizing disaffected young men into violent white
Lead Stories→ Fake News: AG William Barr Did NOT Tweet Odds Of Mass Shootings In Hometowns Of 2 Democrat Presidential Candidates Are 250 Billion To 1
Did Attorney General William Barr tweet that the odds of two mass shootings in the same weekend and both in the hometowns of two Democratic presidential candidates are 250 Billion to 1? No, that's not true: It is a made up tweet that did not a