Bok, bok, bok.
Our favourite Kiwi ultracrepidarian has chickened out of a seminar on firearms due to be delivered at the University of Otago this month. From Kiwi Gun Blog:
On further investigation, it appears Alpers was originally scheduled to attend in person and then opted for a “pre-recorded talk” and now the plug has even been pulled on that and the entire seminar:
If that’s not the gold standard in intellectual cowardice then what is? Alpers was not even prepared to front up in person to defend his position but it’s not like he would have any experience defending academic research when, unlike most professors, he’s never had to defend a paper or achieve a qualification.
It’s not really a surprising move from Alpers. For those old enough to remember, Philip Alpers was the head of Gunsafe NZ, who’s other spokesperson Michael Meyrick was arrested on child pornography possession charges back in 2005:
“A Huntly lawyer (and Gunsafe spokesman) Mike Meyrick has been found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice after Judge Mike Behrens, QC, released his reserved decision following a recent defended hearing in the Hamilton District Court.
Meyrick wasn’t a credible witness, the judge ruled.
Meyrick was originally charged with storing images of child pornography in his computer, but the additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice was laid after he allegedly took a computer tower from his daughter’s Auckland flat in September last year, hours before police called to collect it.
Police were interested in the tower after allegations were made to them about what it contained.
Mike Meyrick has repeatedly been used by Gunsafe as their number two spokesman, whenever Philip Alpers was unable or unwilling to make comment in the media. This was especially the case following Alpers bungled appearance on TV3’s “The Ralston Show”, when Alpers “blew it”, by attacking official gun-safety programmes designed to educate kids about safe firearm handling practices.”
Even Bill Ralston found it incredulous that we should protect children by educating them about the risks of drowning, stranger danger and crossing the road, while Gunsafe’s strategy for protecting kids from firearm accidents was to keep them ignorant.”
Alpers was also apparently an unpopular character during his time on Kiwi show Fair Go:
“It was a high-stress show and behind the scenes there were a few tensions. Kerre admits to struggling with the far more serious investigative journalist Philip Alpers.
“I chafed with Philip. He and I didn’t get on. I have the utmost respect for him, but I found it really hard in the office.”
Serious investigative journalist? In a parallel universe perhaps, but certainly not this one.
Alpers could perhaps use his serious investigative skills to find more funding for his recently defunded Gun Policy website:
Probably an opportune time for you to disappear into obscurity never to return, Philip. That’s if obscurity even wants you, because NZ and Australia certainly don’t.
Bok, bok, bok.
The other spokesman was Gary. An admitted wife beater. Stay classy.
Probably didn’t have Soros footing the airfare and accomodation
As well as Mr Meyrick being in possession of Child Pornography, Mr Alpers spent a considerable amount of time at a sex cult called Centrepoint, with another convicted child sex offender Bert Potter. Anyone else see apattern here?
I’d be interested to see a link for that, it would be a useful thing to have on tap for next time our favorite firearms expert pops up.