Tom Spurgeon reports that comic retailer and internet hard man J.I. Corcoran is under investigation by his local police force for the remarks he made after the Tucson shootings:
Robot 6 has their usual sterling write-up here about this article from regional Boston media about the police in the community of Arlington (about five, ten minutes northwest of Boston proper) suspending the firearms license of Heavy Ink comics retailer Travis J.I. Corcoran and seizing what they called a “large amount” of weaponry and ammunition from his possession. Both moves were made pending the outcome of an investigation into statements made by Corcoran after the shooting of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others on January 8 in Tucson. The main statement in question was “one down 534 to go” in reference to her membership in the House Of Representatives. As tracked by on-line comics media — including at Comics Alliance, where apparently the police encountered the story — Corcoran has thus far qualified rather than backed down from the statement.
Spurgeon also mentioned that several comix creators had “expressed their distaste” at Corcoran’s remarks, some going so far as to call for a boycott, or rather, that he should stop selling their works. His sentiments were, if not nasty or evil, certainly mistimed and boorish. Yet it all seems a bit over the top to try and destroy his livelihood for what at heart is the same sort of half-joke many Americans could’ve made in private about Congress, or other “hated” groups like lawyers. Corcoran’s mistake was his bad timing and his inability to let go of it graciously, rather than dig his heels in. It’s understandable that the police is investigating him in the current climate, but it’s also clear that all he was doing was being a typical, rightwing internet blowhard talking bull when he should’ve kept his mouth shut. Bad publicity for comics, but nothing serious.