Reporter Rebecca Aguilar Fired for Ambush Reporting Incident

I had misgivings about working as a reporter when I entered the field in 1984. Mostly it was because I didn't want myself to be associated with reporters of a type like Rebecca Aguilar. A recent recipient of the Broadcast Journalist of the Year award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Aguilar was fired by her Dallas-FortWorth Fox affiliate last week, apparently for conducting an "ambush interview" of a 78 year old burglary victim trying to climb into his car outside of a Dallas Gun shop.




If you did not watch the video, 78 year old James Walton allegedly shot and killed, on two occasions, thieves who'd climbed this 8 foot security fence and broke into his salvage business. Police had confiscated Walton's shotgun, and Walton had earlier in the day told Aguilar that he was going out to buy another one.

I've always been disappointed in the way competition among broadcast journalists can lead a reporter to treat victims of crime or disaster in this way. In a small way, Aguilar has my sympathy. But only a small amount.

From the TV interview, it's clear he didn't expect to see her there, and she badgered him with the tasteless questions we've come to expect from sewage journalism. You know the sort of questions I mean, like "How did it feel to see your house burn down?" or "How did you feel when you heard your husband's plane went down?"

The guy was clearly upset at her and the camera crew and she had the nerve to ask, "Are those tears of remorse?" Holy Shit lady, the guy was buying a new gun for pete's sake. Her liberal gun-guilt was sickeningly obvious as she tried to turn the blame back onto the Burglary victim for having the audacity to defend himself. I rather like James Walton for how he answered her, "It's a shotgun, and I'd hate to have to use it already..." or "...do you think I invited them into my building?"

Good for you James Walton, I hope the bastards never try to rob you again.

You didn't have to do your story that way, so Good for you too, Rebecca Aguilar. I read your complaints about how you're now professionally marked for life in the Google age. Now you can experience something too few liberals ever get to experience: accountability for one's actions.

Good luck on your new career, whatever it is.