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On 6 October 2016, the Boston Tribune web site published an article reporting that 23 U.S. states had agreed to ban the sale and use of hollow point ammunition effective on 5 January 2017: The article referenced a Maine lawmaker named Jared Holbrook, who does not exist. Neither does a real newspaper called the Boston Tribune either — that name has been appropriated by a fake news site which (by design) many online readers now confuse as a legitimate news outlet on par with the real Boston Globe or Boston Herald newspapers. While the Boston Tribune (like the Baltimore Gazette) sounds like the online arm of a major city newspaper, it is in actuality a news outlet for hoax purveyor Associated Media Coverage, a long-established fake news site that typically spreads fabrications about laws or statutes that would affect a specific subset of the population. Many fake or satire news sites include disclaimers informing readers their content is fabricated, but Associated Media Coverage (and the Boston Tribune) do not. The 23-state ammo ban hoax designed to make waves among gun rights enthusiasts was in keeping with prior Associated Media Coverage falsehoods, including claims of an impending motorcycle curfew in March 2016, a motorcycle speed ban in August 2016, a FDA e-juice ban in mid-2016, a codified two pet maximum ordinance in multiple jurisdictions (causing many households to believe they would be forced to abandon beloved pets), a 50-state ban on open carry, and the elimination of Wisconsin's food assistance programs. Associated Media Coverage expanded their scope into darker yet unfunny fake news items, including claims a transgender bathroom controversy-related shooting resulted in someone's death (appearing during nationwide debate over the issue), Casey Anthony planned to open a home daycare center, a dead baby was found in a Walmart DVD bin, and Jodi Arias was granted early release from prison.
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