"drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic research editor (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Wilson Gray]

Billl Mullins writes:

"[I]t is always possible that an earlier-still use will be found by
someone else."

That's absolutely right. "_Mafia-style_ drive-by shooting" just about
guarantees it, in this case, IMO.

-Wilson

On Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 10:10 AM, Mullins, Bill AMRDEC
<Bill.Mullins at us.army.mil> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
>  Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>  Poster:       "Mullins, Bill AMRDEC" <Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL>
>  Subject:      Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic
>               research editor (UNCLASSIFIED)
>  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>  Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
>  Caveats: NONE
>
>  Robin -- I doubt anyone will be able to tell you the "first" use of the
>  phrase.  The best anyone can do is find early uses, but it is always
>  possible that an earlier-still use will be found by someone else.  At
>  any rate, it's fairly easy to antedate 1996.
>
>  Regards,
>  Bill Mullins
>
>
>  From ProQuest Historical Newspapers:
>  SHOOTOUTS REPLACING FIST-SWINGING RUMBLES   Los Angeles Times;     MIKE
>  TERRY;  Aug 28, 1980;   p. B3;
>  "The mafia-style drive-by shooting was just the latest variation on an
>  increasingly violent theme."
>
>
>  From Newsbank:
>
>  ANCHORMAN SHOT AT L.A. INTERSECTION
>  Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - October 26, 1983 Page: A03
>  Author: Associated Press
>
>  "Police said they believed Dunphy was the victim of a " drive-by
>  shooting " Monday night at an intersection near the ABC television
>  complex in Hollywood. "
>
>  > -----Original Message-----
>  > From: American Dialect Society
>  > [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Cohen, Gerald Leonard
>  > Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 9:43 PM
>  > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>  > Subject: Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National
>  > Geographic research editor
>  >
>  > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>  > -----------------------
>  > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>  > Poster:       "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at MST.EDU>
>  > Subject:      Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National
>  > Geographic
>  >               research editor
>  > --------------------------------------------------------------
>  > -----------------
>  >
>  > Dear Robin Reid,
>  >     I'm forwarding your message to the American Dialect
>  > Society's Internet discussion group, whose interests extend
>  > to all aspects of English.  At least several members are
>  > particularly knowledgeable about early attestations of terms
>  > and may be able to help you.
>  >
>  >    So, ads-l members, would any of you have information on
>  > the earliest attestation(s) of "drive-by shooting"?  If so,
>  > please respond both to Robin Reid and ads-l. Thanx in advance.
>  >
>  > Best. --- Gerald Cohen
>  > gcohen at mst.edu
>  >
>  > ________________________________
>  >
>  > From: Robin Reid [mailto:rstreid at comcast.net]
>  > Sent: Tue 4/1/2008 5:32 PM
>  > To: Cohen, Gerald Leonard
>  > Subject: query from National Geographic research editor
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Hello Gerald,
>  >
>  > My name is Robin Reid, and I'm a research editor for National
>  > Geographic magazine. I found you while searching for the
>  > origins of the phrase "drive-by shooting." I'm preparing a
>  > timeline to illustrate a story we're doing about the impact
>  > automobiles have had on society, and my art director wondered
>  > if we could pinpoint when the phrase entered the American lexicon.
>  >
>  > WordOrigins indicates it came about in 1996 along with other
>  > drive- bys, but it then referred me to the society's Web
>  > site, and drive-by shooting doesn't show up in 1996.
>  >
>  > Can you help me?
>  >
>  > Many thanks!
>  >
>  > Robin Reid
>  > 410-435-1284
>  >
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>  >
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--
All say, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange complaint to
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