Former NBC anti-gun journalist violated DC gun laws during an interview in 2012 with no arrest; Affi
16 replies, posted
[quote][img]http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/a57237b/2147483647/resize/652x%3E/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2F88%2F53%2F5ad752554ded913d62a7092fda51%2F150123-editorial.jpg[/img]
In a nearly forgotten controversy David Gregory, then host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” appeared on TV waving a 30-round ammunition magazine from the network’s District of Columbia studio.
Gregory was aggressively interviewing the National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre in December 2012, asking if it might be a good idea to ban the high-capacity magazines.
[B]His prop, ironically, violated a District of Columbia law making it illegal to possess an ammunition magazine - even an empty one - that holds more than 10 bullets.[/B]
Gregory was never arrested or charged with the crime, which carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, but an affidavit released Friday shows that’s exactly what local police recommended.
Wayne Gerrish, a Washington Metropolitan Police Department detective, [B]wrote in the affidavit the snafu was no accident, and requested an arrest warrant.[/B]
[B]NBC staff contacted police before the episode aired to share their plans and ask about the legality of showing the magazine, the affidavit says. Two emailed responses explained doing so would violate the law. One of the emails suggested using a photo instead.[/B]
Many gun rights advocates were giddy to learn Gregory had violated the District's gun laws. Though some salivated at the prospect of a suspected gun control sympathizer heading to jail for violating gun control laws, others said he should not be prosecuted.
In January 2013 the District’s attorney general, Irvin Nathan,[B] decided not to bring charges against Gregory, despite what he called “the gravity of the illegal conduct in this matter.”[/B] At the time city officials would not say if detectives had endorsed bringing charges.
“It is no wonder the District government covered up its special favor for NBC News and David Gregory for two years," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement Friday. [B]"Liberals in the District seem to think that they should be immune from the absurd and constitutionally-suspect gun laws they like and want enforced.”[/B]
William Jacobson, who runs Legal Insurrection, said in a statement the document release was a win for transparency, and that he doesn't believe what Gregory did should be a crime. On his blog, he previously wrote: [B]"The non-prosecution of David Gregory was a testament to the double standard for justice in the District of Columbia, one for the rich and powerful, another for the rest of us."[/B][/quote]
[url]http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/23/david-gregory-arrest-affidavit-nbc-knew-he-would-violate-dc-gun-law[/url]
Nobody should be arrested over this bullshit.
Opinion article designed to complain about 'da liberals'. The idea you're trying to convey is that guys like this one want others arrested for owning these, and that he hypocritically owned one anyway. As if context isn't a thing. This "article" is entirely about an event from a full year ago.
It's a loophole in that the object was intended to be a prop, and the attorney general decided it was not the same thing as owning one for intent of use. Should we arrest film producers for showing banned firearms in media?
[editline]24th January 2015[/editline]
you created this thread for the sole purpose of shitting up facepunch with more gun control debate
[QUOTE=bitches;47004864]Opinion article designed to complain about 'da liberals'. The idea you're trying to convey is that guys like this one want others arrested for owning these, and that he hypocritically owned one anyway. As if context isn't a thing. This "article" is entirely about an event from a full year ago.
It's a loophole in that the object was intended to be a prop, and the attorney general decided it was not the same thing as owning one for intent of use. Should we arrest film producers for showing banned firearms in media?
[editline]24th January 2015[/editline]
you created this thread for the sole purpose of shitting up facepunch with more gun control debate[/QUOTE]
Yea, what happens if I want to make a movie and I need to use prop guns? There obviously needs to be an exception here, which is probably why he didn't get charged.
[QUOTE=Zyler;47005107]Yea, what happens if I want to make a movie and I need to use prop guns? There obviously needs to be an exception here, which is probably why he didn't get charged.[/QUOTE]
Apparently no one understands what a prop is...
A prop is visually similar but non-functioning. A prop gun magazine could not be used in a real gun. A prop gun does not fire real bullets.
What he had was an actual (illegal) magazine. It could have been loaded with bullets which could then be fired from a gun. This is in no way a prop.
if someone else has been arrested for it, why is this guy above the law?
[QUOTE=Megadave;47004833]Nobody should be arrested over this bullshit.[/QUOTE]
These idiotic laws really do need to be repealed already, it's been quite clearly proven that they don't serve any actual purpose beyond annoying people.
Everybody on every side of this "controversy" is stupid.
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;47005361]Everybody on every side of this "controversy" is stupid.[/QUOTE]
'look at me im cooler than everyone'
The reason him not getting charged is asinine is because the laws are written as zero-tolerance, no exceptions, if-you-own-this-you're-going-to-jail black-and-white felonies. The letter of the law doesn't have any provisions for filming or newscasting, and when ordinary people get arrested for simple possession (even accidental), it's bullshit that people with influence get away with it.
[QUOTE=Megadave;47004833]Nobody should be arrested over this bullshit.[/QUOTE]
[I]Especially[/I] if it's empty. Under the eyes of the law now yeah, he shouldn't be exempt, but the law itself is pretty dumb. That magazine on its own won't do you any good if you were trying to kill people, let alone it being completely empty.
Double standards much?
as much as i think it's a dumb law, he should still be arrested for possession of an illegal item. Hes only getting off because money and influence.
Magazine limits and the people who support them are dumb as hell. No one should be arrested for this shit at all. With that said, he is the type of garbage who would see anyone of us arrested for the same. Maybe he should be arrested...
This reminds me of the crack scene in Anchorman 2.
It's like buying a V8 car and being told you can only put 5 spark plugs in it because if you have all 8 in, it'll let you get into street races and kill people in a crash.
[QUOTE=darunner;47008590]It's like buying a V8 car and being told you can only put 5 spark plugs in it because if you have all 8 in, it'll let you get into street races and kill people in a crash.[/QUOTE]
Not really. it would be a law banning a modification to make it go faster. your example is like NY banning putting more than 7 rounds in a 10 round mag, that shit is completely fucking stupid.
[QUOTE=ac/14;47009039]Not really. it would be a law banning a modification to make it go faster. your example is like NY banning putting more than 7 rounds in a 10 round mag, that shit is completely fucking stupid.[/QUOTE]
A law of which, if I recall, was written so fast that they forgot to make policeman and their standard firearms exceptions to rule, making in essence all of NYPD criminals.
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