NBC is dealing with an unexpected legal problem after a segment by David Gregory, who displayed what he said was a high-capacity ammunition clip on “Meet the Press.” D.C. law prohibits the possession of high-capacity ammunition clips. This may have been a case where a picture — or consultation with counsel — might have been in order. There is no exception for the media in such possession cases.
On the show with the National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre, Gregory showed him the clip and said “Here’s a magazine for ammunition that carries 30 bullets. Now, isn’t it possible that if we got rid of these . . . if we replaced them and said, ‘Well, you can only have a magazine that carries five bullets, or 10 bullets,’ isn’t it just possible that we could reduce the carnage in a situation like Newtown?”
The predictable response from LaPierre was “I don’t believe that’s going to make one difference.” The less predictable response came from gun owners and gun control advocates who noted that the possession of such a clip is a crime. The D.C. law states “No person in the District shall possess, sell, or transfer any large capacity ammunition feeding device.” This does not require that the clip be attached to a weapon and does not appear to require that it have rounds in the clip.
The reported investigation could also ensnare those NBC employees who obtained and transported the clip.
I honestly believe that Gregory is not blameful and that the law should have some flexibility for news or artistic speech when the clip is empty of rounds. What do you think?
Source: Washington Post
Fabien P, your evidence that you have a good sense of humor is that YOU are laughing at stuff; usually a good sense of humor indicates that others are finding your jokes and intended humorous comments funny. But hey, that’s not a real problem. With or without a sense of humor, you’re entitled to your opinions.
Here’s my comment on what you have said:
You say there was no evidence GZ said “coons”; I gave two versions, however, alternating “coons” or “punks” and it really doesn’t matter which one was said. He ADMITTED to saying “punks” and Corey claimed he said “punks” because he admitted that. But the word, whether it was “coons” or “punks” was preceded by the work “phucking.” That does display ill will, animosity, whatever you want to call it. I don’t refer to you as a “phucking blogger” or a “phucking truck driver.” To do so would be to show animus. By the way, there IS evidence that GZ said “coons” and that evidence is contested. There is also controverting evidence that what he really said was “punks.” That doesn’t mean that there is “NO evidence” that he said “coons” — it simply means that there are two versions.
Is there evidence of serious injury? Not according to Detective Serino. Not according to the EMTs on the scene. Not according to the PA who saw GZ the following day.
Is there evidence of a struggle? Sure. Does it prove that GZ was assaulted? No it does not. It could very well prove that Trayvon Martin did not agree to being killed.
Is there evidence that GZ had blood on his face on 2/26/2012 after killing GTrayvon Martin? Sure. Is there proof that it was GZ’s own blood on his face? No there is not.
Is there evidence that GZ profiled, followed and confronted Trayvon Martin, thereafter killing him with a direct shot into his heart?
Yes there is.
Will GZ be convicted? I don’t know. I do know that Trayovn Martin would have had a much better chance of living until his 18th birthday if GZ were not in possession of a gun loaded with hollow-point bullets that night. And in my opinion, gun regulations should be in place preventing a person who has assaulted a law enforcement officer and a fiancee in the past from carrying such a lethal weapon until or unless he can show that he is mature enough and responsible enough not to kill somebody he identifies as “suspicious” while he’s on the way to the store for groceries.
Elaine,
When we first moved to the mountains, my youngest was in second grade. One of the first things we taught her was to always look around the yard and make sure there were no predators, especially black bears. We also have deer, but we all give them a wide berth too, as a deer, especially a doe with a fawn, can lay an old fashioned country whuppin’ on you with those sharp hooves.
As for your grandchild, let’s move forward a few years and suppose she is seven or eight years old and can be left unattended in the yard. Then what? As for shooting a bear in my back yard that was threatening my kid or me, you betcha I would be reaching for my 30-30 unless it was up in a tree and I had time to call 911. I have had a police officer kill a wild animal in my yard with a 12 gauge shotgun in the middle of the night. I held the flashlight on his front sight so he could see to aim. Woke the neighbors up. Not long ago, I found a huge boar raccoon in the back of my pickup truck rummaging around in the trash. When I went outside, he dove out of the truck and started toward me. Discretion being the better part of valor, I went back inside. A day or two later, I found him dead in the road where someone had run over him. He was huge. A lot of people don’t realize it because they are “cute” but a full grown raccoon is a nasty animal that can kill a large dog, and are known to carry rabies.
I think a large part of the problem with any discussion of “gun control” has many regional and cultural variations that preclude any “one size fits all” solution.
Otteray,
“What would you do if you looked out in your back yard and saw a bear or coyote between you and your grandchild?’
If I lived in an area where bears and/or coyotes prowled around people’s back yards–even within city limits–you can count on the fact that I would never leave my grandchild unattended. Do you think it’s a good idea to shoot off guns in densely populated areas?
BTW, we recently bought a house situated on over three acres in a town with lots of wooded areas. The previous owners told us there were coyotes and fisher cats in the area. Still, my husband, daughter, son-in-law, and I don’t plan on getting guns to shoot varmints in the neighborhood.
I’m sure no gangsters turned in their firearms in those “turn in for groceries” program.
What I really find funny is anything that urks the Leftist. Lol! Im a Liberal, not a Leftist. BIG difference.
Elaine,
Those buyback programs are a fraud and just a feel-good gesture. No one in their right mind is going to turn in a $900 Smith & Wesson revolver, or a $1,200 rifle. The guns they collect, such as those .22 pistols, are “Saturday Night Specials,” most of which are more dangerous to the shooter than the shot at. Cheap and made of pot metal for the most part. Or some rusty old gun that won’t fire.
There are about 330 million firearms out there in the US, and those are just those we know about. I am pretty sure my Kentucky pistol, 1896 Winchester 30-30, .50 caliber Hawken rifle, and two shotguns that are more than a hundred years old have no paperwork anywhere.
In my county, I do not know anyone who does not own at least one firearm of some kind. That includes the parish priest, the superintendent of schools, all the teachers, the janitor and the clerks at the supermarket. Just an educated guess, but I estimate there are about 2 1/2 firearms for every man, woman and child in the county.
I live in an area where black bear have been found in back yards inside the city limits. What would you do if you looked out in your back yard and saw a bear or coyote between you and your grandchild? Not long ago, I was driving down one of our mountainsides at night when a pretty kitty crossed the road just in front of me. It took a moment for it to register that the “kitty” was about seven feet from nose to tail. Anyone who goes for a hike in the hills unarmed is taking their life in their hands. When my son lived in Alaska, he would no more have considered going salmon fishing without his rifle than he would have left his shoes at home.
However I don’t think joking about hit squad going out the public officials or anyone else to be funny. Sorry!
I actually have a very good sense of humor. I’ve been smiling through this whole conversation. I only think people are wrong the disagree with me I don’t think the evil. Please excuse the voice activated texting
Of course I’m a very fun loving guy.Im 52 years old I’ve never had a traffic ticket. I drive 100,000 miles a year in a big rig for the past 32 years
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!! Please keep speaking. :-):-):-):-):-):-)
I don’t dislike you for it. Its all good stuff.
Fabian,
I see you lack a sense of humor.
Just like people would speak the loudest if you are trying to silence them
Fabian,
Freedom means we can all speak our minds about guns and gun control–not just the NRA crowd.
I have NO problem with volunteering to sell you gun for groceries. That’s fine.
Who is talking a out a hit squad???!!!! You are sick!
Thousands Of L.A. Citizens Choose Groceries Over Handguns
By Hayes Brown on Dec 27, 2012
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/12/27/1377731/butter-not-guns/
Excerpt:
Thousands of Los Angeles’ citizens lined parking lots yesterday in a chance to exchange their guns for groceries in a city-organized buyback program. The event, normally an annual Mother’s Day event, was pushed up to Wednesday by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in the aftermath of the tragic shooting in Newtown, CT.
City officials offered up to $100 in gift cards to a local grocery chain for rifles, handguns, and shotguns, with assault weapons fetching more, up to $200 in cards. Despite moving the date, turnout was extremely high, with the two parking lots where the buybacks took place finding themselves overcrowded at times by eager sellers. In fact, the city found itself surpassing last year’s total of 1,673 guns by yesterday afternoon:
Many came bearing more than one gun. They pulled 22 pistols from the trunk of one white Honda, a haul that earned the driver $1,000.
Two men in a pickup truck with two children in the back seat handed over a rifle, a pistol and a MAC-12, altered with a silence
The truth is you won’t disarm us. We are not the Brits. We are not the Australians or Canadians. You are just all blowing smoke dreaming of a utopia. We are Americans and we will bury them deep. We will not be disarmed the same as I will not be silenced. Its a freedom thang.
Fabien,
Ohmigod! Let’s get the NRA hit squad after that woman for talking openly about a gun buyback! Obama and the Democrats are making plans to take all your guns away! Better buy as many as you can right now and hide them in an underground bunker where the feds won’t be able to find them.
BTW Americans now buying LOTS AND LOTS of guns is the unintended consequences of fools. I had not bought a gun in 18 years. Just bought a Stainless steal Mini 14 . Beautiful rifle. I have had a blued one for 31 years. It has never drawn blood on anyone. It MUST be defective. I did run off a burglar onetime in 1987 with it though. I very loudly chambered a round he jumped through the window he had pried open.never fired a shot. That is how people defend themselves 99% of the time with a gun. I have no desire to hurt anyone.
ElaineM. Diane Feinstein is now openly talking about a FORCED buy back of guns. Is that the NRA “stocking paranoia” about gun confiscation?????