Police: NBC asked for high-capacity clip

[dkf]

NBC News asked D.C. police for a high-capacity ammunition clip to use as a prop on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” show, a request District authorities said Wednesday they denied.

But host David Gregory appears to have obtained one anyway — and then displayed it on national television. Now D.C. police say they’re investigating whether the District’s gun laws were violated in the incident.


“MPD has received numerous e-mails informing us of the segment,” the e-mail continued. “NBC contacted MPD inquiring if they could utilize a high capacity magazine for their segment. NBC was informed that possession of a high capacity magazines is not permissible and their request was denied. This matter is currently being investigated. Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.”

Authorities declined to say who at NBC asked for the ammunition clip, citing an ongoing investigation. A police spokesman, Officer Araz Alali, said the e-mail would stand as the department’s statement on the matter while the investigation was ongoing.

A police official said the case has been assigned to detectives in the gun unit. Investigators will first determine whether the segment was taped in the District and then whether the clip Gregory held up on air was real and contained bullets.

http://m.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-nbc-asked-for-high-capacity-clip/2012/12/26/4c8f77da-4f76-11e2-8b49-64675006147f_story.html

[bobclark86]

1. That's a class D felony in New York...

It's the same level crime as selling more than a POUND of weed to a cop here. You get less time for killing someone with your car than possessing a folded piece of steel with a spring in it (4 to 7 years in prison).

Whether you agree with the law or not (I'm OK with it, BTW), it's still the LAW and it needs to be followed.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. All that Gregory has to say, all that anyone at NBC has to say, is "See my lawyer."

Displaying what appears to be a high capacity magazine on the air is not sufficient to prove that what was displayed is a high capacity magazine.

If that, by itself, was sufficient, there would be no need for an investigation.

If Gregory and others at NBC give statements, however, their statements and the display can be used to establish that it was what it was represented to be.

In short, this would be a time for Gregory and others at NBC to lawyer-up and keep their mouths shut.

[aikoaiko]

3. When gotchya journalism backfires...it stings.

... but I don't think there will be any real consequences for Gregory.

[aaaaaa5a]

4. I wonder if a young black kid was caught with a high capacity magazine

whether or not the police would be 'stalling" under the term "investigation" when it's apparent the law was broken.


Even worse, NBC asked about it and was denied. So they knew the circumstance but decided to violate the law anyway.



And they say justice is blind.

[exboyfil]

5. I don't know why they just did not demilitarize it

by removing the spring? In no way could it violate the law in that case. If I was them I would be removing that spring right now and refusing to say anything more. If they ask for it, give it to the police without comment.

[aaaaaa5a]

6. Better yet, why not just show a picture? After all it is TV.

The prop was ridiculous. It was Gregory trying to look cool and become a part of the story.

Think about it. What was the point? Does the leader of the NRA not know what one of these magazines looks like?

[Pterodactyl]

7. He should be prosecuted. A weapon of war has no place in a studio.

Thankfully, no one was hurt in this incident. But it sets a dangerous precedent. People contemplating violating the law will think they can get away with it.