Howard Kurtz Scolds D.C. Police for Investigating NBC's David Gregory for Blatant Gun Law Violation

Once again, the liberal/progressive media thinks it is above the law, and that laws should only apply to groups they disagree with or despise:

Howard Kurtz of The Daily Beast has some tough talk for the D.C. Police investigating NBC's David Gregory. In an interview with the NRA's Wayne LaPierre on Sunday's Meet the Press, Gregory had produced an high capacity magazine on-air in violation of D.C. gun laws, thus attracting a police investigation.

Kurtz lamely implied that although Gregory broke the law, he shouldn't be prosecuted for it. "But the D.C. Police Department apparently has nothing better to do than examine whether he violated the city’s gun laws," Kurtz scoffed in his column at the Daily Download.

Gregory clearly broke the law. Should journalists be above the law? Kurtz thinks Gregory shouldn't be prosecuted:

newsbusters.org...

As for Kurtz, he has no idea what he is saying, so long as it toes a "progressive" line.

Gregory's possession of the clip is a crime; there is no "mens rea" or intent required. It is strict liability -- if he possessed an outlawed clip, he broke the law. Neither D.C. nor anyone else should give him or Kurtz a break for idiocy.

There are already many otherwise innocent citizens with criminal records and unlawful derentions for unintentionally violating D.C.'s gun law:

www.theblaze.com...

www.washingtontimes.com...

forums.officer.com...

I am certain that these and others would gladly trade places (and records) with Kurtz and Gregory.

Here's Kurtz post:

The late word that NBC requested, and failed to receive, permission from the police certainly complicates the matter. But I don’t think Gregory was planning to commit any crimes.

What all this demonstrates above all is that journalists are getting ensnared in the political war over gun control.

daily-download.com...

deny ignorance

jw

So basically, he's using the same logic countless Child Predators have used with countless Cops over recent years when caught dead bang with Child Porn. It wasn't for the REASON they think it was ...so the law shouldn't apply...because they say so...and after all, they're all really good people anyway, so why not go bust real criminals or something?

You know... I've never heard that logic working in those cases. I still hope this guy does a few days in jail over this. If we must be stomped under the boot of laws that carry no officer discretion anymore...and mandatory this and that so even Judges aren't permitted to look at overall circumstance too often....then there is no way a reporter should be able to not only break the law and get away with it ...but do so AFTER being specifically told not to in advance.

BOOK 'EM DANNO!!!!!"

Funny how the GUN-HATERS are ALWAYS the most CLUELESS of folks when it comes to firearms, yet they always feel the need to force their OPINIONS regarding firearms onto the rest of us.

They are CLUELESS about firearms, as we can see here, BUSTED!!!!!!!

Wrabbit i agree with you in principle and hopefully Mr. Gregory will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law along with his producer and whatever NBC management is implicated in allowing this piece to air.

HOWEVER, if Gregory isn't prosecuted, every person charged under DC's draconian gun laws should have access to an easy out in the future, rendering the D.C. laws (at best) un-enforceable.

I think we owe David Gregory a big "thank you" - although I'd be willing to bet the official story is going to be that it was an inoperative or nonfunctional magazine he held up - not contraband outlawed by the District.

ganjoa

reply to post by ganjoa

According to reports, the clip had scratches and marks indicaring prior use in a firearm.

There was money to prosecute black sports figure Gilbert Arenas. There is money to prosecute white media figure David Gregory.

We all know that David did intentionally violate a law that his crew asked about ahead of time. The magazine he shows has scratches associated with regular use, which along with Gregory's words, and the words of the NBC staff, is all proof that it is real, and all that is enough to win a conviction.

DC's gun laws were drafted without regard to any first amendment content... meaning use of the illegal items in a free speech way doesn't void the DC law. The clip is illegal to possess regardless of whether you're showing it on a news broadcast or using it

www.poynter.org...

DAVID GREGORY:
... So here is a magazine for ammunition that carries 30 bullets. ...

www.realclearpolitics.com...

Gregory himself admits he has a "magazine ... that carries 30 bullets."
Do we need any more proof?

jw

reply to post by oper8zhin


There's also a growing petitiion to have David Gregory arrested for unlawful possession of an illegal gun clip/magazine:Petitio n to Arrest David Gregory of NBC News Surpasses Halfway Mark

jw

Figures the media wants to have a exempt status from following the laws. Ignorance isn't even a option since the dummies decided to inquire with the DC police. They willfullybroke the law and should be shown just how they are like everybody else.

reply to post by hangedman13

Just a reflection of the Left's most useful tactic, flaunt the rules, then "call-out" any response from conservatives that uses the same tactics. They truly do believe that laws and rules apply to everyone but themselves.

jw

reply to post by hangedman13

Need more proof of how the Left really thinks?

The privileged daughter of a prominent city doctor, and her boyfriend — a Harvard grad and Occupy Wall Street activist — have been busted for allegedly having a cache of weapons and a bombmaking explosive in their Greenwich Village apartment.

Greenwich Village couple busted with cache of weapons, bombmaking explosives

jw

Two Americas: Gregory Not Charged, Iraq Vet Jailed

In July, The Washington Times highlighted the plight of former Army Spc. Adam Meckler, who was arrested and jailed for having a few long-forgotten rounds of ordinary ammunition — but no gun — in his backpack in Washington. Mr. Meckler, a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, says he had no idea it was illegal to possess unregistered ammunition in the city. He violated the same section of D.C. law as Mr. Gregory allegedly did, and both offenses carry the same maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and a year in jail.

Mr. Meckler was charged with the crime and was forced to accept a plea deal to avoid the cost and time of a protracted legal fight.
...
... Mr. Gregory ... held up a 30-round rifle magazine on his show on Dec. 23 to make his point about the need to ban them. NBC asked the police in advance for permission to bring the contraband into Washington for the interview with National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre, but it was not granted.

“I unknowingly broke the law,” Mr. Meckler told The Washington Times. “Mr. Gregory knowingly broke the law. While both are seemingly harmless, both acts were deemed illegal under the District’s obscure firearms laws.”

www.breitbart.com...

Is this the final step, or a dead end?

The question isn't really whether D.C.'s gun-banning laws are good and right, but whether David Gregory is going to be treated like anyone else accused of breaking the law would be treated. Right or wrong, the fact is, the laws are on the books.

For instance, will Gregory be treated like James Brinkley was in 2012? Brinkley was arrested for violating D.C.'s strict gun-banning laws when police found an empty, large capacity pistol magazine in his car as he was on his way to a training session for the U.S. Marshals service. Brinkley was arrested, charged with the crime, and spent months trying to clear his name and save his new job as a U.S. Marshal.

Why should David Gregory be treated any differently than a man who was in training for the U.S. Marshals service? Will the rule of law apply to all equally in Washington D.C.?

D.C. AG's Office Investigating NBC's Gregory