W.H. Petition: 'Press Charges Against David Gregory' for Breaking D.C. Gun Laws

[babylonsister]

OK, 'that' comes from here...

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/wh-petition-press-charges-against-david-gregory-breaking-dc-gun-laws_691989.html?nopager=1

But I found it here:

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/12/26/85237/613

Jail Fluffy

by BooMan
Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 08:52:37 AM EST


The petition to have Meet the Press host David Gregory arrested for illegal possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine within the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia is the first clever thing I've seen the right do in a very long time. It's never easy to explain why rich fluffyheads are exempt from the laws that the rest of us must follow. Sometimes, as with NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress (who famously shot himself in the leg at a NYC nightclub), it's just not worth it to bend the law to account for fame and money. He went to jail for a while. This David Gregory gun brandishing thing could be the next Benghazi!! Except, this time, the Metro police are involved.

We should all go shoot watermelons in our backyards in solidarity and celebration.

[hlthe2b]

1. How the hell do they know it was not a facsmile?

just an empty cartridge?

[Fumesucker]

3. It was a magazine and doesn't matter if it's empty or full

A magazine is a holder/feed mechanism for cartridges/bullets.

I actually agree with this, if Gregory can be shown to have violated the law he should be arrested and charged just as any member of the 99% would be for the same crime.

[hlthe2b]

4. Stop the condescension. A facsimile is a mock-up of a device...

and if it WAS an empty facsimile (mock-up) of a magazine, there can be no crime.

[Fumesucker]

5. Are we sure that such facsimiles even exist?

Gregory has had enough time to give a denial on this, I've been reading about it for at least a day now.

[hlthe2b]

11. Have you EVER heard of the movie industry? Props department?

Do you realize NBC produces more law and order (cough cough) type tv shows than any other network? Do you realize Hollywood routinely gets waivers to use such props in other restrictive locales including NYC?

Good heavens... It seems the gungeon regular's hatred for those who question any form of responsible gun safety/control measures has blinded some to even the basic explanations...

[Fumesucker]

12. I'm not remotely a "gungeon regular"

You might want to be sure of your target before pulling the trigger.

[hlthe2b]

13. I suspect given these posts, others might draw a similar conclusion...

If it walks like a duck...

[Fumesucker]

14. Perhaps you can explain my comment on this thread then, it's the first one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022064208

Or maybe this comment.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2058984

[hlthe2b]

15. Glad to see those...

but you did start out with the current NRA meme--attack anyone critical of current gun policy based on terminology in some bizarre attempt to diminish the critique and/or change the subject. In this case doing so didn't apply to what I was saying. This silly tactic is being played out all over DU and elsewhere, whether you realize it or not or whether you were unintentionally doing so.

Nonetheless, I'm glad to stand corrected re: your views.

[Fumesucker]

19. The terminology really isn't that difficult to learn

And it confuses the issues when people use the wrong terminology, in this particular instance I've seen dummy cartridges/rounds quite a few times but I don't think I've ever seen a dummy magazine or clip.

A clip and a magazine perform a similar function, a cartridge is a completely different thing from either.

[hlthe2b]

20. Fixating on terminology technicalities is disingenous IMHO.

The public gets the point, even if not all have the expertise and specificity of a neurologist discussing brain surgery.

As long as those writing the laws are precise, all else is false bravado.

[Fumesucker]

23. What makes you think those writing the laws know any better?

That's half our problem, a big percentage of our legislators, law writers, are stone cold morans with little expertise in anything beyond the mechanics of getting their asses elected and reelected.

[hlthe2b]

24. That is a separate issue but, there are large staffs of lawyers and others with technical expertise

that congress has at their beck and call. The issue will be predicting the loopholes that NRA and others will try to identify--just as the rich do with tax law.

Those who discuss the direction of new law and policy must call on those with expertise to craft the actual law, but it is not necessary for them to have the precision of a neurosurgeon to discuss the issues with the public. When NRA (and its supporters) fixate on this, I think the public very clearly knows this is merely a tactic.

[Fumesucker]

25. Good luck predicting or even seeing the loopholes if you don't even know the basic terminology

Congress has passed plenty of arguably horrible law in the past and the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

It almost seems in fact that the worse the law the easier it is to get bipartisan agreement on it.

[hlthe2b]

27. There is inadequately informed and then there is momentary "misspeak"....

The NRA cult loves to jump on the latter just as much as the former--THAT is the tactic that will doom them with the public.

[Fumesucker]

35. And not knowing the difference is what will get horrible law

An assault weapon ban is only a drop in the bucket of gun killings in the first place, it's a distraction from the retail day to day murders that are done mostly with hand guns.

[hlthe2b]

36. Only if those who did not distinguish crafted the actual law. They DO NOT.

You know better than this...

But, I have better things to do today than argue NRA talking points with you. Have a nice day.

[CreekDog]

40. but you could be

the hostility towards anyone supporting gun control of any sort is really over the top.

[samsingh]

51. ironically, that seems to be what you're doing with gregory

and the whole - him issuing a denial is bogus.

why not spend the same energy on someone carrying in the open or stand your ground rules?

[grantcart]

6. Comment from the link

No person in the District shall possess, sell, or transfer any large capacity ammunition feeding device ...

Let's review. Clearly he didn't sell or transfer the magazine, at least during the broadcast. And it's not at all clear what constitutes possession. Did/does he actually possess the device or merely hold it up for the camera? Nice try though.

BTW dude, watermelons are out of season.

[Fumesucker]

8. The magazine was clearly transferred if Gregory no longer has it

Pass a joint at a concert and you are technically a "drug dealer" because you "transferred" a banned substance.

Why would it be any different for a magazine?

[grantcart]

54. If it is a prop of NBC then simply holding in front of the camera wouldn't fit the crime.

Also has anyone established whether it was simply a casing or acually was full of ammo.

All pretty ridiculous in any case.

[arely staircase]

22. i am sure if i am "holding up" a kilo of cocaine

i am in possession. pretty sure the cops would think so anyhow.

[Walk away]

2. I think David Gregory started this himself.

It's 100% moronic.

[Enrique]

7. i can explain why they would make an exception for Gregory

it's called common sense.

[Fumesucker]

9. Exactly, Gregory is both famous and wealthy

It's just common sense that he should get to break the law with impunity and we should all defend his exemption from penalties of law.

[CreekDog]

42. the dude that believes the law shouldn't exist thinks Gregory should be locked away for life

where's my one hand clapping smilie?

[oldhippie]

55. I wonder what we would be saying if ....

.... it was a Faux News anchor holding (possessing) the device?

[sorefeet]

10. This is an example

of the thousands of gun laws that don't get enforced.

[Robyn66]

16. What stupidity

Children and firefighters are being gunned down and there are people entertaining this shit! Shameful!

[hlthe2b]

30. +1 (sad to see this BS diversion argument on a progressive website, isn't it?)

[Comrade_McKenzie]

17. I can't support this, as it originated on Breitbart.com...

And the news should get a pass on shit like this for reporting purposes.

[backscatter712]

18. The question is whether Gregory's crew jumped through the correct legal hoops...

Those legal hoops, often in the form of explicitly written exceptions for film crews, are in most jurisdictions' firearms laws. Which means that perhaps his crew may have set him up with a prop magazine that wasn't functional, or they got a waiver or license for the purposes of filming, or something.

If they didn't somebody on Gregory's production crew needs to be fired - they should have known better.

[Fumesucker]

21. So Dances With Rove gets bit by the wolf he's been busy feeding the 99% to

And naturally of course some 99%er on his crew needs to get fired.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. They have an entertainment division

And lawyers to check on the work of lawyers.

This is a classic RW attack. See, the lib'rul media elite gets a pass!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

32. This as a news show

Seriously doubt the magazine went through the entertainment division due to time lines if nothing else

It really doesn't matter...it is not going anywhere

[Recursion]

39. DCPD says NBC asked for a waiver and was denied

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

[dkf]

44. Wow. Sounds like someone is out of a job any day now.

Regardless if David Gregory is in trouble.

Talk about a low regard for gun laws.

[Recursion]

45. Unfortunately it plays right in to NRA talking points

Sigh

[dkf]

47. Stupid stupid stupid.

Mind boggling actually.

[Fumesucker]

49. That's our M$M

Bone deep stupid.

[Fumesucker]

48. The whole problem could have been easily sidestepped

Shoot the video with the magazine somewhere it was perfectly legal to have it.

Problem never even happens.

[Recursion]

50. For all we know, they did

DCPD is still trying to figure out if it was shot in DC or not. Given the 5th amendment, that will be difficult.

[oldhippie]

56. Seems to me all it would take ....

.. would be depositions or testimony from the people there. The 5th only applies to the one who may be charged.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

26. Gregory was a dumbass but so is this

I doubt it was a prop, since that is more a movie thing vice the news dept.

I have little doubt that Gregory is egotistical enough to think the laws did not apply since he was using it of a higher purpose.

The DA has absolute prosecutorial discretion baring a writ of mandamus.

[Fumesucker]

28. Slight correction, Gregory *is* a dumbass

And it's completely revealing of the flaws of our system that such a dumbass could rise so far in it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

31. Good point. We really need better imperfect and perfect tenses in American English

Gregory has been, is now, and ever shall be a dumbass

[CreekDog]

43. Gregory is a dumbass, but his interview of LaPierre was terrific and that's why you're mad

he took your guy to the cleaners and you know it.

and you don't care what it takes to discredit him, you don't want people to watch that interview.

[Fumesucker]

46. My guy?

Trigger happy bunch we have around here, friendly fire incidents galore.

Just because I despise Dances With Rove doesn't mean I love Wayne LaPierre, any reasonably astute and fluent ninth grader could have disassembled Mr NRA and his talking points with half their brain tied behind their back.

[tularetom]

33. There is absolutely NO chance anything will happen as a result of this incident

but it warms my heart to think that this douchebag might be having some discomfort because of it.

[Remmah2]

34. If he truly believes in his cause he should take his punishment.

Generations of protesters have stood their ground against Vietnam/Iraq and have been tear gassed, pepper sprayed and arrested.

[madrchsod]

37. really? this issue has come down to this?

i guess when an issue disintegrates into a childish school yard squabble it`s over.
.

this really is a sad statement on the intellect of the news media

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. This is not the nooz media

But the NRA, serious.

[backscatter712]

41. He probably won't be charged.

A good defense attorney can find twelve forms of ambiguity in a "No smoking" sign, so he can probably make sure that Gregory gets to skate.

[billh58]

52. This is a perfect example

of just how desperate the NRA and their Gungeon followers are becoming now that the country is waking up to the carnage that they have caused.

[Remmah2]

53. I guess he was a hidden criminal.

For shame.