Newsweek’s Howard Kurtz has been defending fellow “real journalist” David Gregory for a week now over his open flaunting of Washington, D.C., gun laws on “Meet the Press” last Sunday. When he learned that police were investigating Gregory over his possession of a high-capacity magazine that is banned in Washington, Kurtz said it was a sign of how “absurd” the debate over gun control had become.
While Kurtz’ support of Gregory has been consistent, his defense of Gregory’s actions has not. Next, he wondered why D.C. police were investigating a journalistic stunt instead of “catching actual criminals.” Now, a full week later, Kurtz is still fishing for just the right defense. Journalists aren’t above the law, he concedes, but how many people are actually prosecuted for violating D.C.’s gun laws? Fortunately, another real journalist, the Washington Times’ Emily Miller, was on hand to do the work that other reporters won’t do.
. @HowardKurtz Here is the case of an Iraq vet jailed in DC for unregistered ammo – no gun- http://t.co/c2rG9xcY
— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) December 29, 2012
Miller, a senior opinion editor at the paper, pointed Kurtz to her own research on the topic.
Washington, D.C.’s restrictive gun laws are being used to persecute soldiers. The pattern is disturbing, as what follows is the third case I’ve uncovered of a veteran being unfairly prosecuted under laws that should not be on the books.
…
In September 2011, former Army Specialist Adam Meckler was arrested at the VFW in the District because he happened to have a few long-forgotten rounds of ordinary ammunition in his bag. The veteran of both the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was jailed and later accepted a plea deal, which he now regrets.
After Spc. Meckler was released from jail, he was fined and placed on the District’s Gun Offender Registry. As for Gregory? We aren’t aware of any jail time he’s served over his transgression; rather, he’s preparing for an interview with President Obama tomorrow morning.
So, the “no one’s really prosecuted” defense doesn’t seem to be holding up either.
@howardkurtz How many folks displayed a magazine on TV? Isn't that a little more flagrant….like exhibitionism?
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) December 29, 2012
@EmilyMiller @howardkurtz There should be no way Gregory gets a way with his little stunt.
— Glen Cox (@GQCOP45) December 29, 2012
@HowardKurtz If DC police saw me with an empty gun magazine, I'd risk charges unless they knew I was a journalist. No charges = privilege.
— Charlie Perkins (@CharliePerkins) December 29, 2012
@EmilyMiller @howardkurtz A very similar situation happened to a British special forces soldier, he was jailed and we petitioned his release
— Mark Blaha (@1dayasalion) December 29, 2012
Like so many others, Miller isn’t calling for Gregory to be jailed, but rather for journalists to be honest about the effectiveness of gun control legislation. Is that veteran one of the “actual criminals” who should end up in handcuffs while Gregory escapes consequences?
https://twitter.com/ets90/status/285153222614728705
@EmilyMiller @HowardKurtz Good work Emily!! Travesty this would happen to vet, not surprising in DC.
— janeann (@jane_ann_x) December 29, 2012
@EmilyMiller checkmate. Good Tweet. God bless
— GLENN (@GCGATOR24) December 29, 2012
Related:
Howard Kurtz: David Gregory’s only crime was loving gun control too much
Zing! Iowahawk smacks Howard Kurtz, highlights journalistic perks
Conservatives destroy Glenn Thrush’s mock-worthy ‘public interest’ defense of David Gregory
Conservative lawyer offers to defend NBC’s David Gregory on 2nd Amendment grounds
David Gregory may have violated DC ban on high-capacity magazines
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