We don’t imagine anyone’s surprised to learn that NBC’s David Gregory will not face prosecution for waving a banned high-capacity magazine during a broadcast of “Meet the Press.” In a letter, Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan said that prosecution of Gregory would neither “promote public safety” in Washington nor serve the best interests of D.C.’s citizens.
D.C. attorney general cites "feeble and unsatisfactory" efforts by NBC News to ascertain legal responsibilities. http://t.co/P0yx3xHm
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) January 11, 2013
However, Nathan also noted that NBC’s effort to determine if the stunt was indeed legal (it wasn’t) was “feeble and unsatisfactory.” In other words, the law banning possession of the magazine was clear, but the network didn’t bother complying — the prop was necessary to push for the passage of more gun laws, after all.
Did anyone think David Gregory was going to be charged for showing what an extended clip looked like? #nonstory
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) January 11, 2013
No, of course we didn’t. That would involve enforcing the law. Besides, this is David Gregory.
Of course @davidgregory won't be prosecuted for illegal possession of a 30-round magazine, he's the elite!
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 11, 2013
Shorter DC Attorney General: "So, that law you're supposed to follow? Never mind that." http://t.co/s1O51cq9
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 11, 2013
When yer rich, white, and liberal — in DC, neither perjury nor smuggling contraband into a NBC set is a crime.
— Burn, Democrat-Run Cities, Burn! (@NolteNC) January 11, 2013
Recommended
FACT: Somewhere today a poor black woman is in jail for an unpaid parking ticket as @davidgregory skates for smuggling contraband into DC
— Burn, Democrat-Run Cities, Burn! (@NolteNC) January 11, 2013
David Gregory caught red-handed with contraband, no charges. I thought liberals were all for fairness.
— Razor (@hale_razor) January 11, 2013
http://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/statuses/289855324024872960
Mattress tag, huh? So the magazine is such a dangerous tool of mass destruction that Gregory felt he needed to confront the NRA with it on air. The fact that he had it? No big deal. It’s not a gun or anything. But we need to ban them, now. Clear?
* * *
Update:
The full text of Attorney General Nathan’s letter is available online. Gregory’s intent, it seems, was a major factor in letting him get away with breaking the law.
Influencing our judgment in this case, among other things, is our recognition that the intent of the temporary possession and short display of the magazine was to promote the First Amendment purpose of informing an ongoing public debate about firearms policy in the United States, especially while this subject was foremost in the minds of the public following the previously mentioned events in Connecticut and the President’s speech to the nation about them. There were, however, other legal means available to demonstrate the point and to pursue this line of questioning with the guest that were suggested to NBC and that could have and should have been pursued.
Not only did @davidgregory violate the high capacity mag ban, he did it in conjunction with others which is conspiracy. That's a felony.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) January 11, 2013
I'm sure @davidgregory's uniformed service to his country is what got him off the hook. No wait, vets get prosecuted, smirky TV hosts don't
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) January 11, 2013
Wait, veterans are prosecuted for breaking similar gun bans? Yes, yes they are.
Hey, if we get together and establish a media outlet can we be like @DavidGregory and break the law without consequence?
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) January 11, 2013
@sunnyright @davidgregory It all depends on whether you express the correct opinions. You think anybody at FNC would get this treatment?
— China is lying (@jtLOL) January 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/kobunheat/status/289865025575874561
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/289867523451650048
So if in the future we are arrested for a gun violation, can we cite the "David Gregory Rule?" #TGDN
— Beverly ⭐⭐⭐ (@BeverlyHobbit) January 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/Desert_Gator/status/289870743376904192
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Update:
Legal Insurrection has done some digging and uncovered an interesting connection. David Gregory’s wife, Beth Wilkinson, appeared together in 2011 in the Shakespeare Theatre Mock Trial with Nathan.
Whodathunkit? DC prosecutor who gave David Gregory a mulligan on gun felony turns out to be a pal of Gregory's wife http://t.co/JpyyKg0G
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 11, 2013
Via @Breitbart #tcot David Gregory's Wife Acted in Play with DC Attorney General http://t.co/p38bSCSJ #twisters #teaparty
— Daniel Dickel (@1861_again) January 12, 2013
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