Police reportedly denied David Gregory permission to use high-capacity magazine on 'Meet the Press'; Update: Did ATF give Gregory the green light?

@WhitneyWReports @davidgregory Oops!

— Beau Nugget ? (@Gregory__Adams) December 26, 2012

Oh dear … the plot grows ever thicker. David Gregory, currently under investigation for brandishing a high-capacity magazine on “Meet the Press,” may be guilty of not only violating DC gun laws, but of doing so intentionally. An email purportedly from the DC Metropolitan Police Department suggests that NBC inquired about using a high-capacity magazine for the “Meet the Press” segment and that the request was denied.

https://twitter.com/Fleckman/status/283975856316100610

Officer Aziz Alali of the MPD Public Information Office further confirmed the authenticity of the e-mail, and gave me this statement by telephone:

“NBC contacted the Metropolitan Police Department inquiring if they could utilize a high acapcity [sic] magazine for thie [sic] segment. NBC was informed that that possession of a high capacity magazine is not permissible and the request was denied. This matter is currently being investigate [sic] and I cannot get into any further specifics on this investigation.”

As Twitchy reported, a conservative lawyer has volunteered to defend Gregory on Second Amendment grounds. Sounds like Gregory might be wise to take him up on that offer.

(Hat tip: Legal Insurrection)

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Update:

Gregory and “Meet the Press” staff may have received conflicting information about the legality of brandishing the contentious magazine:

RT @TMZ: 'Meet the Press' Got the Green Light for Magazine Demo with David Gregory http://t.co/4ruyFuwJ

— Michelle Fields (@MichelleFields) December 26, 2012

According to TMZ, an official from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives told “Meet the Press” staff that Gregory could display the magazine on TV, provided that it was empty. The ATF official had reportedly been given the go-ahead by a DC police official. This, of course, contradicts the DC police’s statement that permission to display the magazine had been denied.

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In any event, it sounds like rather than adhering to legal guidelines, NBC chose instead to go with the answer that best suited their propaganda mission. Evidently, in journo-tools’ minds, the law really doesn’t apply to them.

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Update:

D.C. police spox: ""I don't know where [@TMZ] got their information. I can't confirm what they said." http://t.co/VyrsBVi9

— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) December 26, 2012