CNN: Mistake or Misconduct?

[Kennedy 0]

Well, this time, CNN not only got the facts wrong in their piece about firearms, they actually committed several crimes in doing so.

Wonder if the ATF will be knocking on their door.

http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2005/02/can-we-blogswarm-this-jed-at.html
The links on this page rank a definite "must click."

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Jed at Freedomsight found an interesting story. It seems that CNN, in an attempt at exposing the horrible dangers of .50 BMG rifles just committed at least one, and possibly more than one felony. Apparently they purchased a .50 in a private-party transaction from a person in another state. In fact, they might have done it by straw-purchase - that is, they had someone local buy it for them. Those are no-no's. FEDERAL no-no's, unless the purchaser has a Federal Firearms License.

....

here's the CNN fluff piece (Paula Zahn)
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0502/17/pzn.01.html


ps - the first site also mentions and links to that horrible deception CNN aired about so-called "assault rifles."

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[dorbie 0]

Inaccuracies are a problem but reporters should be allowed to pursue investigations like this. How else are they to demonstrate/discover they can buy a gun like this? Get her on issues with the story but witchunting her over the order is just sour grapes over what she "unvovered".

[craddock 0]

I don't think you understand completely.

In the story they claimed how they could just go out and purchase this gun legally. When in fact they commited a felony to show how legal it is.

Personaly I think it is a stupid law and have unknownily broke it several times. I can't buy a Shotgun from a family member and travel over the state line with it? Stupid

That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

[Kennedy 0]

Updates:

There are plenty of nobodies discussing this on blogs, forums, etc, but this one caught my eye.
http://michaelbane.blogspot.com/2005/02/cnn-law.html
(it's just a blog, but I doubt he's making it up)

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CNN & the Law
Okay, here's where we are now, based on my industry contacts.

By now, the upper echelons of the ATF have been made aware of the CNN violations. My contacts told me there was very little chance the agency would move against CNN because of "intent" — there was no intent to violate the law.

That might work with murder and manslaughter, but my reading of the gun law doesn't leave a lot of room for "intent" — of course, I'm not an attorney!

At the very least, there are HUGE ETHICAL QUESTIONS for CNN in these actions. Somewhere within the bowels of CNN, an editor instructed subordinates to violate federal law, not because the fate of the republic hung in the balance, but because CNN wanted to add their own $0.02 of disinformation in a debate already rife with lies, distorsions and, as my grandfather used to say, pure-D bullshit. Will a .50 penetrate an airplane's shell? Yep, and so will my 9mm Glock. Are .50 calibers accurate at long range? You betcha, and so is my Remington .300 Ultra Mag elk rifle. Are gun deals between between individuals allowed in the United States? Yes, as allowed by state laws...so what? Does anyone other than media dweebs like Paula Zahn think that terrorists fly to the United States to buy guns at RETAIL, for god's sake?

C'mon Paula...even you aren't that dumb, are you?

One response to the article suggested "Have a lawyer file a writ of Mandamus under the Administrative Procedures Act stating that ATF is abusing their discretion. If the federal court accepts your argument then ATF will be legally bound to act."

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[chuckbrown 0]

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My contacts told me there was very little chance the agency would move against CNN because of "intent" — there was no intent to violate the law.

If they don't get prosecuted it'll be because the ATF decided not to make enemies of CNN, not because they don't have a valid case. This isn't a specific intent crime, i.e., one in which the violator specifically intends to break the law. This is a general intent crime, i.e., a crime in which the violator merely has to intend to do the act which broke the law. Ignorance of the law is not a shield. The police can break the law in furtherance of their police powers, e.g., purchase illegal narcotics to catch the dealers, but private individuals can't. I hope CNN gets hammered.

[jdhill 0]

*** notice of intent to hijack ***

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The police can break the law in furtherance of their police powers, e.g., purchase illegal narcotics to catch the dealers

What is the legal basis for allowing the police to break the law in the furtherance of thier powers? There is nothing in the Consitution that says the laws do not apply to the government... is it just something the courts have turned their eyes to?

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[chuckbrown 0]

I don't know about other states or the Feds, but under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, the execution of a police officer's legitimate duties is a justification for illegal conduct. In other words, if you're carrying out a legitimate police purpose your conduct is justified even if it's otherwise illegal, e.g., possession of controlled substances is justified where a police officer is attempting to enforce drug laws. Obviously, this isn't a license to violate one's constitutional rights.

[dorbie 0]

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I don't think you understand completely.

In the story they claimed how they could just go out and purchase this gun legally. When in fact they commited a felony to show how legal it is.

Personaly I think it is a stupid law and have unknownily broke it several times. I can't buy a Shotgun from a family member and travel over the state line with it? Stupid

I understand. There are two issues, one is that you can trivially mail order this thing over the web without checks, the other is that they misled over the legality of it.

[skydyvr 0]

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When in fact they commited a felony to show how legal it is.

Isn't it interesting that CNN, CBS and other liberal news outlets keep tripping over their dicks with scandal after scandal? Corruption and law breaking in the name of the liberal agenda seems to be the same old-same old for them these days.

Meanwhile, FOX has never been involved in any significant scandal throughout their entire 8 year history. Fascinating! Maybe they really are "fair and balanced".

. . =(_8^(1)

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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Meanwhile, FOX has never been involved in any significant scandal throughout their entire 8 year history. Fascinating! Maybe they really are "fair and balanced".

And Bill O'Reilly didn't use his money to buy himself out of a recent sex scandal? All media outlets have their own politcal agendas. I say turn off your TVs are you'll be a better person for it. "Less bitching, more jumping" should be our moto here. But many people here on Speakers Corner would rather argue with each other than head to the DZ and just jump.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Kennedy 0]

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There are two issues, one is that you can trivially mail order this thing over the web without checks, the other is that they misled over the legality of it.

Where are you getting this information? You really think a person can mail-order a firearm with no background and no government involvment? It would be nice to be able to order from wherever the guns are, but that isn't reality here in the US (not if you don't want to risk your rights forever).

They not only misled people on the legality, they committed federal offenses in doing it.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[Kennedy 0]

While there is an interesting (and oft attempted) conversation there, can we keep this thread limited to the issue (and story) at hand?

I'd rather not see this turn into another "biased liberal media" vs "fox is a conservative mouthpiece" argument.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[skydyvr 0]

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And Bill O'Reilly didn't use his money to buy himself out of a recent sex scandal?

Yea, O'Reilly was shaken down for some cash, and I think Shep Smith also bought himself out an assult charge last year, not sure what became of that -- however, neither was an example of FOX News trying to further an agenda.

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I say turn off your TVs are you'll be a better person for it.

Good advice.

. . =(_8^(1)

[skydyvr 0]

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While the is an interesting (and oft attempted) conversation there, can we keep this thread limited to the issue (and story) at hand?

I'd rather not see this turn into another "biased liberal media" vs "fox is a conservative mouthpiece" argument.

Yep, will do. I tend to wander like that, sorry.

. . =(_8^(1)

[kelpdiver 2]

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I understand. There are two issues, one is that you can trivially mail order this thing over the web without checks, the other is that they misled over the legality of it.

I'm amused you'd think someone would compound the illegality by using the mail system to commit it. That's additional offenses, I believe. At the very least, a damning paper trail.

And we're talking about a gun that sells for 5-7,000. I'm not waiting for the mailman (actually, which carriers actually will ship firearms these days?) to bring something that expensive.

[Kennedy 0]

http://www.seark.net/~jlove/shipping.htm

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/popup_tc_us_body.html#firearms

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/service/terms/firearms.html

Airborne/DHL doesn't ship firearms or airguns, and their service reps don't speak much ENglish, either.

http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html

A good summary of who will, who won't and how they'll do it:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_153_25/ai_75211978

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*