While I revel in CNN follies and troubles, this sounds like a non-story. Purchasing long guns from another state is legal in many/most instances.
Posted on 02/20/2005 3:13:24 PM PST by 68skylark
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.
Triggerfinger has done a bit of digging on the laws broken, and has four five posts up on it, here, here, here, here and here. The last one is a description of the video. David Codrea has picked it up, too. The story origininated at The Claire Files message board with a post by "kbarrett" that goes:
It looks like CNN aired a spot this evening of one of its own reporters finding a .50 cal rifle on Gunsamerica.com for sale by a private owner in Houston, and then flying to Houston, paying cash, and then flying with said rifle back to Atlanta.Where's the kitten-stomping BATF when you really need them? I think a reporter needs to be busted.
I'm not a fan of excessive gun laws, and if CNN accidentally committed a felony I honestly hope the government will give them a break -- just like I hope and wish they'd give a break to any decent individual who accidentally breaks a gun law.
On the other hand, CNN is one of those sanctimonious organizations that wants to pile on the tyranny and grief onto good, normal people. So if they get their anatomy caught in a legal ringer, I'll get a chuckle from their plight.
Why did they purchase the gun other than to show that it could be done against the law? If that was their objective, they knew it was against the law BEFORE they did it.
I think news organizations get a pass on this kind of stuff anyway, in the name of investigative reporting and the First Amendment. You see it all the time, e.g., when they smuggle nail clippers past airport security and then publish their big groundbreaking expose.
Forgetabodit, CNN and the other MSM have get out of jail free cards when they break the law. You know, it is to expose evil law breakers that they in turn break the same laws. SARCASM OFF\
Amen, very tough! We can be sure that if libs ran the country, NOBODY would get away with doing an expose on them! :-(
On the other hand, the vindictive side of me wouldn't mind seeing a holier-than-thou organization like CNN get taken down a peg. So if they are prosecuted, part of me will be pleased.
If they had decided to make some kiddie porn "just to inform the public how easily it was done," they'd be in jail. They can express whatever the hell they like, but they are not, nor have they ever been, specifically above any firearms statutes. No time like the present to knock 'em off Mount Olympus. Heaven forbid they were treated with the same amount of attention that Randy Weaver got...
I admire the rational recommendation you make and commend you for having the courage to not be silent. I fully agree with you.
It would truly be a win-win if they were prosecuted, convicted, and a Supreme Court appeal caused all infringing laws to be overturned. That is why they SHOULD be prosecuted.
Well that works for me!
I thought that they were demoted to the "BATFE". No longer in the running to become equivalent to the three-letter agencies like the IRS, FBI, or CIA.
While I revel in CNN follies and troubles, this sounds like a non-story. Purchasing long guns from another state is legal in many/most instances.
I think it might actually be illegal.
That's not my understanding of federal law (I've had an FFL, so while I'm not an expert I know a little about this topic). I guess well just have to see how this all shakes out.
They probably bought it for Eason Jordan. Maybe he needed it for self defense against the big bad american soldiers.
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