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CNN 'backpedals' on gun story: Admits it misled viewers in comparing different types of weapons
WorldNetDaily ^ | May 20, 2003

Posted on 05/20/2003 6:59:10 PM PDT by PJ-Comix

Saying CNN may have deliberately misled viewers about the legality of various weapons, a leader in the gun-rights movement is lashing out at the network for incorrectly reporting that fully automatic weapons are banned under a 1994 law set to expire next year.

"Either it was a deliberate attempt to fake the story, or the reporter had a complete ignorance of the story he's covering," Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, told the Washington Times.

In two broadcasts last Thursday, CNN incorrectly reported that fully automatic weapons are currently banned under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The CNN broadcasts included firing demonstrations by the Broward County, Fla., Sheriff's Department that implied currently banned weapons are much more powerful than similar but legal ones, when in fact that is not the case.

As reported by the Washington Times, during one of the demonstrations Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne introduced a detective who fired an old Chinese AK-47.

"That is one of the 19 currently banned weapons," said John Zarella, CNN's Miami bureau chief. In fact, that firearm was not one of those banned under the 1994 act. The detective fired six shots, after which Zarella said, "OK. Now that was semiautomatic."

Jenne then responded, "Now this is automatic."

The detective fired a burst at a cinder-block target, after which Zarella declared: "Wow! That obliterated those blocks. ... Absolutely obliterated it. And you can tell the difference," according to the Times report.

Machine guns, AK-47s and other fully automatic weapons are regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934. The 1994 law banned some semiautomatic, military-style rifles and will expire in September 2004 if Congress does not renew it. Semiautomatic guns fire one shot each time the trigger is pulled.

The NRA and other gun-rights groups say the news media have consistently confused semiautomatics with fully automatic firearms and that the banned guns are only "cosmetically" different than many legal types of weapons.

"This whole ban was lied into law 10 years ago, and it seems to me we can do better than lying again," LaPierre told the Times.

Yesterday, CNN clarified which firearms are banned under the 1994 law and told viewers the ban is based on external features such as whether the weapon has a pistol grip or a flash suppressor.

A CNN anchor introduced yesterday's broadcast by saying: "On this program on Thursday, we aired a live demonstration CNN set up with law-enforcement officials of a banned semiautomatic rifle and its legal counterpart. We reviewed that demonstration … and decided that a more detailed report would better explain this complex issue."

"We caught them red-handed, in the act. Now they're backpedaling," LaPierre said after yesterday's segment.

On Thursday, the camera showed bullets hitting a cinder-block target as the Broward County detective fired an AK-47 in semiautomatic mode. When the detective fired a legal semiautomatic firearm, the camera showed an undamaged cinder-block target.

On Friday, CNN admitted the detective had not been firing at the cinder block.

"In fact, if you fire the same caliber and type bullets from the two guns, you get the same impact," Zarella said in yesterday's broadcast.

According to the Times report, some law-enforcement officers called the NRA after viewing the CNN demonstrations saying they were "horrified that a law-enforcement official would mislead the public this way," said "NRA Live" host Ginny Simone.

The Times reports Jenne is a former Democratic state legislator who supported an unsuccessful bill in the Florida Legislature in 2000 that sought to ban "assault rifles" using a broad definition that would have prohibited several types of rifles and many handguns.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News
KEYWORDS: bang; cnn; deceit; nra; waynelapierre
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This story is gathering steam. CNN got caught red-handed perpetrating FRAUD.
1 posted on 05/20/2003 6:59:11 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix
We know that all the left and the anti's do is lie about the gun issue. If they told the truth they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
2 posted on 05/20/2003 7:01:44 PM PDT by riverrunner
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To: PJ-Comix
IMHO, the proper reaction to these lies would be to amend the bill to exclude all firearms which are semi-automatic only, as well as accessories and accoutrements designed primarily for such weapons.
3 posted on 05/20/2003 7:02:43 PM PDT by supercat (TAG--you're it!)
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To: PJ-Comix

4 posted on 05/20/2003 7:04:54 PM PDT by areafiftyone (The U.N. needs a good Flush!)
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To: riverrunner
On Thursday, the camera showed bullets hitting a cinder-block target as the Broward County detective fired an AK-47 in semiautomatic mode. When the detective fired a legal semiautomatic firearm, the camera showed an undamaged cinder-block target.

A frame by frame analysis showed NO muzzle flashes from the legal semiautomatic firearm. So did CNN pepetrate fraud by showing a gun that fired NO bullets and pretended that it did?

5 posted on 05/20/2003 7:05:00 PM PDT by PJ-Comix (q)
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To: areafiftyone
Perfect picture:-)
6 posted on 05/20/2003 7:07:16 PM PDT by tame (Don't blame my High School. It's the Aspartame.)
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To: PJ-Comix
Great job, PJ! Keep the pressure on:-)
7 posted on 05/20/2003 7:07:51 PM PDT by tame (Don't blame my High School. It's the Aspartame.)
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To: PJ-Comix
"This story is gathering steam. CNN got caught red-handed perpetrating FRAUD."

You forgot to add the AGAIN....

It's not like they are virgins at fraud or lying...
They have been caught and revealed --- before..
Semper Fi

8 posted on 05/20/2003 7:07:52 PM PDT by river rat (War works......It brings Peace... Give war a chance to destroy Jihadists...)
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To: PJ-Comix
Ken Jenne and CNN.

Must be big fat liars convention time in south Florida.

9 posted on 05/20/2003 7:08:27 PM PDT by Rome2000 (Convicted felons for Kerry)
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To: PJ-Comix
Well, we've long known they lie. It's really fun to watch them being caught AGAIN though. First the gassing story and now this. The liberal media is just starting to get raked over the coals. The country is fed up!
10 posted on 05/20/2003 7:08:38 PM PDT by McGavin999
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To: PJ-Comix
He Who Laughs Last Was Too Dumb To Figure out the Joke First

I like it:-)

11 posted on 05/20/2003 7:09:03 PM PDT by tame (Don't blame my High School. It's the Aspartame.)
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To: tame
Okay, I'll use that Tag Line again.
12 posted on 05/20/2003 7:16:56 PM PDT by PJ-Comix (He Who Laughs Last Was Too Dumb To Figure out the Joke First)
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To: Rome2000
Ken Jenne and CNN.

Actually his correct name is Sheriff Ken-Ken. BTW, I wonder if the Sun-Sentinel here in Ft. Lauderdale will publish something about Sheriff Ken-Ken's part in this fraud.

13 posted on 05/20/2003 7:18:29 PM PDT by PJ-Comix (He Who Laughs Last Was Too Dumb To Figure out the Joke First)
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To: PJ-Comix
It's possible they will.

Jenne has done it again, he is a moron who will do anything to get publicity.

14 posted on 05/20/2003 7:21:37 PM PDT by Rome2000 (Convicted felons for Kerry)
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To: PJ-Comix
Everyone should e-mail the sun slantinel and hint that they should tell the truth about the midget Sheriff. They did a real good job exposing his stupidity and over-zealousness on the gambling ship caper. Better yet call 954-765-4321 Broward Sheriff's ofc and let them know what an embarassment they vontine to be.
15 posted on 05/20/2003 7:31:58 PM PDT by samantha (Don't panic, the adults are in charge.)
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To: PJ-Comix
Thank you for not letting up on this "story"/LIE. This really did pi$$ me off. Two things I hate, forked tongues & sticky fingers.

"CNN, the most trusted news on televison" HA!
16 posted on 05/20/2003 7:49:01 PM PDT by Teetop (Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.)
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To: PJ-Comix
Quote of the Day by ewing
17 posted on 05/20/2003 7:52:41 PM PDT by RJayneJ
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To: PJ-Comix
Yeah, not simply lying, but out-and-out FRAUD!!

We gotta run with this....

18 posted on 05/20/2003 8:39:00 PM PDT by my trusty sig
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To: PJ-Comix
Bump
19 posted on 05/20/2003 9:08:15 PM PDT by freedomlover
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To: Blue Jays
Good Evening All-

The media consistently makes so many mistakes about ".357 mm, semi-automatic revolvers" you would think they would get the hint and obtain some firearms education.

It would be comical if it weren't so tragic...

~ Blue Jays ~

20 posted on 05/20/2003 9:17:16 PM PDT by Blue Jays
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