At this point it might be more surprising if Katie Couric and her team hadn’t manipulated the video of their upcoming anti-gun documentary, Under the Gun, to make gun rights enthusiasts look like dumb yokels.
NPR summarizes the controversy:
The documentary, Under the Gun, focuses on issues of gun violence and safety. In April 2015, Couric interviewed members of the league in Washington, D.C., for the film. One of her questions: “If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?”
In the film, nine seconds of silence ensue as members of the gun rights group are shown looking away or at the floor.
In audio posted on the website Ammoland and shared with the Washington Free Beacon, Couric asks a slightly longer version of the question, even saying she knew what their answer would be. She is immediately met with responses.
“One, if you’re not in jail,” one man says, “you should still have your basic rights, and you should go buy a gun.”
“So if you’re a terrorist or a felon?” Couric prods.
“If you’re a felon, and you’ve done your time, you should have your rights.”
A second participant weighs in, as does a third.
No stunned silence. No nine seconds’ abeyance.
After Van Cleave attacked Couric and the documentary, its director and producer, Stephanie Soechtig, issued a statement citing the wide range of views presented in the documentary and apologizing. Sort of.
“My intention was to provide a pause for the viewer to have a moment to consider this important question before presenting the facts on Americans’ opinions on background checks. I never intended to make anyone look bad and I apologize if anyone felt that way.”
