The Patriot Post® · Illusively Edited Film Denigrates Gun Owners

Under the Gun, a project of longtime liberal talkinghead Katie Couric and Stephanie Soechtig, “examines the events and people who have kept the gun debate fierce and the progress slow, even as gun deaths and mass shootings continue to increase,” according to film’s website. “Through the lens of families impacted by the mass shootings in Newtown, Aurora, Isla Vista and Tucson, as well as those who experience daily gun violence in Chicago, the documentary looks at why politicians are finding it difficult to act and what is being done at the state and local levels.”

Perhaps a more accurate description would be: The documentary illustrates why politicians are failing spectacularly to enact additional anti-Second Amendment measures — because the mainstream media can’t be trusted to report facts and instead relies on phony narratives and outright deceit. Case in point (via The Washington Free Beacon):

“At the 21:48 mark of Under the Gun a scene of Katie Couric interviewing members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun rights organization, is shown. Couric can be heard in the interview asking activists from the group, ‘If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?’ The documentary then shows the activists sitting silently for nine awkward seconds, unable to provide an answer. It then cuts to the next scene.”

The interviewees’ silence makes it appear as if they can’t articulately answer the question. But this insinuation is pure hogwash. A full audio copy of the interview tells us a much different story. The Beacon says that “raw audio of the interview … shows the scene was deceptively edited. Instead of silence, Couric’s question is met immediately with answers from the activists. A back-and forth between a number of the league’s members and Couric over the issue of background checks proceeds for more than four minutes after the original question is asked.”

Despite the anti-gun crusaders’ obvious intent, they’ve doubled down on the deception. Nora Ryan, whose network EPIX aired the film, praised the “creative and editorial judgment.” Meanwhile, Soechtig says, “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.” Couric added, “I support Stephanie’s statement and am very proud of the film.” Neither of them care that law-abiding citizens were grossly misrepresented by the Leftmedia Mafia. In the inimitable words of Captain Louis Renault, “I am shocked, SHOCKED”!