It has been widely reported that the Washington Navy Yard shooter initially used an 870 Remington shotgun before using a handgun from a fallen guard. Initial reports indicated an "assault rifle" was used, but those reports were proven false.
This morning, the Today Show ran a segment about the shooting. After displaying a graphic on the screen illustrating the layout of the Navy Yard and the shooter's actions, they proceeded to discuss gun control and how the shooter used a "loophole" to buy this weapon.
The problem was, the graphic used by NBC didn't show the shooter using an 870 Remington. It didn't even show the shooter with a shotgun. Instead, they illustrated the shooter with what I believe to be an M4 Carbine with Grenade Launcher!
It would be easy for a casual viewer who isn't familiar with the difference between a rifle and shotgun to view this and think the shooter used an automatic rifle or an "assault rifle" in this shooting.
I was so annoyed I took a picture of NBC's illustration (attached). It is hard to have an "honest conversation" about guns and gun violence when those tasked with disseminating information lie and distort basic facts...
This morning, the Today Show ran a segment about the shooting. After displaying a graphic on the screen illustrating the layout of the Navy Yard and the shooter's actions, they proceeded to discuss gun control and how the shooter used a "loophole" to buy this weapon.
The problem was, the graphic used by NBC didn't show the shooter using an 870 Remington. It didn't even show the shooter with a shotgun. Instead, they illustrated the shooter with what I believe to be an M4 Carbine with Grenade Launcher!
It would be easy for a casual viewer who isn't familiar with the difference between a rifle and shotgun to view this and think the shooter used an automatic rifle or an "assault rifle" in this shooting.
I was so annoyed I took a picture of NBC's illustration (attached). It is hard to have an "honest conversation" about guns and gun violence when those tasked with disseminating information lie and distort basic facts...