On Sunday's MediaBuzz on FNC, host Howard Kurtz devoted several minutes to the controversy around Katie Couric using a deceptively edited trailer for her pro-gun control documentary in which the trailer makes several pro-gun activists look dumbfounded and unable to answer a straightforward question.
Kurtz took time to show viewers a clip of the trailer in question, and then played audio of how the members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League immediately answered Couric's question about whether convicted felons should be allowed to purchase guns without background checks. He also informed viewers that the film's director, Stephanie Soechtig, recently attacked the NRA in an interview with The Guardian.
CNN's Brian Stelter notably did not mention the controversy at all on Reliable Sources, although he did find time for a liberal-pleasing angle: an interview segment devoted to speculation over whether Rush Limbaugh's radio contract is in danger.
The trailer of the film showed a clip of several pro-gun activists sitting with Couric as her question could be heard: "If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?"
Then came silent clips of several members just looking like they did not know how to respond.
Kurtz introduced audio retained by Virginia Citizens Defense League which showed what really happened:
COURIC AUDIO: How do you prevent felons or terrorists from walking into, say, a licensed gun dealer, and purchasing a gun?
AUDIO OF UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Well, one, if you're not in jail, you should still have your basic rights, and you should be able to buy a gun.
COURIC AUDIO: So if you're a terrorist or a felon?
AUDIO OF UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: If you're a felon and you've done your time, you should have your rights.AUDIO OF UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: The fact is, we do have statutes both at the federal and state level that prohibit classes of people from being in possession of firearms.
After recalling the statement film director Soechtig released defending the editing choice, plus Couric defense of Soechtig, the FNC host recounted for viewers that Soechtig is known for having anti-NRA views as recently expressed in an interview with The Guardian:
It isn't hard to see that Couric's director has strong views on gun control. In an interview this month with The Guardian, Stephanie Soechtig spoke of the "outrage of the stranglehold that the National Rifle Association has over our legislative process." And she said, "gun owners are being duped," they're being "sold a bill of goods by the NRA."
An examination of the interview also finds that she was dismissive of pro-gun activist and researcher John Lott's work finding that too much gun control makes people less safe, branding his work "discredited."
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Sunday, May 29, MediaBuzz on FNC:
HOWARD KURTZ: But now Couric and the film makers are under fire over a dramatic moment featured in the movie's trailer.
KATIE COURIC VOICEOVER IN TRAILER: If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?
KURTZ: Eight seconds of stunned silence. But that sequence with members of the Virginia gun rights group was edited in a misleading way. Here, from an audio tape made by the organization, is what actually happened.
COURIC AUDIO: How do you prevent felons or terrorists from walking into, say, a licensed gun dealer, and purchasing a gun?
AUDIO OF UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Well, one, if you're not in jail, you should still have your basic rights, and you should be able to buy a gun.
COURIC AUDIO: So if you're a terrorist or a felon?
AUDIO OF UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: If you're a felon and you've done your time, you should have your rights.
AUDIO OF UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: The fact is, we do have statutes both at the federal and state level that prohibit classes of people from being in possession of firearms.
KURTZ: Philip Van Cleave told me he was shocked.
PHILIP VAN CLEAVE, VIRGINIA CITIZENS DEFENSE LEAGUE, CLIP #1: The problem was, is that it made our members look like they were idiots. like they couldn't answer a basic, straightforward question. Their eyes were diverted in the video. They were looking down, almost looking ashamed.
VAN CLEAVE CLIP #2: I think because of how, the light that it casts on our members and our organization, and gun owners in general, that Katie Couric does indeed owe us an apology for what she did. It's the least she could do.
KURTZ: But that's not what happened. The film's director, Stephanie Soechtig, says in a statement, "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."
In her own statement, Couric -- the movie's executive producer -- said she agreed with her director and is very proud of the film. Couric did not agree to be interviewed. A source familiar with Couric's role said she questioned the edited silence, but deferred to the director's judgment.
VAN CLEAVE: I wonder how Katie would like it if we took some video of her and asked a question to it and then just showed her sitting there dumbfounded. I wonder how she'd like that.
KURTZ: It isn't hard to see that Couric's director has strong views on gun control. In an interview this month with The Guardian, Stephanie Soechtig spoke of the "outrage of the stranglehold that the National Rifle Association has over our legislative process." And she said, "gun owners are being duped," they're being "sold a bill of goods by the NRA."
