Over the weekend, three communities across the United States were victims of gun violence as parties and gatherings came to sudden ends when scumbags decided to kill people. NBC’s Today looked to exploit the tragedies on Monday by having correspondent Erin McLaughlin blame the murders on the U.S. Supreme Court, citing their decision to strike down the Trump-era bump stock ban. But none of the shootings involved bump stocks.
“A mass shooting at a splash pad in Michigan, another at a Juneteenth celebration in Texas, and yet another at a gathering in Massachusetts, all just days after Friday's Supreme Court ruling that rejects a ban on bump stocks,” she announced at the top of the segment.
McLaughlin delivered very glancing explanations of what allegedly happened at each of the shootings but never disclosed what kind of firearms were used:
MCLAUGHLIN: In Rochester Hills, Michigan, a man opened fire at a splash pad, unleashing 28 rounds. The attack left nine injured, including children. Some seriously wounded.
(…)
MCLAUGHLIN: Police say the suspect later shot himself and are investigating his motive.
(…)
MCLAUGHLIN: While in Round Rock, Texas, police are searching for a shooter who killed two and injured more than a dozen others at a Juneteenth celebration.
(…)
MCLAUGHLIN: And at least eight people were injured by a shooting at a pop-up party in Methuen, Massachusetts with two victims in critical condition.
“The weekend shootings come just days after the Supreme Court struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks,” she proclaimed as if the shooting were direct result of the conservative justices defending gun rights and pushing back against the administrative state. “The gun accessories used to modify semi-automatic weapons so they can fire faster. But this morning, many are just searching for answers.”
Despite her suggestion, there’s no evidence that bump stocks were used in any of the shootings. As of the publication of this piece, it appeared as though authorities had not yet released what kind of firearm was used in the Round Rock and Methuen shootings, but it’s likely that if it was an “AR-style” rifle, it would have been plastered everywhere. In fact, a handgun was recovered from the scene of the Rochester Hills, which was incompatible with bump stocks.
McLaughlin actually put off mentioning the fact that bump stocks weren’t used but threw in a caveat for cover. “The shootings from over the weekend did not involve bump stocks to our knowledge, but experts say if they did they could have been so much worse,” she argued, seemingly suggesting the killings were coming.
If that misinformation wasn’t bad enough, she also cited claims from the left-leaning Gun Violence Archive that, “So far this year, there have been 225 mass shootings in the U.S.” NewsBusters has repeatedly debunked their hyperbolic numbers and pointed out their deceptive methodology.
Neither ABC’s Good Morning America nor CBS Mornings framed the shooting the same way. Actually, on GMA, chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas admitted: “Most of the nation's major cities have seen double-digit decreases in shootings this year, with mass shootings falling dramatically as well.”
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
NBC’s Today
June 17, 2024
8:04:14 a.m. EasternHODA KOTB: We now turn to a wave of violence over the weekend. Mass shootings in Michigan, Texas, and Massachusetts. NBC's Erin McLaughlin joins us with these details. Hey, Erin, good morning.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: Hoda, good morning. A mass shooting at a splash pad in Michigan, another at a Juneteenth celebration in Texas, and yet another at a gathering in Massachusetts, all just days after Friday's Supreme Court ruling that rejects a ban on bump stocks.
[Cuts to video]
This morning, friends and families across the country are grieving after multiple mass shootings this weekend.
9-1-1 DISPATCH: Multiple shootings, victim, from an active shooter [Transition] Deputies aren't on scene yet.
MCLAUGHLIN: In Rochester Hills, Michigan, a man opened fire at a splash pad, unleashing 28 rounds. The attack left nine injured, including children. Some seriously wounded.
SHERIFF MICHAL BOUARD (Oakland County, MI): An 8-year-old boy who has a gunshot wound to the head.
MCLAUGHLIN: Police say the suspect later shot himself and are investigating his motive.
BETTY PAWELSKI (Local business owner): It was heartbreaking, saddening, devastating. [Transition] Nothing like this has ever happened around this area.
MCLAUGHLIN: While in Round Rock, Texas, police are searching for a shooter who killed two and injured more than a dozen others at a Juneteenth celebration.
CHIEF ALLEN BANKS (Round Rock Police Department): These folks could care less about someone's life and took someone's life on a day we're here to celebrate community.
MCLAUGHLIN: And at least eight people were injured by a shooting at a pop-up party in Methuen, Massachusetts with two victims in critical condition.
PAUL TUCKER (D.A. Essex County): Here we see again gun violence that's striking at the heart of a community.
MCLAUGHLIN: So far this year, there have been 225 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive. The weekend shootings come just days after the Supreme Court struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks. The gun accessories used to modify semi-automatic weapons so they can fire faster. But this morning, many are just searching for answers.
CHIEF SCOT MCNAMARA (Methuen Police Department): Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. These acts of senseless violence do not represent the values of our community.
[Cuts back to live]
MCLAUGHLIN: The shootings from over the weekend did not involve bump stocks to our knowledge, but experts say if they did they could have been so much worse.
CRAIG MELVIN: Jeez.
KOTB: All right, Erin. Thank you so much. We appreciate it.
