Though journalists love stories of young people supporting gun control, they have little interest in pro-Second Amendment kids. They also aren’t fans of hyping youngsters who demonstrate self defense. Case in point: Earlier this month, 11-year-old Braydon Smith defended himself and his house when an intruder broke into his North Carolina home. Smith used a machete to protect himself.
According to a Nexis search, CBS and NBC completely ignored the story. ABC only noticed it on June 17 at 4:18 AM in the overnight show America This Morning. Co-host Janai Norman explained, “A boy in North Carolina is speaking out after using a machete to defend his family's home against an intruder. Police say 11-year-old Braydon Smith was home alone when the suspect entered the house through a window. Braydon says he told the man that he shouldn't steal from people and then he took action.”
Norman added, “The suspect suffered a bad cut to his head and is now in police custody. Braydon says he normally uses the machet to cut down trees. He says his dad taught him to protect himself. And he was hesitant, but not scared.”
This news brief was the extent of ABC’s coverage. CNN mentioned Smith twice in two news brief. MSNBC avoided the topic. Kudos to the Washington Post. The paper covered the story with a full report. Writer Meagan Flynn expalined:
The boy had a message for parents: “Always have your kids prepared for anything.” He had a message for the intruder, too.
“You shouldn’t have done what you’ve done,” Braydon said to ABC11. “You’re better off to get a job than breaking into other people’s house.”
A transcript of the America This Morning segment is below. Click “expand” to read more.
America This Morning
6/17/19
4:18AM ET
JANAI NORMAN: A boy in North Carolina is speaking out after using a machete to defend his family's home against an intruder. Police say 11-year-old Braydon Smith was home alone when the suspect entered the house through a window. Braydon says he told the man that he shouldn't steal from people and then he took action.
BRAYDON SMITH: He went into the living room to grab my phone to make sure I didn't call the 911 or anything. When I saw him try to put it in his pocket, I grabbed my machete off my wall and went to hit him and I hit him in the back of the head like right here.
NORMAN: The suspect suffered a bad cut to his head and is now in police custody. Braydon says he normally uses the machet to cut down trees. He says his dad taught him to protect himself. And he was hesitant, but not scared.
