ExSoldier

NBC Takes Aim at Right to Defend Yourself
Newsbusters.org ^ | 8 AUGUST 2006 | Geoffrey Dickens

Posted on 08/09/2006 7:45:07 AM EDT by radar101

As more and more states recognize the basic right to defend yourself NBC’s Today, not surprisingly, took a dim view. On this morning’s Today, Ron Mott in a segment headlined by the graphic: "License To Kill, Self-Defense Gone Too Far," Mott slanted his story with alarmist rhetoric and unbalanced talking heads.

Matt Lauer introduced the story: "Now a debate. How far can you go in the name of self-defense? In a growing number of states people have much more leeway to use deadly force. Supporters say that's a good thing but critics argue it's a case of shoot first and ask questions later. We have more on this now from NBC's Ron Mott."

Mott then began the segment portraying the right-to-self-defense laws as a path to anarchy: "Has the 'Wild, Wild West,' gone South?" Mott went on to air three talking heads opposed to the laws including two supposed "victims" of the self-defense to just one talking head from the NRA. Mott could’ve interviewed any number of ordinary men and women that have protected themselves and/or property against criminals but didn’t, thereby humanizing the anti-self-defense law side. Mott then continued to scaremonger: "Many opponents fear the laws could actually encourage some people to settle minor disputes with deadly force, allowing claims of self-defense to over power what some critics say could be criminal intent."

The following is the full transcript of the segment:

Matt Lauer: "Now a debate. How far can you go in the name of self-defense? In a growing number of states people have much more leeway to use deadly force. Supporters say that's a good thing but critics argue it's a case of shoot first and ask questions later. We have more on this now from NBC's Ron Mott."

Ron Mott: "Has the wild, wild west gone south? Rather than run away this Florida prostitute shot and killed a 72-year-old customer with his gun when he got up to answer the phone. Self-defense, no charges. In West Palm Beach."

[Woman: "I never dreamed it was gonna be my son."]

Mott: "This woman's son was killed by a cab driver."

[Woman: "'If you don't get out of my cab I'm gonna kill you.'"]

Mott: "The cabbie says he killed Jimmy Morningstar in self-defense but he still faces murder charges. That's because the shooting happened before the passage of a new state law saying force can be met with force whether at home or in public."

[Chris Cox, National Rifle Association: "You can either run or if you think the best way to survive the attack is to defend yourself you have that option."]

Mott: "14 states, nearly half in the traditional South, followed Florida's lead last October expanding self-defense laws, most offering immunity from prosecution. Many opponents fear the laws could actually encourage some people to settle minor disputes with deadly force, allowing claims of self-defense to over power what some critics say could be criminal intent. Like this case in Kentucky where a man was beaten to death with a lamp. He'd been invited in thinking he was collecting a drug debt."

[Cara Newberg, victim's sister: "Is basically saying anybody can come in your home and if you feel like killing them, if you have a grudge against them or anything you can do this and get a way with it."]

Mott: "The prosecutor settled for a plea bargain to a lesser charge, fearing a jury acquittal."

[Bob McCulloch, proscutor: "You have an absolute right to defend yourself and your property and others from aggression using whatever force is necessary up to and including deadly force but there has to be a review of those circumstances to make sure that, that is appropriate."]

Mott: "Self-defense under review and in the line of fire. For Today, Ron Mott, NBC News, Fayetteville, Georgia."

__________________
Former Infantry Captain; 20 yrs as an NRA Certified Instructor; Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.

P95Carry

Mott ..............

__________________
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.

"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."

If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

falcon1

Nothing NBC (or any of the other networks) does surprises me anymore.

CopperKnight

Where's the balanced, unbias report? Oh, yeah, I forgot, they've given up on even trying to portray a semblance of balance. Danged liberals.

__________________
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, but that you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

The only thing that stops bad guys with guns is good guys with guns. SgtD

Dakotaranger

Don't you know if you just give them what they want that they will leave you alone? They just do it because they can't get a job, and you have so much. We really need to think of it as another wellfare program for the poor.

Dakotaranger's question to this fertilizer: "So what if theywant to take your innocence or your life, like what Tookie Williams did numerous time? What about those punk kids in Florida that beat to death homeless people? We have had mountain lion attacks in this country I'm told old to fight off with a knife, let alone my bare hands.

You complained for months about the government's response to Katrina, and you trust the government for your safety? You do realize that it can take thirty seconds for a person to bleed out and in this State it can take upwards of thirty minutes for a deputy to respond in most counties, and we are supposed to just hand over our wallet hoping in the "goodness" of some thug. Here's your sign

*Crickettes chirping*

__________________
"[T]he people are not to be disarmed of their weapons.
They are left in full possession of them."
Zacharia Johnson (speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention,25 June 1778)"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." ~Alexander Hamilton

HotGuns

It doesnt really matter what NBC thinks much about anything.

Fact of the matter is, the internet is slowly rendering the traditional new media obsolete..and they know it. The arent going to change anyones minds with their rhetoric, and they know that too, so they are using "shock" tactics to get someone,anyone to listen.

They are slowly dieing and they are grasping at straws and there's not a dang thing that they can do about it.


Personally, I welcome their demise. I quit listening to the brainwashing lies years ago. There are too many other sources out there to refer to without all of the emotional one sided propaganda.

__________________
AR. CHL Instr.

To achieve world government, it is necessary to remove from the minds of men, their individualism, loyalty to family traditions, national patriotism, and religious dogmas.'
Dr. G. Brock Chisolm

.45acp

Not much of a tv person to begin with, once in awhile the History Channel, Discovery Wings or Fox News, at least Fox seems somewhat fair and balanced as compared to the Iranian and North Korean Missle Huggers on the other channels.
TV might be on for a total of 3 hours per month here, ok except to watch the Philadelphia Eagles, then it's on.

JeffP

Fox is full of BS too. They all are.

gregarat

He ovously doesn’t know what hes talking about. Has Mott ever been outside his little bubble in the Northeast?


I don’t watch televised news either. I get news from the Net, or Radio. I try to research as much as I can, but there’s too much news and BS out there.

__________________
“Little beat big when little smart. First with the head, then with the heart.” Geel piet. From the movie “The Power of one”

Old Chief

At least the media has pure intentions. Pure BS that is.