After repeatedly demanding a “national dialogue” about gun control throughout NBC’s special coverage of the Las Vegas shooting on Monday, on Tuesday, the former Nightly News anchor abandoned any pretense of being a journalist as he slammed gun owners and urged liberal viewers to politically “organize” against the National Rifle Association.
During a report on NBC’s Today in the 8 a.m. ET hour, Brokaw described the tragic events in Vegas as “Another made-in-America mass murder” and touted how “once again, we’re in the middle of a debate about guns in America.” He warned that “gun owners are stockpiling even more weapons” and feared “the outcry over Las Vegas will drive more owners to buy more guns and more ammo, worrying that there will be more restrictions.”
“Yet, we cannot have a civil debate about guns and their use. As guns become more lethal, so does the political debate become more toxic,” he decried.
Noting that the NRA was “one of the most powerful lobbies in American politics,” the special correspondent complained that gun rights advocates were defending themselves against nasty left-wing attacks: “Already, gun enthusiasts are locked and loaded, ready for the coming debate after Las Vegas.” An image appeared on screen of Blaze host Dana Loesch tweeting: “NRA members didn’t do this, Stephen Paddock did.”
Following the taped portion of the segment, Brokaw implored: “...this is an issue that requires the best efforts of all of us, wherever we stand on this issue of who should own guns and what kind of guns that they own. This has to go to the top of the agenda in American life it seems to me.”
Co-host Matt Lauer lamented: “Yeah, but isn’t that the problem when you say ‘no matter where we stand’? There’s a huge divide in between the different thought processes on this.” Brokaw replied: “I think what will be interesting, to see if the gun enthusiasts and the gun owners will have any reaction to this, will let them say, ‘Look, we have gone too far.’”
In the 9 a.m. ET hour, appearing as part of a panel discussion on Megyn Kelly Today, Brokaw went even further in his blatant gun control activism as he pleaded for her studio audience and viewers at home to mobilize against the NRA:
Well, I would say to this audience, and any audience before which I appear these days, we are where we are because of the power of people who wanted these kinds of guns. And the NRA managed to organize them and get them as a political force in America. So the question is, if you’re not happy with what has happened, your individual obligation as citizen is to organize on the other side. And that’s possible as well. The NRA has a lot of money, obviously. And if you’re running against the NRA, in a lot of the western congressional districts for example, you’re portrayed as a traitor to America. You know, you’re not in favor of having people who have weapons, and that’s after all, how the country started. We’re a long way away from that Second Amendment in which we said that a militia is important to our country....I think that we have to step up, all of us, and speak up.
In addition to Brokaw’s liberal advocacy, early in the 8 a.m. ET hour, reporter Tom Costello took his own shots at the gun rights group while discussing the shooting investigation:
The FBI has an additional challenge here, tracking all of the guns involved. Under pressure from Congress – from the NRA, rather – Congress does not allow a computerized national gun database. So agents must finger through hundreds of thousands of paper files on guns at a West Virginia warehouse.
Minutes later, correspondent Peter Alexander used Democratic Party talking points to put pressure on the White House:
[President Trump’s] initial response, a moment of silence, a call for unity, and a break from Twitter after what he described, as you said earlier, as an act of pure evil. The question, what, if anything, will this President do to combat that evil? The latest in what’s really become a painful American ritual. Hours after the shooting, his press secretary insisting it’s premature to restart the gun debate. Senate Republicans also urging patience. Many Democrats, of course, again pushing for action.
Clearly NBC is waging an all-out crusade against the Second Amendment and its supporters, even calling on people to organize political movements in opposition to gun rights.
The biased reporting was brought to viewers by Comcast, Samsung, and IHOP.
Here are excerpts of the October 3 coverage:
8:23 AM ET
(...)
TOM BROKAW: This time, it was a crowded concert in Las Vegas. Another made-in-America mass murder. To go with others. The massacre at an elementary school in Connecticut. A slaughter at Virginia Tech. Of the 17 mass murders since the ‘60s, only two were linked to Islamic terror, the tragedies in Orlando and in San Bernadino. And once again, we’re in the middle of a debate about guns in America.
The percentage of Americans who own guns is going down, an estimated 32%. But gun owners are stockpiling even more weapons. The average owner now has at least eight weapons. And ironically, the outcry over Las Vegas will drive more owners to buy more guns and more ammo, worrying that there will be more restrictions.
In entertainment, guns are central to what we see on the screens. Video games rely on firearms violence. Yet, we cannot have a civil debate about guns and their use. As guns become more lethal, so does the political debate become more toxic. The NRA, one of the most powerful lobbies in American politics, has temporarily suspended commercials in the Virginia governor’s race, but it will return.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [NRA AD]: I’m the National Rifle Association of America.
BROKAW: Already, gun enthusiasts are locked and loaded, ready for the coming debate after Las Vegas.
In Las Vegas, a commentary on our time. When the concert-goers heard the gunshots, they knew to run or to comfort each other and seek sanctuary in each other’s arms. And now, it’s left to the relatives of the Las Vegas dead and wounded to mourn, and to pray for their recovery.
Matt and Hoda, this is an issue that requires the best efforts of all of us, wherever we stand on this issue of who should own guns and what kind of guns that they own. This has to go to the top of the agenda in American life it seems to me.
LAUER: Yeah, but isn’t that the problem when you say “no matter where we stand”? There’s a huge divide in between the different thought processes on this.
BROKAW: I think what will be interesting, to see if the gun enthusiasts and the gun owners will have any reaction to this, will let them say, “Look, we have gone too far.” Military weapons now have been, in effect, customized to meet the legal requirements. But these gun owners are gunsmiths as well, and they know to change them.
LAUER: Tom, interesting perspective, thank you.
(...)
9:24 AM ET
BILL [AUDIENCE MEMBER]: You know, with the tragedy that happened in Las Vegas, we're constantly bombarded with the news day and night. When does this become harmful to us and our children?
KELLY: This is for you, Tom. When does it become too much?
BROKAW: I couldn’t hear the question.
KELLY: We get bombarded with the images in the aftermath, and when does it become harmful, this wall-to-wall coverage?
BROKAW: Well, I would say to this audience, and any audience before which I appear these days, we are where we are because of the power of people who wanted these kinds of guns. And the NRA managed to organize them and get them as a political force in America. So the question is, if you’re not happy with what has happened, your individual obligation as citizen is to organize on the other side. And that’s possible as well. The NRA has a lot of money, obviously. And if you’re running against the NRA, in a lot of the western congressional districts for example, you’re portrayed as a traitor to America. You know, you’re not in favor of having people who have weapons, and that’s after all, how the country started. We’re a long way away from that Second Amendment...
KELLY: Got it. Got to leave it at that, Tom.
BROKAW: ...in which we said that a militia is important to our country.
KELLY: Thank you to our entire panel.
BROKAW: I think that we have to step up, all of us, and speak up.
KELLY: We’re up against a hard break. Sorry, they’re wrapping me hard because we’ve got a hard break coming up. But listen, this debate will not – will not end now. There are people who defend the Second Amendment who believe you can’t legislate against evil. And those who believe we have to have an honest conversation. Gotta leave it at that.
(...)
