NBC host David Gregory won’t face gun charges (VIDEO)

July 30, 2016

By Sarah Wolfe

NBC’s David Gregory of Meet the Press investigated by Washington DC police after displaying a high-ammunition clip.
NBC

NBC's David Gregory won't face charges for waving around a high-capacity gun magazine on his "Meet the Press" show.

DC attorney general Irvin B. Nathan said he would decline to prosecute the case Friday afternoon in a letter to an attorney for NBC, the Washington Post reported.

Possession of high-capacity gun magazines is illegal in Washington, DC.

However, Nathan said he recognized the device was intended as a prop to provoke discussion about gun control following the Connecticut school massacre last month, The Associated Press reported.

He said criminal charges wouldn't serve the public's best interest.

Gregory held up the magazine during a Dec. 23 interview with Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association.

In a statement to Politico, "Meet the Press" said its staffers respected both the attorney general’s decision and his rebuke regarding the gun clip.

“We displayed the empty magazine solely for journalistic purposes to help illustrate an important issue for our viewers. We accept the District of Columbia Attorney General’s admonishment, respect his decision and will have no further comment on this matter,” the show stated.

Will you support The World today?

The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!