Sunday 15 May 2016
News anchor Katie Couric and director Stephanie Soechtig have collaborated on two previous documentaries: Tapped, which looked at the environmental consequences of the bottled water industry, and Fed Up, which examined the role of sugar in America’s obesity epidemic.
Under the Gun, their new documentary on gun violence in America, premieres on Epix tonight at 8pm. The film, a Sundance favorite, provides an in-depth look at the ways gun control advocates have tried to counteract the power of the National Rifle Association.
Soechtig talked to the Guardian about how she approached the polarizing issue of guns in America – and what change she would like to see. (The interview has been edited for length and clarity.)
What surprised you?
Anything that’s in the film is something that surprised me. The first thing I learned that – you’ve got to be kidding me – is that 40% of guns in this country are bought without a background check. That just astounded me. That the ATF doesn’t have computerized records. That the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was banned from researching this as a public health issue.
Reading the comments in this article it's obvious to me that many of the readers of theguardian.com have absolutely NO idea what the federal laws are with respect to firearm sales.
AlanM
There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men. - RAH
Four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo - use in that order.
If you aren't part of the solution, then you obviously weren't properly dissolved.
I don't feel "duped", but sometimes I feel they have to appease so many people, that they appear "Weak".
However, they have a GIGANTIC bullseye painted on their backs (pardon the pun).
And by the NRA bearing the brunt of the critics, they have given the opportunity to the smaller gun groups to do some fantastic work! That being said, I would love to see FEWER gun organizations, and more gun owners as MEMBERS!
When you're hit up by 5-8 different gun groups in a month, all asking for money, you kinda get the impression that they're not looking for a "cure", but a way to generate funds.
The only time I feel like I am being duped, is when I get stuff from the National Rifle Association trying to sell me life insurance... or trying to get me to join a wine club....!?!?!
My grandfather said, "Always use your head!".
I told him, "I want to pound nails!"
He said, "Best use a hammer instead."
Month after month after month we note that NICS background checks—a proxy for gun sales in the United States—keeps setting new records. Every single month, we have hundreds of thousands of more firearms in circulation, tens of thousands of more first-time gun buyers, more repeat buyers, and thousands of new concealed carry permits issued across the nation.
If the logic of gun control groups that “more guns equals more crime” held true, then this nation should be in the middle of a near civil war.
AlanM
There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men. - RAH
Four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo - use in that order.
If you aren't part of the solution, then you obviously weren't properly dissolved.
Sunday 15 May 2016
News anchor Katie Couric and director Stephanie Soechtig have collaborated on two previous documentaries: Tapped, which looked at the environmental consequences of the bottled water industry, and Fed Up, which examined the role of sugar in America’s obesity epidemic.
Under the Gun, their new documentary on gun violence in America, premieres on Epix tonight at 8pm. The film, a Sundance favorite, provides an in-depth look at the ways gun control advocates have tried to counteract the power of the National Rifle Association.
Soechtig talked to the Guardian about how she approached the polarizing issue of guns in America – and what change she would like to see. (The interview has been edited for length and clarity.)
What surprised you?
Anything that’s in the film is something that surprised me. The first thing I learned that – you’ve got to be kidding me – is that 40% of guns in this country are bought without a background check. That just astounded me. That the ATF doesn’t have computerized records. That the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was banned from researching this as a public health issue.
Reading the comments in this article it's obvious to me that many of the readers of theguardian.com have absolutely NO idea what the federal laws are with respect to firearm sales.
Considering that The Guardian is a UK news organization, I don't really care what they think about our laws.
THE HIGH PRICE OF FREEDOM IS A COST PAID BY A BRAVE FEW. In memory of our fallen heroes.
Month after month after month we note that NICS background checks—a proxy for gun sales in the United States—keeps setting new records. Every single month, we have hundreds of thousands of more firearms in circulation, tens of thousands of more first-time gun buyers, more repeat buyers, and thousands of new concealed carry permits issued across the nation.
If the logic of gun control groups that “more guns equals more crime” held true, then this nation should be in the middle of a near civil war.
Yeah, it has gotten to the point that the local news will cover the vigils and funerals of victims of violent crime and then the anniversaries (weeks, months, and years) just to have a crime report.
The 40% figure that Brady Foundation and others are always spreading is based on 251 Americans that had acquired guns between the years of 1993 and 1994 and PRIOR to Clinton signing his gun ban on Sept 13, 1994 .
Here are some of the statistics of how those 251 people break down.
64% were purchased through a LICENSED Dealer
17% from a Familiy member.
These 2 alone total 81% .
Only 4% of guns sales went through a "gun show" or flea market via a person-to-person sale and no dealer and that is your "gun-show loophole", NOT the 40% that Liberals state.
At that time, another 3% were purchased via "mail order" like through a Sears catalog, which at that time was Legal, but this no longer legal.
Either way, the 40% figure is based on OUT DATED data in 1994 and from a sampling of only 251 people, it it doesn't even state WHERE in the country this sample was taken from.
AlanM
There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men. - RAH
Four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo - use in that order.
If you aren't part of the solution, then you obviously weren't properly dissolved.
Reverenddel wrote:I don't feel "duped", but sometimes I feel they have to appease so many people, that they appear "Weak".
However, they have a GIGANTIC bullseye painted on their backs (pardon the pun).
And by the NRA bearing the brunt of the critics, they have given the opportunity to the smaller gun groups to do some fantastic work! That being said, I would love to see FEWER gun organizations, and more gun owners as MEMBERS!
When you're hit up by 5-8 different gun groups in a month, all asking for money, you kinda get the impression that they're not looking for a "cure", but a way to generate funds.
Tru dis! ^^^^^
With that said, the NRA is obviously on the national stage. No other gun-rights group that I am aware of holds such a position in this discussion.
Progressives/Liberals - Promoting tyranny and a defenseless people since 1913.
Personally, I believe that any production that involves Katie Couric is an attempt to dupe me; and everyone else.
I kind of like the NRA having the position of target. Having several smaller groups has the benefit of each group possibly focusing on a different issue, instead of a couple of larger groups trying to handle several issues. Remember, gun owners tend to be independently minded, and independently minded people are hard to organize in larger groups; it's kind of like the herding of the proverbial cats.
I suppose I should probably become a member of something. It's funny, I've given gun group memberships as gifts, but never actually joined any, myself.
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"Send lawyers, guns, and money; the $#!t has hit the fan!" - Warren Zevon
