For three consecutive nights on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian
Williams proclaimed the country to now be in the "post-Newtown era," as
he and reporters promoted how "the White House prepares its battle
plan" to push for more gun control following the school shooting. [Listen to the audio [1]]
On Tuesday, Williams kicked off the coverage by describing how "in our
post-Newtown era," the Obama administration was "gearing up for a fight
on this issue." In the report that followed, correspondent Ron Mott
touted "a growing chorus of calls around the country for gun
restrictions, in the wake of a spike in gun-related murders in cities
like Chicago and Detroit and last month's tragedy in Newtown,
Connecticut."
Near the end of the segment, Sarah Brady of the anti-gun Brady Campaign
stressed the importance of pushing through new restrictions
immediately: "We cannot have a long conversation about this. We've got
to have action and we've got to have action quickly, or it will fade."
On Wednesday, White House correspondent Kristen Welker continued to
emphasize liberal urgency on the issue: "Trying to maintain momentum for
stiffer gun control laws in the wake of that tragedy, Vice President
Biden met with victims' groups and gun safety organizations here at the
White House today and laid down a new political marker....[he] said the
White House is prepared to act if Congress does not."
Williams introduced Welker's report by again declaring "the
administration push for new gun laws in the post-Newtown era." He then
used the phrase at the end of the segment as well: "Kristen Welker from
the White House on this White House effort in the post-Newtown era."
On Thursday, Williams was still focused on pushing the idea of the
nation being in a new age: "Now we turn to the fight over guns and the
news of another school shooting breaking at the very same time that they
were meeting at the White House trying to figure out what to do about
all of the gun violence in this country, post-Newtown."
During her report that evening, Welker further pushed the media meme:
"Public policy experts say the politics of gun control have shifted
since Newtown." A sound bite followed of University of Maryland
professor Don Ketl announcing: "The tragedy of what happened in Newtown,
and the previous tragedies behind, have clearly changed the game on gun
control in a way that's historically unprecedented. There's now a
demand for action of the sort that we just haven't seen before."
Here is a full transcript of Tuesday's Nightly News report:
7:00PM ET TEASE:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: The fight over guns. After so much tragedy, new voices
joining the call for action now, as the White House prepares its battle
plan.
7:07PM ET SEGMENT:
WILLIAMS:
Now we turn to gun control in our post-Newtown era. The White House is
gearing up for a fight on this issue, announcing today they will meet
with representatives of the NRA later this week. NBC's Ron Mott covering
this story for us.
RON MOTT: Two years ago today, 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green was
the youngest of six people shot and killed at a Tucson, Arizona grocery
store. In a new campaign, her mother is pleading for stricter gun laws.
ROXANNA GREEN: I have one question for our political leaders. When will
you find the courage to stand up to the gun lobby? Whose child has to
die next?
MOTT: Her questions are part of a growing chorus of calls around the
country for gun restrictions, in the wake of a spike in gun-related
murders in cities like Chicago and Detroit and last month's tragedy in
Newtown, Connecticut. Today, calls for action were joined by a new
voice, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head
in that Arizona spree, launching an effort to curb gun violence.
MARK KELLY: Gabby and I are both gun owners. We are strong supporters
of the Second Amendment, but we've got to do something to keep the guns
from getting into the wrong hands.
MOTT: It's a sentiment that seems to be spreading. A Gallup poll taken
after Newtown shows more Americans, 58%, favor tougher rules on gun
sales that at any time since 2004, up 15 points from 2011. And nearly
two-thirds, 62%, say it's time to ban high-capacity ammunition
magazines, the kinds often used in mass killings. All this talk of gun
restrictions has meant bang-up business at Second Amendment Sports in
Tucson.
JOSH BECK [SECOND AMENDMENT SPORTS GENERAL MANAGER]: Because of the
word "ban" coming out in the political side, we're starting to see a
little bit more of that fear purchasing.
MOTT: Andy Stead stopped in to buy his wife a handgun.
ANDY STEAD: People are going to be very, very passionate about their weapons and very passionate about the Second Amendment.
MOTT: The White House is preparing its strategy to address gun
violence, which is expected to include a push for background checks on
almost all gun purchases, reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, and
stronger penalties for gun traffickers. Among the groups invited to
meet, the National Rifle Association.
WAYNE LAPIERRE [NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION]: You want one more law on
top of 20,000 laws, when most of the federal gun laws we don't even
enforce?
SARAH BRADY: We have to just keep the talk going.
MOTT: Sarah Brady, who led the fight for handgun control after the 1981
assassination attempt against President Reagan left her husband
paralyzed, hopes these conversations amount to more than just talk.
BRADY: We cannot have a long conversation about this. We've got to have
action and we've got to have action quickly, or it will fade.
MOTT: NBC News has learned that family members and victims of the
Newtown, Connecticut tragedy, will soon announce that they, too, have
formed a new organization. Brian, they want to be part of this ongoing
dialogue.
WILLIAMS: While this issue is still top of mind. Ron Mott with us here in the studio. Ron, thanks.