Ms. Stephanie Soechtig excitedly states in a video interview with The Lip TV how she brazenly broke federal gun laws for Katie Couric’s anti gun hit piece Under the Gun.
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- A story AmmoLand News recently broke, left Katie Couric facing a firestorm of criticism for the deceptive editing tactics used in her latest anti-gun documentary, Under the Gun.
Tactics that falsely attempted to portray gun rights supporters as being dumbstruck by a question about background checks.
The biased editing led to EPIX pulling the documentary and Ms. Couric issuing a statement acknowledging the deception. Unfortunately, the controversy with this sham documentary may only be just beginning, as now it appears that criminal activity was committed by makers of the film in the process of making it.
As was later reported by numerous outlets, Ms. Couric intentionally made members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League appear speechless following a question about background checks, when in fact they provided a well thought out and intelligent response. You can read the whole story in an AmmoLand News post from the League’s president, Philip Van Cleave, here.
Naturally, the proponents of the film are doing their best to bury the controversy, but no amount of PR work may mitigate the likely violations of federal law induced and committed by the documentary’s staff.
In February, The Lip TV interviewed the film’s director, Stephanie Soechtig, prior to the film’s release. During this interview, Ms. Soechtig openly discussed how she sent a producer of the film (most likely producer and LAWYER Joshua A. Kunau), who resides in Colorado, to Arizona to purchase firearms (including three pistols) privately. [original video marker 1.27]
According to Ms. Soechtig, the producer met a private seller in a parking lot of a local Wendy’s, and in less than four hours and without a background check, obtained a Bushmaster rifle and three handguns. ( AmmoLand News has highlighted the exact video portion in question below, see the entire video on The Lip TV link above. https:// youtu.be/DSHJSfHsvmw )
Ms. Soechtig incredulously states in her interview how such a private party transfer was legal, but, in fact, under existing federal law, it was illegal.
It is unknown what happened to these firearms and whether or not they returned with the producer to Colorado. Presumably, this crime was committed in order to highlight what the film’s proponents believe to be current inadequacies federal firearm laws, and to educate viewers on the process for obtaining a firearm. As Ms. Soechtig stated, all of the film’s content was “news to me.” Apparently, existing federal law prohibiting private interstate firearms transfers is also something that will also come as “news” to Ms. Soechtig and her staff.
Under current federal law it is a violation for any person to transfer, sell, trade, give, transport, or deliver any firearm to any person who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe does not reside in the state in which the transferor resides. (18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(5).) Thus, by asking a private party in Arizona to sell the Colorado producer firearms, Ms. Soechtig and her staff induced an otherwise law abiding citizen to commit a federal crime. There was nothing legal about what Ms. Soechtig and her staff did, despite their slanted attempt to portray in their documentary the private sale of firearms as unregulated and legal.
It is also unlawful for any person other than a dealer to transport into or receive in the state where they reside any firearm purchased or otherwise obtained outside that State. (18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(3).) Violations of these laws can result in a hefty fine and a felony conviction of up to five years. (18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(1)(D).) Further, if two or more persons conspire to commit any offense, and at least one person commits an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy, each party to the conspiracy can also face an additional fine and imprisonment for up to five years. (18 U.S.C. § 371.)
In other words, in nakedly advocating for more gun control laws in a one-sided and deceptive piece of propaganda, Ms. Soechtig and her staff likely violated existing federal laws by apparently conspiring to unlawfully import firearms from Arizona into Colorado, and by failing to properly conduct an interstate firearms transfer through a dealer.
It is clear from the fraudulent way in which gun rights supporters were portrayed in the documentary, and the unlawful way in which firearms were obtained to support the documentary’s gun control theme, that neither truth nor the law were concerns of Ms. Soechtig or her staff in creating the film.
Given this latest development, Ms. Soechtig, Katie Couric, and any other individual involved in this possible conspiracy should seek legal counsel immediately, as each could face criminal charges stemming from violations of federal firearm and conspiracy laws.
AmmoLand Editors Update 11:11amEST 6/3/2016: (In response to readers questions) While we may personally agree that the private transfer or sale of guns should be lawful regardless of what state or territory you live in or come from. The fact is, current federal and state laws, prohibit the exact scenario discussed by Ms. Soechtig, and she should be held to the same standard as all of us under the law.
AmmoLand Editors Update 8:48pm ESt 6/7/2016 The Lip TV files a Copyright Takedown Notice with Youtube to prevent AmmoLand News from showing a small clip of their video of Ms. Soechtig breaking the law.
“AmmoLand is deeply disappointed that Youtube would pull a video that is part of a legitimate news story highlighting main stream media’s total disregard of Federal and State gun laws. We will be appealing the copyright takedown notice. ” Fredy Riehl, Editor AmmoLand News.”
AmmoLand Editors Update : 10:19amEST 6/08/2016 Added back embedded video. This time from alternate source not hosted or managed by AmmoLand News.
The media has gotten away with reporting oninion instead of fact for so long they think it falls under Freedon of the Press! Wrong, opinion is not press. Jail thier but.
Dear Friends, I just added the petition: “ENFORCE GUN LAWS” It would mean a lot to me if you took a moment to add your name because: GUNS LAWS MUST BE ENFORCED. IT DOES NO GOOD TO PASS NEW GUN LAWS UNLESS THE DOJ AND BATFE ENFORCE THE EXISTING LAWS. THE SHOOTING IN ORLANDO,SANDY HOOK, COLORADO AND OTHER PLACES DICTATE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS, NO MATTER WHO BREAKS THEM. https://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/enforce-gun-laws Real change happens when everyday people like you and me come together and stand up for what we believe in. Together, we can reach tons of people and help create… Read more »
I just signed the petition: “
the petition is up !!!!!!!! sign it !!!!
One of you should start a petition, the anti gun people use this link, to start a petition. write it up like you are concerned about the gun laws being broken, go after these liars. put all the facts in, not the drama, just “broke this law and that law, put the producer name in it,, demand the DOJ go after her. Leave the DRAMA out of it.
after you start the petition, put th link up here and we can all sign it.
https://www.credomobilize.com/petition/new?source=homepage
Perfectly illustrates Madison’s comments:
“It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is to-day, can guess what it will be tomorrow.”
— James Madison, Federalist No. 62, 1788
Of coarse there is a different standard. She/they have the right genitalia, party affiliation and employer to say and do what ever they want. To them the end justifies the means, and our Government, both parties, supports them.