The makers of a Katie Couric documentary on gun violence deceptively edited an interview with a group of gun rights activists to make them look like "idiots," reports say.
In the film,
"Under the Gun," Couric says to members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, "Let me ask you another question: If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?"
Nearly 10 seconds of awkward silence follows, suggesting no one has an answer.
But the
Washington Free Beacon posts audio of the interview that shows instead of dead-silence, Couric's question was met with a flurry of answers from the activists.
VCDL President Philip Van Cleave
tells the Washington Post, "My teeth fell out of my head when I saw" the edited film.
Because of the editing, he tells the Post, viewers are "going to say these people are idiots. It affects all the gun owners," adding, "This was beyond the pale."
Nora Ryan, the chief of staff for EPIX, the cable channel that is airing the documentary, tells the Free Beacon it stands by the film, which "elicits strong reactions from people on both sides … We encourage people to watch the film and decide for themselves."
The Washington Post's Erik Wemple reports Stephanie Soechtig, the film's writer, director, producer, insists she "never intended to make anyone look bad."
"And I apologize if anyone felt that way," she says,
according to tweets from Wemple.
Couric tells the Post she supports "Stephanie's statement and am very proud of the film."
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