Virginians Citizens Defense League has filed suit against Katie Couric and “Under the Gun” director Stephanie Soetchtig, alleging that they made “misleading” edits in the documentary.
According to Fox News, the $12 million VCDL suit claims that Couric and Soetchtig “knowingly and maliciously manufactured the fictitious exchange by splicing in footage that the filmmakers took surreptitiously after telling the interviewees to be silent for 10 seconds so that recording equipment could be calibrated.”
In the documentary, VCDL members appeared not to answer when Couric asks them, “If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?” VCDL members say that they did give an answer to the question, but it did not appear on the documentary, which was misleading.
Initially, Couric supported the film as it was made, but now admits to having concerns that she didn’t raise at the time. In a statement in May, Couric said, “VCDL members have a right for their answers to be shared and so we have posted a transcript of their responses here. I regret that those 8 seconds were misleading and that I did not raise my initial concerns more vigorously.”
VCDL members also allege that footage of them was altered to look darker and more sinister than their anti-gun counterparts, according to Bearing Arms. “We were horrified to see how Couric and her team manipulated us and the video footage to make us look like fools who didn’t stand up for the Second Amendment,” said VCDL president Philip Van Cleave. “We want to set the record straight and hold them accountable for what they’ve done. You shouldn’t intentionally misrepresent someone’s views just because you disagree with them.”
The suit was filed in federal court in Virginia. Couric, Soetchtig, and one of documentary's producers could also face federal gun crimes charges for their actions in making illegal interstate gun sales at the time of filming.
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