[John Wayne]

Sorry for the title, just wanted to get the attention of anyone who might be interested in watching this, since it airs in 2 hours.

Basically, I was interviewed today at the local indoor range. The reporter was there to get opinions on pending legislation that would allow for the carry of a handgun under the seat of a vehicle in South Carolina. South Carolina already allows for carry in the glove box or console of a vehicle without a permit.

The reporter was nice, but definately was trying to lead me into saying that this legislation was a good idea. I am not opposed to it, but basically said that the only benefit I could see would be that a lot of people keep their vehicle registration in the glove box, and it could potentially result in a tense situation if they reach for the registration and have a gun fall out. Also, because the reporter kept mentioning the word "legislation" about a thousand times, I said "legislation" instead of "registration" when commenting on the bill.

The reporter didn't ask any other questions on camera, or I would have been sure to mention that NC, rather than SC, needs to adopt a similar provision to allowed CC in vehicles. But hey, hopefully it will be positive press for gun owners, and I won't look like a complete idiot :)

EDIT: Here's the link: http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12311692

CN2 News, 5:30

[CoRoMo]

That's weird. One spot in the car is okay, but another is not. What's next, the door pockets?

[John Wayne]

Link up, it was on WBTV, not CN2.

[Kingofthehill]

sorry if this is you, but who's the idiot manipulating the firearm at their ankles sticking it under their seat?

[courtgreene]

my CCH instructor said that we SHOULD keep it under our seats. I don't because i spill drinks, but I just felt like offering perspective... so I did.

[Sediment]

I love how they tried to Hollywood it up by releasing the slide before storing it. Geez anything to dress up a gun story.

[John Wayne]

sorry if this is you, but who's the idiot manipulating the firearm at their ankles sticking it under their seat?

Ah, that would be the esteemed reporter. He borrowed a gold-plated Beretta knockoff out of the case...I'm sure the folks at the Sportsman weren't too happy with the way he was knocking that thing around :D

I'm the one in the Coors hat, shooting the XDM9.

my CCH instructor said that we SHOULD keep it under our seats. I don't because i spill drinks, but I just felt like offering perspective... so I did.

I think the new law mainly applies to people without concealed carry permits.

Overall, I don't think the segment was bad. I will say that what I said and what was actually presented sounded completely different and potentially confusing when aired. It would have made a lot more sense if you could hear the questions the reporter was asking me.

Potentially confusing bits:

The "she" that retrieved my firearm from the glovebox was the female police officer I mentioned (that part got cut out).

In that instance, my gun was in the glove box with my car registration. Some uninformed folks might have thought I meant gun registration. My whole take on the law was that being able to keep the gun under the seat is not dangerous for police officers. In fact, since most people keep their car registration in the glove box, it is potentially better for police officers.

I was pulled over for speeding (which was also left out). The way they presented it with the squad car footage (of a completely different county), you'd think I was pulled over that same day for a gun law violation or something.

I was misquoted to some extent in the article--hell, you can even watch the video and see inconsistancies in the what I said, and what was written by the reporters. It made me sound like a huge advocate of the bill--I am not against it, but being as WBTV is a NC based news station, I said that I thought it would be more important for NC to adopt a similar stance on the issue of concealed firearms in vehicles.

The "police source" quoted as being against the legislation was some guy from the FOP lodge.


Sorta related:

I had to remind the reporter to put his ears on before he taped me shooting :D

The guy with red sleeves is my friend, shooting his G27. You can see his group to the left of my much tighter one.

Positive representation of gun ownership on my part, the woman interviewed, and my buddy. Not so much on the guy dinging up the nickel-plated Taurus pimp handgun (but of course, since he was the one in the car, that's the impression you're left with).

Overall

I hope people see this in a positive light. It just goes to show that when you talk to reporters, even ones who appear to be doing a pro-gun segment, things may not be represented as you think they will. You may be edited, misquoted, taken out of context, and lumped in with unrelated footage. More than likely, it will also be made as dramatic as possible for ratings.

[Kingofthehill]

I love how they tried to Hollywood it up by releasing the slide before storing it. Geez anything to dress up a gun story.

and had to use one of the UGLIEST guns in production today

[Kingofthehill]

I also don't like the idea of an open trigger under a car's seat without being in a holster.

Studs from the seat coming up or equivillent could easily snag and you go to find your pistol and BAM!... ND....

a mounted holster would be cool, but just floating under the seat like that freaks me out a bit

JOe