Remington hit NBC hard following the attack on the gunmaker — and the firearms industry — during the program “Rock Center,” broadcast April 11.
“Regrettably, NBC continues to attack Remington, and now the entire firearms industry, with disappointing and factually inaccurate reporting, and calls for more government regulation. In the coming weeks, Remington will make available information supporting the true historical facts, and showing NBC’s manipulation of clear and readily obtainable evidence,” said George Kollitides, CEO and executive chairman of Freedom Group and Remington.
“Brian Williams again demonstrated NBC’s anti-gun agenda with an upfront call for additional government oversight of firearms. Rather than encouraging the exercise of personal responsibility and safe firearms handling, NBC, trial lawyers and their paid, so-called ‘experts’ have chosen to point the finger of blame at Remington and the firearms industry by misleading and sensationalizing issues involving tragic, but readily avoidable injuries. This reporting only further damages NBC’s already questionable investigative and reporting practices. Remington will soon provide facts and materials that were readily available to NBC, but either ignored or never pursued, on our website, www.respectremington.tv.”
In 2010, NBC News’ “Dateline” attacked Remington’s Model 700 trigger system. This time, NBC went after Remington shotguns, Models 870 and 1100. There are more than 20 million of the shotguns in the hands of gun owners.
Before the program aired, Remington launched a counterattack, with a detailed statement and a highly effective website: www.respectremington.tv.
“The previous CNBC story was based on rumors, unsubstantiated claims and misstatements, rather than factual evidence of the reliability and performance of the more than five-million Model 700 bolt-action rifles produced over 50 years. The misinformation and sensational allegations were clearly addressed by Remington in a point-by-point rebuttal, to which CNBC never bothered to respond,” Remington’s statement reads.
In the latest report, CNBC senior correspondent Scott Cohn once again conducts the investigation, using his favored “paid experts.”
“These ‘experts’ have been repeatedly hired by plaintiff’s attorneys to testify against Remington, as well as at least 16 other firearms manufacturers, to suit their own personal and economic agendas,” Remington points out.
Remington features its own experts on the website, www.respectremington.tv, while providing very damaging video that clearly discredits the “experts” used by NBC.
“Model 870 and 1100 owners know the truth. These shotguns are used extensively under the most demanding conditions. Tens of billions of rounds have been fired through these firearms, which are valued for their performance and durability by tens of millions of hunters, shooters, law enforcement and military personnel who have relied on these firearms for over 60 years,” Remington’s statement reads.
Even before the segment aired, comments critical of the program appeared on NBC’s “Rock Center” website. They include:
Once again, it appears that NBC is demonstrating its lack of journalistic integrity, its thirst for sensationalism and its overt anti-gun agenda.
Wow — does NBC ever learn its lesson? They were exposed for their shoddy journalism the first time they tried to attack Remington, they were recently caught manufacturing facts and altering a 911 tape, and now this?
Don’t you think that with the millions and millions of these guns out there, there would be more reports of accidents if there was a design flaw?
Your producers have proven they’ll do anything to “juice up” a story — from manipulations and omissions to downright lies.
Well-done to Remington and Freedom Group for facing down these media attacks. Yes, the program aired, but Remington has provided a place for the truth to be presented. Visit www.respectremington.tv.
By Russ Thurman, Shooting Industry Magazine, publisher/editor.
No comments:
Post a Comment