At this point, I think we can assume that David Gregory and his staff at NBC will not be charged for illegally possessing a “high-capacity” magazine in the District of Columbia. But while the DC prosecutors exercise their discretion to let a high-profile media figure off scot-free, they prosecute the magazine-ban vigorously against ordinary people.
In fact, while Gregory faces no charges despite knowingly breaking the law, they prosecute ordinary people who didn’t even break the law at all. For example:
Mr. Brinkley was booked on two counts of “high capacity” magazine possession (these are ordinary magazines nearly everywhere else in the country) and one count of possessing an unregistered gun.
Despite the evidence Mr. Brinkley had been legally transporting the gun, his attorney Richard Gardiner said the D.C. Office of the Attorney General “wouldn’t drop it.” This is the same office now showing apparent reluctance to charge Mr. Gregory.
Mr. Brinkley refused to take a plea bargain and admit guilt, so the matter went to trial Dec. 4. The judge sided with Mr. Brinkley, saying he had met the burden of proof that he was legally transporting. Mr. Brinkley was found not guilty on all firearms-related charges, including for the “high-capacity” magazines, and he was left with a $50 traffic ticket.
When the law is applied differently to the famous and the ordinary, there is no law.
Internet Scofflaw 