WASHINGTON — Police in the U.S. capital say they are investigating an incident in which the host of a leading television interview program displayed what he described as a high-capacity ammunition magazine.

The original hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights, approved by the House and Senate, was prepared by scribe William Lambert and resides in the National Archives. That is if Sandy Berger didn’t stuff them in his shorts and socks.

As ratified by the States; authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State:
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Police spokesman Tisha Gant said Wednesday the department is investigating whether NBC reporter David Gregory may have violated city firearms laws that ban the possession of high-capacity magazines. She declined to comment further on the probe.

While interviewing Wayne LaPierre, chief executive of the National Rifle Association, a gun advocacy group, on his “Meet the Press” program, Gregory held an object, apparently as a prop to make a point, and said it was a magazine that could hold 30 rounds.

“Here is a magazine for ammunition that carries 30 bullets. Now, isn’t it possible if we got rid of these, if we replaced them and said, `Well, you can only have a magazine that carries five bullets or ten bullets,’ isn’t it just possible that we could reduce the carnage in a situation like Newtown?” Gregory asked, referring to the recent mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut.

LaPierre replied: “I don’t believe that’s going to make one difference.”

High-capacity ammunition magazines are banned in the capital district, regardless of whether they are attached to a firearm. “Meet the Press” is generally taped in Washington.

An email seeking comment from NBC was not immediately returned.

TMZ reports another bitof information. Gregory did get the okay to use the magazine, the report says. The permission evidently came from a D.C. police official who informed the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

TMZ cites a source who said a staffer from Meet the Press called ATF and inquired about the legality of the prop. Per the report:

Our sources say the D.C. police official informed ATF David could legally show the magazine, provided it was empty. An ATF official then called the staffer from “Meet the Press” to inform them they could use the magazine.

Earlier reports noted the statement from D.C. police that said “NBC was informed that possession of a high capacity magazine is not permissible and the request was denied.” TMZ observed that the show may have gotten conflicting answers. The matter has been under investigation.

“It’s becoming very obvious that Putin is testing Obama and his national security team. These long-range aviation excursions are duplicating exercises I experienced during the height of the Cold War when I command the Alaska NORAD region.” Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney

By Bill Gertz
Two Russian strategic nuclear bombers entered the U.S. air defense zone near the Pacific coast on Wednesday and were met by U.S. interceptor jets, defense officials told the Free Beacon.
It was the second time Moscow dispatched nuclear-capable bombers into the 200-mile zone surrounding U.S. territory in the past two weeks.

An earlier intrusion by two Tu-95 Bear H bombers took place near Alaska as part of arctic war games that a Russian military spokesman said included simulated attacks on “enemy” air defenses and strategic facilities.

A defense official said the Pacific coast intrusion came close to the U.S. coast but did not enter the 12-mile area that the U.S. military considers sovereign airspace.

The bomber flights near the Pacific and earlier flights near Alaska appear to be signs Moscow is practicing the targeting of its long-range air-launched cruise missiles on two strategic missile defense sites, one at Fort Greely, Alaska and a second site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

In May, Russian Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, said during a Moscow conference that because missile defense systems are destabilizing, “A decision on pre-emptive use of the attack weapons available will be made when the situation worsens.” The comments highlighted Russian opposition to planned deployments of U.S. missile defense interceptors and sensors in Europe.

The U.S. defense official called the latest Bear H incident near the U.S. West Coast “Putin’s Fourth of July Bear greeting to Obama.”

Full article here.