"Meet the Press" anchor David Gregory is off the hook and will not face any charges after showing a gun magazine on the weekly news show.
Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14, the National Rifle Association (NRA) chief Wayne LaPierre appeared on Gregory's show to discuss gun laws in the U.S. The interview featured Gregory displaying a 30-round gun magazine.
Unfortunately for Gregory, Washington D.C., where the show is broadcast, has strict gun laws. D.C. law notes it is illegal to carry a 10 or more rounds of ammunition, even if empty, and one can be sentenced to one year in prison and/or up to $1,000 in fines.
The display of the magazine did not go unnoticed as the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed they were investigating the matter.
"There are D.C. code violations, D.C. code restrictions on guns, ammunition. We are investigating this matter. Beyond the scope of that, I can't comment any further," said D.C. police officer and spokesman Araz Alali last month.
Politico did confirm that NBC had contacted the D.C. police department about showing the gun.
"NBC contacted [the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department] inquiring if they could utilize a high capacity magazine for their segment," Gwendolyn Crump, a police spokeswoman, said in an email. "NBC was informed that possession of a high capacity magazine is not permissible and their request was denied. This matter is currently being investigated."
Finally, a decision has come and Gregory will not face any charges.
D.C. attorney general Irvin Nathan said on Friday he won't prosecute Gregory or any NBC staffers involved in the incident.
Nathan stated his office "has determined to exercise its prosecutorial discretion to decline to bring criminal charges against Mr. Gregory, who has no criminal record, or any other NBC employee based on the events associated [with 'Meet the Press']."
The "Meet the Press" incident garnered enough attention from people who wish to see Gregory face charges. A petition on the White House's "We the People" page titled "Press charges against David Gregory for possession of a 30-round, high capacity assault rifle magazine in Washington D.C" has received 19,384 signatures (as of 8 p.m. Jan. 11). The petition, created by "Ryan I" from Boise, Id., received 7,600 signatures in its first three days. The petition needs an additional 6,606 signatures to meet the 25,000 threshold for the Obama administration to provide a response.