CNN Claims Misrepresentation of Firearm Capabilities

During a recent segment, CNN senior attorney Evan Perez mistakenly stated that a semi-automatic firearm could pull the trigger once to release “dozens of bullets.”

This discussion arose following a tragic incident at the Announcement Catholic School, where an active shooter resulted in the death of at least two children and injuries to 17 others.

Co-host Pamela Brown expressed her concern, reflecting on a report from an affiliate about the duration of the shooting. She mentioned that it seemed to extend over several minutes, though she wasn’t sure if that was related to the shooter’s actions or law enforcement’s response. It was alarming to hear that the shooter might have had time to reload.

Perez defended his assertion, stating, “Yes. That’s not the case. That’s not uncommon either. These guns can fire dozens of bullets with one trigger pull, right?” He added that it’s frightening when shooters have the time to reload, referencing similar situations, like the incident in Uvalde, where such occurrences seem alarmingly common.

CNN did not provide any comment regarding Perez’s remarks when contacted for clarification.

It’s important to note that a semi-automatic weapon, often inaccurately labeled as an “assault weapon,” actually fires one bullet per trigger pull, unlike a fully automatic firearm, which continues to fire until the trigger is released.

Current federal regulations prohibit the ownership of fully automatic firearms.