On Wednesday CNN anchor Chris Cuomo retweeted a story from the Tab, which claimed the author (a 20 year-old with an expired ID) was able to purchase an AR-15 in five minutes.
For this fact check, we will only focus on the information retweeted by Cuomo.
Here’s the tweet from @usaphotodude which Cuomo retweeted:
The tweet is quoting the headline of a 2-year-old article that claims Davis “was able to buy an AR-15 in five minutes.”
But the headline is deceptive, because toward the end of the 800-word piece, Davis tells readers that he did not, in fact, purchase the weapon.
Davis did not purchase the gun or fill out the paperwork—and thus did not go through what would have been (in this instance) the required background check.
When this was pointed out, Cuomo defended his retweet (which he has since removed):
Isn’t the point that the kid’s age and lack of ID wasn’t a deterrent? and this isn’t all gun shops. Place I bought my shotgun basically goes farther than law requires and makes judgments about whom to sell to. Point is the system should be better https://t.co/sL1j0hYtTg
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) February 21, 2018
Lying? Look if you want to fight against background checks, make the case. Whether it is calling the kids actors or LYING about how no laws could stop the shootings…that is the bs to call out. 97% of people want better checks. Why fight that? https://t.co/YCLVyi5VT3
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) February 21, 2018
Regardless of other statistics and gun-related facts, the tweet Cuomo retweeted was incorrect.
If you have questions about this fact check, or would like to submit a request for another fact check, email Holmes Lybrand at [email protected] or the Weekly Standard at [email protected]. For details on TWS Fact Check, see our explainer here.
