A sporting goods company is suing NBC News and a Kentucky affiliate for suggesting in a March 23, 2015, report, titled “Bombs for Sale? Popular Stores Sell ‘Dangerous Explosives,'” that the small Oregon-based company makes bombs.
The Today show segment, a version of which also appears on the show’s website, detailed how the company, Tannerite Sports, markets and sells explosive rifle targets, suggesting that the combustible product may pose a serious danger to the public, Bearing Arms reported.
NATIONAL SECURITY ALERT: Why are “bombs for sale” at your local sporting goods store. Dramatic video: http://t.co/Gt0VYIHcAa #RossenReports
— Jeff Rossen (@jeffrossen) March 23, 2015
“Our client, Tannerite Sports, LLC, has been publicly defamed by the false and misleading statements in the NBC news piece and the follow-up story by WLEX Communications, LLC,” the firm representing Tannerite Sports said Monday in a statement obtained by the Washington Examiner’s media desk. “The news piece asserts that Tannerite-brand targets are too dangerous to sell to ordinary consumers. To the contrary, Tannerite-brand targets have been safely used for years.”
The Lexington-based affiliate, WLEX-TV, reported in its version of the story that it is illegal under federal law to mix the components used in making the explosive rifle targets – a claim that the sporting goods company and its attorneys vigorously deny, claiming libel and slander.
“Unfortunately, there are many in the media today who are driven by an agenda, and rather than simply tell the facts, they twist the truth. But in this situation, a line has been crossed,” the firm representing the company said. “This is not a case of simply twisting the truth, this news piece included lies and misleading statements to make their point. We are confident of the merits of this case, and that our client will be victorious.”
The lawsuit brought against NBC News and its Bluegrass State affiliate alleges the following:
• On March 23, 2015, Defendant NBCU released a defamatory “report” that falsely claimed that the plaintiff’s rifle targets are “Bombs for sale”.
• In a related video, Defendant NBCU’s investigative reporter holding Tannerite products falsely asserted that “Right now I am basically holding a bomb in my hand.”
• NBCU’s report and video, and WLEX’s article, contain one or more written false statements that were intended to impugn the plaintiff’s rifle targets and the plaintiff’s reputation in the sporting industry.
• Plaintiff’s rifle targets are not bombs.
• Bombs are destructive devices that are strictly regulated by the federal and state governments.
• Federal guidelines allow consumers to purchase Tanneritee-brand rifle targets for personal, non-commercial use, and the consumer is allowed, under federal guidelines, to mix the precursors at the target practice location and shoot the target
The lawsuit said NBC News reported claims that “were made maliciously, intentionally and with reckless disregard for the truth,” adding that the network published “defamatory statements with malice.”
The lawsuit, which is seeking a sum exceeding $75,000, also alleges that Tannerite Sports has suffered economically as a direct result of the reports.
Spokespeople for NBC News did not respond to the Examiner’s request for comment.
