So many gun myths in one CBS TV show: Converting semi-auto to untraceable fully auto conversion and more
With all the false claims about guns in media, this CBS episode of FBI International (Season 1, Episode 10) outdoes itself.
1) The notion that you can take an American-made gun with a serial number on it and remove the serial number isn’t serious. The problem is that stamping a serial number into the metal alters the underlying metal, and even if you file off the number, acid can determine what the number was.
2) Converting a semi-auto gun to a fully automatic gun just doesn’t work. You almost always have to replace the entire inside guts of the gun to accomplish this, so you might as well buy the fully automatic gun. Is it possible in some cases to rig the gun so that bullets feed into the chamber unrestricted? Yes, but you are very likely to end up with the ammunition firing before the chamber is completely closed. If you don’t mind losing a hand or worse, that might work for you.
3) “Cooking off” ammunition does not work as depicted in this episode. The point of a barrel is to concentrate the force of a bullet’s explosion in one direction and propel the slug in the opposite direction. Even if setting fire to ammunition causes it to go off, and that is unlikely, the ammunition is not in a barrel, so the force from the explosion goes in all directions. There is no concentrated force behind the bullet, so the bullet might travel a few feet. The bullets will not penetrate metal 50 feet away.
While this episode only discusses the threat from machine guns being used in crime, it doesn’t show them being fired.
FBI International, Season 1 Episode 10, January 11, 2022
Here is a video on Hollywood’s bias against guns.
Shows from the current season.
NCIS Los Angeles (Season 13): Episode 3, October 24, 2021,
NBC’s Chicago PD (Season 9): E3, October 6, 2021, Episode 7, November 3, 2021
The Equalizer (Season 2): E1, Oct 10, 2021
CBS’s “FBI: Most Wanted” (Season 3) E1 September 28th, 2021 & E2 September 28th, 2021
CBS’s S.W.A.T. (Season 5) E1 October 1, 2021, E2, Oct 08, 2021, Episode 7, December 3, 2021
CBS’s “FBI: International” (Season 1) E2, September 28th, 2021. In another “FBI: International” (S1 E1) criminals were shown carrying machine guns but not using them.
Paramount’s Yellowstone (Season 4): Episode 1, November 7, 2021,
From past seasons, here are some of the shows with criminals using machine guns (this is not meant to be a complete list):
ABC’s The Rookie (Season 3): Episode 11 April 18, 2021; Episode 12 April 25, 2021; Episode 14 May 9, 2021; Episode 3, January 17, 2021
NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season 1): Episodes 1 & 2, April 1 and 8, 2021
CBS’s Bull (Season 5): E6, January 18 2021
CBS’s FBI Most Wanted (Season 2): E4 January 19, 2021, E5 January 26, 2021.
CBS’ Coyote (Season 1): E2 January 7, 2021 and E5 January 7, 2021
CBS’ SWAT (Season 4): E7 Jan 13, 2021, E8 January 27, 2021, E9 Feb 17 2021
CBS’s Blue Bloods (Season 11): Episode 16, May 14, 2021
CBS’ Magnum PI (Season 3): E3 Dec 11 2020; Episode 7, February 5, 2021
CBS’ The FBI (Season 3): E1 Nov 17 2020, E4 Jan 24, 2021
CBS’s NCIS LA (Season 12): Episode 8, January 10, 2021
NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season 1): Episodes 1 & 2, April 1 and 8, 2021
NBC’s The Blacklist (Season 8): Episode 1, November 13, 2020
NBC’s Chicago PD (Season 8): Episode 7, February 17, 2021
In last years’ season (2019-2020), we haven’t been keeping close track, but other recent examples include:
CBS’ SWAT (Season 3): E11 January 15, 2020; E21 May 20, 2020
In last years’ season (2019-2020), we haven’t been keeping close track, but other recent examples include:
CBS’ SWAT (Season 3): E11 January 15, 2020; E21 May 20, 2020
CBS’ FBI (Season 2): E12 January 14, 2020; Episode 18, March 24, 2020
Fox’s Deputy (Season 1): E1 January 2, 2020
FBI: Most Wanted (Season 1): Episode 4, January 28, 2020; Episode 6, February 18, 2020, Episode 9, March 24, 2020
Chicago PD (Season 7): Episode 10 January 8, 2020; Episode 16, March 4, 2020; Season 7, Episode 17, March 18, 2020; Episode 20, April 15 2020
Hawaii Five-O, Season 10, Episode 18, February 28, 2020; Episode 20, March 13, 2020; Episode 21, March 27, 2020
Magnum PI, Season 2, Episode 18, May 1, 2020
Blue Bloods, Season 10, Episode 19, May 1, 2020
The Blacklist, Season 7, Episode 18, May 8, 2020
Here is a list of shows from the 2018-19 television season that showed criminals using machine guns.
The Rookie (Season1): E2, E4, E9, E17, E20
Magnum PI (Season 1): E1, E15
Chicago P.D. (Season 6): E14
Other examples of television media bias on this particular point can be found here.
