Shocking video shows a 13-year-old easily buying a gun

A shocking video showing a social experiment by HBO from 2014 highlights the ease with which a minor can legally buy a gun in America.

In the clip, a 13-year-old boy identified as ‘Jack’ is seen trying, and failing, to purchase multiple items which are regulated by age under US law.

He gets turned down when he tries to buy beer, cigarettes, and adult entertainment, but not when he tries to buy a rifle.

Everyone in each of these scenarios has acted exactly as they are required to, by law. 

The experiment was originally short for HBO with host, Bryant Gumbel. 

 

A shocking video showing a social experiment by HBO from 2014 highlights the ease with which a minor can legally buy a gun in the US, but is turned down for beer, cigarettes and porn

The HBO clip has resurfaced following a deadly school shooting in Florida, involving a 19-year-old who legally obtained an AR-15 rifle and admitted to using it to shoot and kill 17 people and injure 15 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the city of Parkland on Valentine’s Day. 

The video shows each of these interactions from the perspective of the teen.

He’s outfitted with a hidden camera in order to catch the unedited, natural reactions of everyone involved.

‘It’s not happening,’ a woman tells Jack, when he tries to buy a case of beer at a convenience store. 

‘Literally he looks like he’s 12,’ the cashier says to the other customers in the shop.

The minimum drinking age in the US is 21. 

Next, the video shows the teen trying his luck at buying cigarettes, which a person must be at least 18 to buy in America. 

‘I am so sorry, I can’t sell you the cigarettes,’ the woman behind the counter informs the boy.

He hears another version of the same thing when he tries to buy lottery tickets.

‘You can’t get no scratch off, baby,’ a gas station attendant tells him. Again, lottery tickets require you to be at least 18 for purchase. 

He hears another version of the same thing when he tries to buy lottery tickets

He hears another version of the same thing when he tries to buy lottery tickets

Then the camera shows him entering an adult entertainment store. An individual must, again, be at least 18 to buy pornographic material.

‘You have to be 18 or older,’ a young woman tells Jack, as he attempts to buy something inside.

But then, the child walks into a gun show, where rifles are openly displayed on tables by private sellers.

An older man tells Jack, ‘It should shoot pretty good for you,’ handling a .22 caliber rifle.

The next clip in the video shows the man handing the rifle over to Jack, as he says, ‘I’ll take it.’

'You have to be 18 or older,' a young woman tells Jack, as he attempts to buy something inside of an adult entertainment store

‘You have to be 18 or older,’ a young woman tells Jack, as he attempts to buy something inside of an adult entertainment store

'Jack,' age 13, gets turned down when he tries to buy cigarettes, too, but not when he tries to buy a rifle from a private seller at gun show

‘Jack,’ age 13, gets turned down when he tries to buy cigarettes, too, but not when he tries to buy a rifle from a private seller at gun show

The boy gets out his money, hands over the cash, and walks away with the gun, all within minutes. 

Nikolas Cruz, the Florida shooter, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on February 15.

The massacre has ignited a nationwide debate about gun control, led by the student victims of his attack.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has joined them in calling for reform of our nation’s gun laws.

The students and Israel participated in a town hall meeting, broadcast by CNN on Wednesday, where they address National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch and lawmakers like Senator Marco Rubio, who have long argued that American gun laws do not need to be stricter.

The surviving students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have formed an organization called March For Our Lives, and are preparing to stage a nationwide march on Washington, DC, and across the US, to be held on March 24. 

Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old Florida shooter, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on February 15, after he legally obtained an AR-15 rifle and admitted to using it to shoot and kill 17 people and injure 15 others at a high school in Parkland on February 14; The massacre has ignited a nationwide debate about gun control, led by surviving student victims

Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old Florida shooter, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on February 15, after he legally obtained an AR-15 rifle and admitted to using it to shoot and kill 17 people and injure 15 others at a high school in Parkland on February 14; The massacre has ignited a nationwide debate about gun control, led by surviving student victims

PICTURED: Fourteen students, geography teacher, coach and athletic director shot dead in Florida high school massacre

Jaime Guttenberg, 14, was described by relatives as a 'kind-hearted, sweet' girl. She attended the school with her younger brother who survived and rushed home afterwards

Senior Nicholas Dworet was a gifted swimmer who had his sights set on 2020 Tokyo Olympics success. His devastated college student girlfriend is among those grieving his death. Friends said he was not just a talented athlete, but a 'good guy' who will be missed

Jaime Guttenberg, 14, (left) was described by relatives as a ‘kind-hearted, sweet’ girl. She attended the school with her younger brother who survived and rushed home afterwards. Senior Nicholas Dworet (right) was a gifted swimmer who had his sights set on 2020 Tokyo Olympics success. His devastated college student girlfriend is among those grieving his death. Friends said he was not just a talented athlete, but a ‘good guy’ who will be missed

Martin Duque, 14, was missing for hours on Wednesday and his frantic family desperately appealed for him to get in touch on social media. On Thursday, his older brother Miguel confirmed his death. Martin was a freshman

Meadow Pollack, 18, was preparing for college. Her father was at the school on Wednesday and showed her photograph around in the hope that she would be found alive

Martin Duque, 14, (left) was missing for hours on Wednesday and his frantic family desperately appealed for him to get in touch on social media. On Thursday, his older brother Miguel confirmed his death. Martin was a freshman. Meadow Pollack, 18, (right) was preparing for college. Her father was at the school on Wednesday and showed her photograph around in the hope that she would be found alive

Alyssa Alhadeff, 15, (seen right) was eulogized by her mother who said she was a talented soccer player and creative mind. 'All she had to offer the world was love... I just sent her to school and she was shot and killed,' she said

Alyssa Alhadeff, 15, was eulogized by her mother who said she was a talented soccer player and creative mind. 'All she had to offer the world was love... I just sent her to school and she was shot and killed,' she said

Cara Loughran (left) was missing on Wednesday afternoon. Her mother Denise and her father rushed to the designated hotel where parents were told to go to be reunited with their children in the hope that she would be found alive. Her grieving neighbor confirmed her death on Thursday. Alyssa Alhadeff, 15, (right) was eulogized by her mother who said she was a talented soccer player and creative mind. ‘All she had to offer the world was love… I just sent her to school and she was shot and killed,’ she said

Luke Hoyer, 15, was described as a 'precious' child by his grandparents who confirmed his death. They found out about the shooting on television. They said he was a 'good kid' who 'never got in trouble'

Joaquin Oliver, 17, was also killed. Joaquin was a Venezuelan immigrant who came to the US with his family for a 'better future', they said on Thursday

Luke Hoyer, 15, (left) was described as a ‘precious’ child by his grandparents who confirmed his death. They found out about the shooting on television. They said he was a ‘good kid’ who ‘never got in trouble’. Joaquin Oliver, 17, (right) was also killed. Joaquin was a Venezuelan immigrant who came to the US with his family for a ‘better future’, they said on Thursday

Gina Montalto, 15, was described as a 'light and joy'. She and Jaime, another victim, volunteered at a local project called The Friendship Initiative where they acted as buddies for children with special needs. Gina's mother Jennifer shared pleas to find her on social media on Wednesday

Alaina Petty, 14, was also killed. Her Mormon church confirmed her death, saying she was a 'valiant' member

Gina Montalto, 15, (left) was described as a ‘light and joy’. She and Jaime, another victim, volunteered at a local project called The Friendship Initiative where they acted as buddies for children with special needs. Gina’s mother Jennifer shared pleas to find her on social media on Wednesday. Alaina Petty, 14, (right) was also killed. Her Mormon church confirmed her death, saying she was a ‘valiant’ member

Carmen Schentrup, 16, was also killed in the shooting. Carmen was a gifted student who last year was named as a semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. It includes students who score above average in their SATs or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

ROTC student Peter Wang, 15, also died. His parents speak little English and relied on their neighbor to post social media appeals looking for him. They went to the Marriott hotel with other parents to wait for news of him on Wednesday night and have since confirmed that he was among those killed

Carmen Schentrup, 16, (left) was also killed in the shooting. Carmen was a gifted student who last year was named as a semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. It includes students who score above average in their SATs or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. ROTC student Peter Wang, 15, (right) also died. His parents speak little English and relied on their neighbor to post social media appeals looking for him. They went to the Marriott hotel with other parents to wait for news of him on Wednesday night and have since confirmed that he was among those killed

Alex Schachter, 14, was also killed.  His mother died when he was a child and he attended the school in Florida with his brother, who survived. The teenager's father Max said he was a 'sweetheart of a child' who 'just wanted to do well and please his parents'

Helena Ramsey, 17, was described by relatives as a 'reserved' and studious girl who was due to go to college next year

Alex Schachter, 14, (left) was also killed.  His mother died when he was a child and he attended the school in Florida with his brother, who survived. The teenager’s father Max said he was a ‘sweetheart of a child’ who ‘just wanted to do well and please his parents’. Helena Ramsey, 17, (right) was described by relatives as a ‘reserved’ and studious girl who was due to go to college next year

Geography Scott Beigel, 35, was shot dead as he tried to lock the door of his classroom again after letting a group of fleeing students in to hide. They were running away from the gunman.

Aaron Feis, 37, died acting as a human shield. The track coach had thrown himself on top of the kids to stop the bullets from hitting him. He was a former student and was also a security guard at the school where he had worked for eight years

Geography Scott Beigel, 35, (left) was shot dead as he tried to lock the door of his classroom again after letting a group of fleeing students in to hide. They were running away from the gunman. Aaron Feis, 37, (right) died acting as a human shield. The track coach had thrown himself on top of the kids to stop the bullets from hitting him. He was a former student and was also a security guard at the school where he had worked for eight years

Athletic director Chris Hixon, 49, was also killed shielding students

Athletic director Chris Hixon, 49, was also killed shielding students

 

 



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