RES A
PHOTO ID AT THE POLLS.
GOOD MORNING.
I AM JOSH MCELVEEN.
IT CUT ALL -- A BUSY COUPLE OF
WEEKS FOR CONGRESSMAN ANNIE
KUSTER.
SHE AUTHORED A NEW BUILDS IN A
COMBAT THE CRISIS OF ADDICTION.
AND SHE REVEALED A VERY PERSONAL
PART OF HER PAST, ACKNOWLEDGING
SHE HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF
ASSAULT.
SHE IS OUR FIRST GUEST.
GOOD MORNING.
REP. KUSTER: SORRY ABOUT MY
VOICE.
JOSH: NO WORRIES TO LET START
ABOUT THE GUN CONTROL AND THE
SIT IN.
YOU GO BACK INTO SESSION ON THE
FIFTH.
ARE YOU GOING TO START THIS SIT
IN AGAIN?
REP. KUSTER: TO TELL YOU THE
TRUTH, I DO NOT THINK WE WILL
NEED THIS IN.
WHAT WE FIND IS WE BROUGHT FORTH
THE ISSUE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
HOW DO WE KEEP AMERICA SAFE
PAPER WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION,
LONG DEBATE.
I LOST MY VOICE AND THE 24 HOURS
WE WERE TALKING.
WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE, PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING
UP.
90% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT HAVING
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE KEEP PEOPLE WHO ARE
ON OUR TERRORIST WATCH LISTS
FROM GETTING ACCESS TO GUNS.
I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE
SECOND AMENDMENTS.
LOTS OF MY CONSTITUENTS ACROSS
THE STATE -- HUNTING IS A BIG
PIECE OF THIS -- BUT ALSO
PROTECTION.
KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
BOTH.
THE CHALLENGE ON THE ASSAULT
WEAPON ISSUE IS THE DEFINITION.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
TERRORISTS, SOMEONE WHO HAS
TAKEN AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO
ISIS, DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
THAT WEAPON.
SO IT IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.
SENATOR SHAHEEN AND SENATOR
AYOTTE HAVE COME FORWARD.
I AM EXCITED TO GO BACK TO
WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK.
YOU HAVE SUSAN COLLINS WITH AN
AMAZEMENT -- WITH AN AMENDMENT.
LET'S GET THIS ISSUE OUT THERE
FOR A VOTE.
SPEAKER RYAN, WHEN HE CAME IN,
HE PROMISED WHAT WE CALL REGULAR
ORDER.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN WE HAVE
A BIG ISSUE THAT 90% OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE IN, WE
GET A CHANCE TO DEBATE IT AND
VOTE ON IT.
THAT IS REALLY WHAT THE SIT IN
WAS ABOUT.
THEY HAVE REFUSED TO SCHEDULE A
HEARING.
REFUSE TO GIVE US A VOTE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE
BETTER.
DO YOU --
DO YOUR JOB.
THAT'S THE HASHTAG.
JOSH: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE
MOVEMENT WILL BE?
REP. KUSTER: WE HAVE HAD
THOUSANDS OF LETTERS AND PHONE
CALLS.
CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
EVIDENCE ARE CONTINUING TO
HAPPEN.
IN NASHUA, THERE IS A GROUP --
MOMS DEMAND ACTION.
THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE PAID YOU
CAN SEE IT WITH SENATOR AYOTTE.
YOU CAN SEE SHE UNDERSTANDS THE
STATEMENTS SHE IS MAKING.
VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHE
SAID -- HAS SAID IN THE PAST.
IF TERRORISTS DEVOTED TO ISIS
GET THEIR HANDS ON THESE WEAPONS
AND MASSACRE PEOPLE -- IF WE ARE
NOT SAFE IN GOING TO THE MOVIE
THEATER, GOING TO THE SHOPPING
CENTER, GOING TO CHURCH.
THESE PEOPLE WERE IN BIBLE
STUDY.
WE NEED TO BE SAFE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WHETHER YOU ARE BLACK OR
STRAIGHT OR GAY, IT DOES NOT
MATTER.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO OUT
WITH YOUR FRIENDS TO A NIGHTCLUB
AND NOT RISK MASS MURDER.
JOSH: SENATOR AYOTTE'S BILL WITH
SENATOR COLLINS, IS THIS
SOMETHING YOU SUPPORT?
REP. KUSTER: THE DEVIL IS IN THE
DETAILS.
I WANT TO READ THE VERSION THAT
COMES OUT.
WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE LIST -- I
WANT TO MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE ON
THAT TERRORIST WATCH LIST, YOU
CANNOT PURCHASE THE GUN.
THEN, IF THERE IS A QUESTION
ABOUT WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE
LIST, YOU SHOULD HAVE DUE
PROCESS, BUT LET THAT HAPPEN
AFTER THE SALE HAS BEEN STOPPED.
SOME PEOPLE SAY LET THE SALE GO
FORWARD AND THEN WE CAN PULL IT
BACK -- THAT PUTS THE COMMUNITY
AT RISK.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE
COMMUNITY SAFE.
AND FOR LEGITIMATE, LAW-ABIDING
GUN OWNERS -- ABSOLUTELY.
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.
ENJOY YOUR SPORTS AND FISHING
AND HUNTING.
SOME PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT ARE
FEEDING THEIR FAMILY THAT WAY.
I WILL DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO
HAVE THEIR GUN FOR LAW-ABIDING
CITIZENS.
JOSH: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
DEFINITION OF ASSAULT WEAPON.
AR-15 IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
.2.
BUT PERHAPS VOTERS HEAR "ASSAULT
WEAPON" AND HERE MACHINE GUNS.
THESE ARE JUST MILITARY STYLE --
REP. KUSTER: THIS IS WHAT I AM
SAYING ABOUT THE DEFINITIONS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ASSAULT
WEAPONS WERE PROHIBITED.
BUT GUN MANUFACTURERS, THEY CAN
CHANGE THE STOCK, THE BARREL --
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP
THAT DOES INTEREST ME -- DUCK
HUNTERS ARE LIMITED TO THREE
BULLETS.
THE REASON IS TO PROTECT THE
DOCS. -- THE DUCKS.
SO MAYBE THERE COULD BE MORE
DONE TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN.
BUT WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT NOW
IS THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST AND
THE BACKGROUND CHECKS.
90% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE
WITH THAT AREA HERE'S THE THING
WITH THE BACKGROUND CHECKS -- I
THINK MOST PEOPLE ASSUME WE HAVE
THAT NOW.
BUT 40% OF THE PURCHASES ARE NOW
ON THE INTERNET, AND WE DO NOT
HAVE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THE
INTERNET OR AT THE GUN SHOWS.
SO CHECK THE RIGHTS OF
LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS.
I HAVE TALKED WITH HUNTERS, WITH
INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO PROTECT
THEIR FAMILY -- ABSOLUTELY.
KEEP THE GUN, KEEP IT LOCKED,
KEEP IT SAFE, KEEP IT AWAY FROM
CHILDREN.
MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY IS SAFE.
BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT
SOMEBODY WITH A BACKGROUND OF
EVIL INTENT, PLEDGING THEIR
ALLEGIANCE TO ISIS, ARE NOT
WALKING INTO OUR MOVIE THEATER
THE NEXT TIME YOU SEND YOUR
TEENS TO THE MOVIES.
JOSH: I KNOW IT DROVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE CRAZY TO THINK OF THE FBI
INTERVIEWED THIS ORLANDO
SHOOTING A COUPLE OF TIMES.
ON A LIST AND STILL MANAGES TO
GET A WEAPON.
REP. KUSTER: THIS IS A THE
BALANCE.
WE BALANCE INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES.
BUT WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY.
THE F ER HAS TO TAKE -- THE F
HAS TO TAKE A HARD LOOK.
ONCE YOU HAVE CHECK SOMEONE OUT,
DETERMINE THEY ARE NOT AN
IMMEDIATE THREAT, LET'S KEEP A
SECONDARY LIST AND CYCLE BACK
EVERY SIX MONTHS, JUST TO CHECK
IN.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES I AM WORKING
ON IS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
I KNOW YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR QUICK
FORMER JUSTICE JOHN BRODERICK.
WE HAD AN EVENT ABOUT THE FIVE
SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH.
WE WANT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
BUT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE IS
DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES, LET'S GET THEM THE
TREATMENT AND THERAPIES THEY
NEED.
A LOT OF THESE MASS MURDERERS --
GO BACK, COLUMBINE, NEWTOWN --
FAMILIES THAT DID NOT KNOW HOW
TO COPE WITH A YOUNG PERSON WITH
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THAT IS A
SITUATION WHERE PROBABLY BEEN --
PROBABLY NOT THE BEST GIFT IS TO
GIVE THEM A GUN.
HELP THEM ISSUE WITH WHATEVER
ISSUES OF PSYCHOSES THEY HAVE.
WE HAVE GOOD MEDICATION FOR THAT
NOW.
WE HAVE DEALT WITH THIS IN OUR
FAMILY.
CONGRESSMAN GUINTA HAS DEALT
WITH THIS IN HIS FAMILY.
WE ARE TRYING TO BRING FORWARD
THIS ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND
MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET THE HELP
THEY NEED.
JOSH: A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO
GET TO.
YOU SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE
THIS -- LAST WEEK.
HE REVEALED A VERY PERSONAL
SIDE, SOMETHING YOU HAD NOT EVEN
TOLD YOUR HUSBAND OR FAMILY.
REP. KUSTER: I HAD NOT.
THESE ARE INCIDENTS THAT
HAPPENED 40 YEARS AGO.
ONE WAS AT EIGHT COLLEGE CAMPUS
AT A FRATERNITY.
I WAS REALLY MOTIVATED THE
STATEMENT OF THE WOMAN OUT AT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY THAT WAS
ATTACKED, BRUTALL ASSAULTED.
WHAT STRUCK ME -- THE JUDGE HAD
A SENTENCE IN THAT CASE OF SIX
MONTHS.
THAT GUY WILL PROBABLY SERVE 90
DAYS.
AND HERE HE WAS, ASSAULTING A
WOMAN TO HIDE A DUMPSTER SHE WAS
UNCONSCIOUS.
IT MAY BE REALIZED -- IT MADE ME
REALIZE THAT I KEEPING SILENT,
WE HAVE PERPETUATED AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT IS
DIFFICULT TO COME FORWARD.
THE OTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED TO
ME WHILE WORKING AT CONGRESS.
IT WAS MORE LIKE SEXUAL
HARASSMENT.
AND THE THIRD INCIDENT WAS THAT
I WAS MUGGED ON CAPITOL HILL
AROUND THAT TIME.
I HAD NOT TOLD MY HUSBAND, HAD
NOT TOLD MY SONS.
BUT WHEN WE HAD THE CONVERSATION
AND MADE MY STATEMENT, SHARED MY
TESTIMONY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR --
THE STATEMENT I MADE IS THAT WE
ARE ALL EMILY DOE, THE NAME IN
COURT THAT THE WOMAN WENT BY.
I HAVE BEEN AMAZED BY THE
RESPONSE I HAVE HAD.
THE STORIES THAT ARE COMING
FORWARD.
YOUNG PEOPLE, OLDER PEOPLE.
THE COALITION FOR DOMESTIC AND
SEXUAL VIOLENCE TOLD ME 23% OF
ALL WOMEN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HAVE
BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
70% HAVE NOT COME FORWARD AND
TOLD THEIR STORY.
I THOUGHT BACK THEN THAT TIMES
WOULD CHANGE, THAT THIS WAS
SOMETHING WE WERE GOING THROUGH,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE FIRST
WOMAN TO GO TO AN ALL-MALE
COLLEGE, THE FIRST WOMAN TO WORK
ON CAPITOL HILL -- BUT 40 YEARS
LATER, WE NEED TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION IN A PUBLIC WAY.
MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE OR
REMARKABLE.
SADLY, IT IS ALL TOO COMMON.
JOSH: WE ARE ALMOST ALL OF TIME.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CARL'S LAW.
BASICALLY PUTTING A WARNING
LABEL --
REP. KUSTER: A WARNING LABEL ON
MEDICINE.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE STORY.
A FAMILY IMAC.
THE MOTHER'S NAME IS SUE
MESSENGER.
SHE CAME TO TESTIFY ON OUR TASK
FORCE TO COMBAT THE HEROIN
EPIDEMIC.
HER SON CARL WAS IN TREATMENT,
IN RECOVERY FROM HAIR WHEN.
HE HAD -- FROM HEROIN.
HE HAD A COMMON COLD.
HE GOT MEDICINE FROM THE DOCTOR.
WAS NOT -- DID NOT REALIZE THAT
IT HAD CODEINE, WHICH TRIGGERED
A RELAPSE THE NEXT DAY.
TOOK 100% FENTANYL.
DIED INSTANTLY.
SHE FOUND HIM IN THE BATHROOM
WITH THE PLUNGER.
TRAGIC LOSS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
HOW DO WE PROTECT OUR FAMILIES
AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND LET'S
MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THESE
SIGNS, HOW TO GET HELP, HOW TO
GET ACCESS TO TREATMENT, AND TO
UNDERSTAND THAT RECOVERY TAKES A
LONG TIME.
TO EDUCATE US ALL.
WHO KNEW THIS WOULD TRIGGER DRUG
SEEKING BEHAVIOR?
JOSH: HOW DO YOU WANT THEIR
LANGUAGE TO READ?
REP. KUSTER: IT WOULD JUST BE A
LABEL ON THE BOTTLE -- "THIS
CONTAINS NARCOTICS AND MAY
CREATE DRUG SEEKING BEHAVIOR."
JUST TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION
SO THE PHYSICIAN ASKS, THE