GETTING RESULTS. >> IT’S TIME FOR THE WEEKLY NEWS 6 MORNING ANCHOR JUSTIN
WARMOTH.
>> THIS IS THE WEEKLY ON
CLICK, ORLANDO DOT COM WITH
JUSTIN WARMOTH. GOOD MORNING.
I’M JUSTIN WARMOTH. IN THE
WAKE OF THE RECENT MASS
SHOOTINGS IN BUFFALO AND
UVALDE AND TULSA, THERE’S A
RENEWED DEBATE ABOUT GUN
CONTROL IN AMERICA. I HAD A
CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH PULSE
NIGHTCLUB SURVIVOR BRANDON
WOLF, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN
PUSHING FOR GUN REFORM EVER
SINCE JUNE. 12TH 2016. AND
BRANDON, THANKS FOR JOINING US
THIS MORNING. THANKS FOR
HAVING ME.
>> I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO SORT OF START BUT I I
THINK WE JUST HAVE TO. START
WITH THIS. AND THAT IS A WIN.
WHEN YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED AND
UVALDE. WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS
RUN THROUGH YOU AS SOMEONE WHO
SURVIVED THE MASS SHOOTING IN
THIS COUNTRY? THE FIRST DAY
FIELDS, HEARTBREAK. FOR THE
FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING TO GO
THROUGH FOR THE REST OF THEIR
LIVES. FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
SURVIVED THINKING OF THE
CHILDREN WHO TALK ABOUT
PLAYING DEAD AND SMEARING THE
BLOOD OF THEIR FRIENDS ON
THEIR FACES SO THEY DON’T
BECOME THE NEXT TARGET.
>> THEY WILL NEVER BE THE
SAME. THEIR LIVES WILL BE
CHANGED FOREVER. AND I I ALSO
FELT RAGE AND I STILL FEEL
RAGE TODAY BECAUSE THESE
PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE PRICE
FOR THIS NATION’S INACTION ON
GUN VIOLENCE. WE’VE BEEN
GASLIT FOR A LONG TIME SAYING,
WELL, IT’S NOT REALLY THE
CRISIS HE COULD GET IS OR WAS
NOT REALLY THE GUNS. IT
SOMETHING ELSE. BUT THEY’RE
ASKING US TO. TO NOT BELIEVE
WHATS RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR
DAYS. WE CAN SEE IT IN
TWENTY-TWENTY GUN-RELATED
INJURIES BECAME THE NUMBER ONE
CAUSE OF DEATH FOR AMERICAN
CHILDREN AND TEENS AT THIS IS
TO STICK. I MEAN, IT’S IT’S A
IT IS A FACT. AND IT’S
SOMETHING THAT’S RIGHT IN
FRONT OF OUR NOSES. AND SO
WHEN I SAY FEEL RAGE, IT’S
BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE NOTHING.
IN THE PAST DECADES TO KEEP
KIDS SAFE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE
HAVE BEEN SO LASER-FOCUSED ON
ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WE’VE
BEEN HELD HOSTAGE BY RIGHT
WING POLITICIANS HAVE TOLD US
THAT THE GREATEST THREATS OUR
CHILDREN FACE OR THAT THEY
MIGHT FIND OUT THAT THIS
COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON THE BACKS
OF ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE OR
THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A TEACHER
WHO USES THEY THEM PRONOUNS.
AND WE’VE GOT TO STOP THE
WORLD CHANGE POLICIES IMPACT
EVERYONE TO TRY TO PROTECT
THEM FROM THOSE THINGS. ONE OF
THE END OF THE DAY, THE THING
THAT IS ACTUALLY KILLING THEM
IS GUN VIOLENCE AND OUR
LEADERS HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING. SEE, YOU KNOW,
SUBSTANTIAL TO MAKE IT BETTER
FOR KIDS.
>> REPUBLICAN HAVE SAID THAT
AND BLAMES DEMOCRATS, THE
MEDIA AND WHOEVER FOR
POLITICIZING A MASS SHOOTING.
INSTEAD OF LETTING THESE
FAMILIES GRIEVE AND TRYING TO
FOCUS MORE ON THAT. IN FACT,
TEXAS SENATOR TED BASICALLY
SAID THAT WE’RE TRYING TO
RESTRICT THE CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING
CITIZENS. WHEN YOU HEAR THAT
ARGUMENT OF IT. HOW DO YOU
FEEL? I THINK I FEEL THE SAME
WAY THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
FEELS TIRED OF IT.
>> WE’RE SO TIRED OF LISTENING
TO THE SAME RHETORIC FROM
EMPTY SUITS IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., WHO DON’T WANT TO DO
THEIR JOBS AT THE END OF THE
DAY. THAT’S IT IN ANY OTHER
COUNTRY. IF 19 CHILDREN WERE
GUNNED DOWN. THESE ARE OUR 4TH
GRADERS, BY THE WAY. SO YOU
HAVE TO PICTURE WHAT HAPPENED
THAT DAY. THE 19 FAMILIES SAID
THEIR 10 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN TO
SCHOOL. MAYBE THEY TALKED IN
THE SHEETS ON THEIR BAD AFTER
THAT, MAYBE THEY PUT SOME OF
THEIR CLOTHES IN THE WASHING
MACHINE AFTER THAT, MAYBE THEY
THEN SET OUT OF PLAY FOR THEIR
AFTER SCHOOL SNACK AND THEN
THOSE 19 FAMILIES GOT THE
WORST POSSIBLE MS THAT THEIR
CHILDREN WOULD BE COMING HOME
IN BODY BAGS. I DON’T FIND IT
POLITICAL FOR THIS COUNTRY TO
SAY THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE. WE
NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN
DO TO PROTECT KIDS. I DON’T
FIND A POLITICAL TO SAY WE
NEED TO COME TOGETHER
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE
AND FIND A SOLUTION TO THE GUN
VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC THAT IS
KILLING OUR CHILDREN. THAT IS
NOT POLITICAL TO ME. WHAT IS
POLITICAL IS CONTINUING TO
DOUBLE DOWN ON THE STATUS QUO
AND TELL THE TRAUMATIZED
COUNTRY THAT NOTHING CAN BE
DONE OR THAT NOTHING WOULD
WORK TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN
SAFE. IS POLITICAL FOR PEOPLE
LIKE TED CRUZ AND MARCO RUBIO
AND RICK SCOTT TO CONTINUE TO
CHOOSE THE GUN LOBBY AND GUN
MANUFACTURERS OVER THE LIVES
OF THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS. FOR
ME, IT IS POLITICAL FOR THESE
POLITICIANS TO CHOOSE TIME AND
TIME AGAIN. THEIR CAREER
AMBITIONS OVER THE WELL-BEING
AND PHYSICAL SAFETY OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ELECTED THEM.
>> WE’VE ALSO HEARD THAT IT’S
A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. THIS
AND THEN TO HARDEN SCHOOLS.
THAT’S THE ANSWER TO THIS. BUT
THIS ISN’T JUST HAPPENING AND
SCHOOLS RIGHT? AND THE SCHOOLS
HAVE BEEN HARDENED. YEAH. THE
MENTAL HEALTH PART OF THIS.
I’M SURE THAT IS A FACTOR.
WELL, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT’S
ROOTED IN HYPOCRISY. HYPOCRISY
IS THE STRATEGY FOR THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY. AND AGAIN, I
THINK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE TIRED OF IT. IF YOU THINK
MENTAL HEALTH IS A CRISIS,
WHICH I DO, I THINK OUR OUR
SYSTEM OF STRUCTURES FOR
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL
HEALTH CRISES IS IS WOEFULLY
INSUFFICIENT. BUT IF YOU
BELIEVE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS
AT THE CORE OF THE GUN
VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC AND WHY
WOULD YOU NOT BE DOING
EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO
FUNNEL MORE RESOURCES TO SOLVE
THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. IF
YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE REASON
THIS HAPPENS ONLY IN AMERICA,
NOT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD IS
BECAUSE WE HAVE A UNIQUE
CRISIS WITH MENTAL HEALTH,
THEN WHY WOULD YOU NOT BE
PUTTING REAL DOLLARS AND
RESOURCES INTO SOLVING THAT
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS? BUT
INSTEAD THOSE POLITICIANS WHO
HIDE BEHIND THOSE TALKING
POINTS ARE THE FIRST WANTS TO
SLASH BUDGETS THAT THE FIRST
ONE, RICK SCOTT IS THE FIRST
ONE TO REJECT FREE DOLLARS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
EXPAND MEDICAID TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE, THEIR
HEALTH. SO THE HYPOCRISY OF
THE CENTER OF THE STRATEGY IS
ABOUT DEFLECTING LONG ENOUGH
TO WAIT OUT THE CYCLE. IT’S
ABOUT MY RING US IN DEBATING
WHETHER OR NOT IT’S TOO SOON
TO TALK ABOUT IT. AND THEN MY
RING US IN A DEBATE ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT IT’S MENTAL
HEALTH OR THE GUNS. AND AND
THEN BY THE TIME WE FINISHED
THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND AND
COALESCING AROUND A SOLUTION.
THEY’VE ALREADY WAITED OUT THE
NEWS CYCLE, THE HEADLINES AND
MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE AND
THEY’RE NOT BEING HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR REFUSAL
TO ACT IT IN 2018 WHEN FLORIDA
SOME GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION
INCLUDING RED FLAG LAWS THAT
WAS NOT EASY. OBVIOUSLY IN
LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED AT
PARKLAND, YOU WOULD THINK THAT
IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT
WOULD BE
>> A NO-BRAINER. BUT IT TOOK A
LOT. THEY WHAT DID IT TAKE TO
GET TO THAT POINT? RIGHT
THERE? AND SHOULD IT GO EVEN
FURTHER? WELL, IT TOOK.
PASSIONATE, POWERFUL PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY
IMPACTED.
>> I WAS IN SOME OF THOSE
ROOMS WITH LAWMAKERS AND I WAS
THERE ON THE STEPS OF THE
CAPITOL AND WE RALLIED THE
20,000 PEOPLE FOR THOSE COMMON
SENSE GUN SAFETY MEASURES.
>> BUT I THINK WHAT MOVES MOST
WAS THE STORIES OF PARENTS WHO
LOST THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE IN
THE STUDENTS AT PARKLAND, THEY
COULD SEE THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE THEY
SEND THEIR OWN KIDS TO SCHOOL
THEIR KIDS TO COME HOME. THAT
WAS MOVING ENOUGH. ALL OF THE
REST OF THE STARS ALIGNED THAT
THE LEGISLATURE WAS IN SESSION
AT THE TIME, WHICH IS IS
TRICKY IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA. THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO
ARE ON THE BALLOT, INCLUDING
GOVERNOR RICK STENGEL VERNER
RICK SCOTT AND WANTED TO RUN
FOR THE U.S. SENATE AND THEY
MADE A CALCULATION THAT
MOMENT.
>> THAT IT WOULD BE. BETTER
FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING, THEN
TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
DOING NOTHING. AND THEY WERE
MOTIVATED AGAIN BY STUDENTS
AND PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR CHILDREN. BUT AT THE END
OF THE DAY, IT WAS STILL THEIR
OWN POLITICAL AMBITION THAT
ALLOWED THEM TO GET OVER THE
FINISH LINE. AND I’VE SAID ALL
ALONG THAT. OUR STRATEGY TO
APPROACHING THIS HAS TO BE FOR
ONCE TO MAKE THESE POLITICIANS
FEEL THAT THEY WILL BE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING NOTHING.
THEY’RE CONSTANTLY MAKING
CALCULATIONS ABOUT ABOUT HOW
TO PRESERVE THEIR OWN CAREER
AMBITIONS. AT THE SAME TIME
THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, DANGLE
CARROTS IN FRONT OF A STUNNED
TO PLACATE THE THINGS THAT WE
WANT TO SEE DONE. WE HAVE TO
MAKE THEM FEEL POLITICAL
PRESSURE AND ULTIMATELY
POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
DOING NOTHING TO ACTUALLY HAVE
TO LOSE THEIR JOBS IF THEY
CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING. AND YOU
ASKED ME IF IT IF IT WENT FAR
ENOUGH 2018, IT DONE. WE HAVE
A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. BUT
I’LL I’LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE
OF SOMETHING THAT HAS WORKED
IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA SINCE
THEN THE RED FLAG LAW. THE
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT SIGNED
INTO LAW HAS BEEN USED ALMOST
6,000 TIMES IN THE LAST 4
YEARS. ALMOST 6,000 TIMES,
SOMEONE HAS HAD THEIR FIREARMS
TEMPORARILY REMOVED BECAUSE A
COURT FOUND THEM TO BE AND
IMMEDIATE THREAT TO THEMSELVES
OR SOMEONE ELSE. THAT IS A GUN
LAW IN ACTION THAT SAVED
LIVES.
>> NO GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES,
INCLUDING WOLF OF ALSO BEEN
PUSHING FOR A BAN ON ASSAULT
WEAPONS WHICH ARE USED SO
OFTEN IN MASS SHOOTINGS.
>> THIS IS THE WEEKLY ON CLICK, ORLANDO DOT COM WITH JUSTIN WARMOTH. WELCOME BACK.
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 230
MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE U.S.
THIS YEAR AND WE HAVEN’T EVEN
REACHED THE HALFWAY POINT.
HOSPITALS, GROCERY STORES,
SCHOOLS ALL TARGETED AND IT’S
REIGNITING THE PUSH FOR
LAWMAKERS TO PASS GUN CONTROL
LEGISLATION. PRESIDENT BIDEN
CALLING FOR A NUMBER OF
MEASURES TO CURB THE VIOLENCE,
INCLUDING A BAN ON ASSAULT
WEAPONS, SOMETHING PULSE
NIGHTCLUB SURVIVOR BRANDON
WOLF, HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR
OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS. WHAT IS
THE IDEAL GUN CONTROL
LEGISLATION FOR YOU? WHAT WHAT
DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD HAPPEN
IN THIS COUNTRY?
>> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS I’D LIKE TO SEE I’M A
DATA PERSON. SO I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT WORKS. YOU TELL ME THE
DATA IF IT SAVES LIVES. I
THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT.
AND THE DATA IS PRETTY CLEAR
ON THIS. THERE’S ANOTHER
MISCONCEPTION THAT WE DON’T
KNOW WHAT WILL SOLVE OR OR
THAT GUN SAFETY LAWS DON’T
WORK. THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY
FALSE. THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY
INDEPENDENT STUDIES DONE AND
THEY SHOW THIS IT STATES THAT
PASS A SUITE OF LEGISLATION
DESIGNED TO KEEP DANGEROUS
PEOPLE FROM GETTING THEIR
HANDS ON DEADLY WEAPONS. SAVE
LIVES THAT STATES THAT HAVE
ENACTED THINGS LIKE RED FLAG
LAWS AND UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND
AND SAFE STORAGE LAWS. STATES
HAVE ENACTED THOSE POLICIES
HAVE SEEN THEIR HOMICIDE RATES
DECREASE ANYWHERE FROM 25 TO
35%. SO THE DATA TELLS US THAT
IF WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO
TRY TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF
GUN OWNERS AND AT THE SAME
TIME, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WE
KNOW TO BE DANGEROUS, DON’T
GET THEIR HANDS ON WEAPONS
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SAVE
LIVES IN THIS COUNTRY. AND BY
THE WAY, THAT’S NOT JUST MASS
VIOLENCE. THAT IS THE DAILY
GUN VIOLENCE THAT KILLS
ANYWHERE BETWEEN 100 AND 150
PEOPLE A DAY IN THIS COUNTRY.
SO THAT’S WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE
DONE. I’D LIKE TO SEE U.S.
START WITH WHERE THE DATA
TELLS US TO START. IF WE PASS
A SUITE OF LEGISLATION IN THIS
COUNTRY AIMED AT MAKING SURE
DANGEROUS PEOPLE DON’T GET
THEIR HANDS ON GUNS. WE WILL
SAVE LIVES TOMORROW.
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID
GOVERNOR DESANTIS BEFORE HE
LEAVES OFFICE, HE WOULD LIKE
TO SIGN INTO LAW FOR
FLORIDIANS TO BE ABLE TO KERRY
CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY. IS THAT
GOING BACKWARDS? THE
GOVERNOR’S OBSESSION.
>> WITH APPEASING HIS RIGHT
WING BASE. IS MAKING FLORIDA
THE LESS SAFE PLACE FOR ALL OF
US.
>> PERMITLESS CARRY.
>> IS.
>> NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANY OF
THE PROBLEMS THAT WE’RE FACING
WITH GUN VIOLENCE. WE’VE BEEN
TOLD FOR A LONG TIME THAT MORE
GUNS ARE THE ANSWER THAT IF
THERE WAS JUST A GOOD GUY WITH
A GUN THAT THEY COULD STOP THE
BAD GUY WITH A GUN. NEVER MIND
THAT THERE WERE 19 GOOD GUYS
WITH GUNS STANDING IN A
HALLWAY IN TEXAS WAITING FOR
SOMEONE TO TELL THEM TO OPEN
THE DOOR. BUT THERE WAS JUST A
20TH GOOD GUY. MAYBE THEN ALL
OF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING THAT
EXPERIMENT, OUR CHILDREN FOR A
REALLY LONG TIME. AND IT’S NOT
WORKING. THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS THIS. WE HAVE MORE
GUNS PER CAPITA IN THIS
COUNTRY THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY
ON THE PLANET. AND IT’S NOT
EVEN CLOSE. SO IF MORE GUNS
WERE GOING TO MAKE US SAFER,
IF EASIER ACCESS TO FIREARMS
WAS GOING TO MAKE US SAFER IN
THIS COUNTRY, WE WOULD HAVE
THE LOWEST VIOLENT CRIME RATE
ON EARTH AND WE DON’T IT
SIMPLY DOES NOT MAKE US SAFER
TO PUT GUNS ON EVERY STREET
CORNER TO HAVE SOMEBODY BUYING
AN ASSAULT RIFLE WHILE OVER
FROM THE PRODUCE. THAT DOESN’T
MAKE US SAFER IN THIS COUNTRY
AND QUITE FRANKLY, GOVERNOR
DESANTIS DOESN’T CARE FOR HIM.
IT’S NOT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE PHYSICAL OR
MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR HIS
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT WINNING
RACES AND BEING PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES EVER SINCE
HE GOT A WITH OF HIS OWN
SUPPLY. HE GOT THIS. THIS IDEA
IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD OR
SOMEBODY WHISPERED TO HIM THAT
HE COULD BE PRESIDENT SOMEDAY.
HE HAS SCREECHED HARD RIGHT?
HE’S PULLED OUR STATE POLITICS
DOWN INTO THE EXTREMIST GOT OR
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE
OF THOSE THINGS, AN INSULT TO
INJURY AND THEN ESPECIALLY
INSULT TO INJURY IN THIS
MOMENT AS WE FACE HORRIBLE
MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE ONE IN
TEXAS.
>> AR ARE IN A NUMBER OF THESE
MASS SHOOTINGS. AND I THINK IT
POINTS TO THE POWER OF THESE
WEAPONS WHEN. THE POLICE
OFFICERS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN UVALDE RETREATED AND DID
NOT ENTER BECAUSE THE GUNMEN
HAD AN AR 15. THAT’S RIGHT.
AND THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH
THE POWER THAT THAT GUN HAS.
SHOULD THAT BE ABLE TO BE
PURCHASED LEGALLY IN THIS
COUNTRY? I DON’T BELIEVE SO. I
THINK WE NEED TO BAN ASSAULT
WEAPONS AND HIGH CAPACITY
MAGAZINES IN THIS COUNTRY. AND
I KNOW THAT THAT’S
>> CONTROVERSIAL FOR PEOPLE.
MY OWN PARENTS OWN AIR, 15
STYLE WEAPONS. AND THAT IS A
CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC FOR US
OVER THANKSGIVING DINNER. BUT
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IN
IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, THOSE
WEAPONS ARE CAUSING INCREDIBLE
DAMAGE THERE. SHATTERING
COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE RIPPING
WORLDS APART. IT HAPPENED HERE
IN ORLANDO. THE WEAPON USED AT
POLLS WAS A SIG SAUER MCX
WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED THE NEXT
GENERATION AR 15. THESE
WEAPONS ARE INCREDIBLY
DANGEROUS AND THEY ARE
DESIGNED TO KILL AS MANY
PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I DON’T THINK THEY BELONG ON
OUR STREETS. I CERTAINLY DON’T
THINK THEY BELONG IN A PLACE
FOR SOMEONE CAN STROLL IN AND
WALK OUT WITH 1, 5 MINUTES
LATER, WE’VE DONE SOME WORK
AROUND THAT IN YOU KNOW,
CHANGING SOME OF THE LAWS ARE
WAITING PERIODS AND AND THE
AGE OF PURCHASE, I THINK AND I
SUPPORT A FULL BAN ON ASSAULT
WEAPONS AND HIGH CAPACITY AND
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY TO
DO THOSE. THOSE THINGS ARE ARE
POPULAR. THEY’RE BROADLY
POPULAR. IS IT DOABLE, THOUGH,
THAT ACTIONABLE? IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT REALISTICALLY?
I MEAN, YOU WOULD THINK THAT
SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD’VE
BEEN IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY
AFTER SANDY HOOK RIGHT? WELL,
A NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS HAVE
HAPPENED SINCE PULLS INCLUDING
A PARKLAND, INCLUDING BUFFALO,
A WEEK BEFORE UVALDE. YEAH. IS
THAT I MEAN, WHAT’S YOUR
CONFIDENCE LEVEL ON THAT?
WELL, IT’S NOT GOING HAPPEN
TOMORROW. AND I THINK WE KNOW
THE REASON THERE’S A
FASCINATING BOOK THAT I READ
CALLED THE GUNNING OF AMERICA
BY PAMELA HEAD. I THINK IT’S
HER LAST NAME AND SHE TALKS
ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF AMERICA’S
OBSESSION WITH FIREARM
OWNERSHIP. AND MOST PEOPLE
HAVE THIS IDEA OF THE WILD
WILD WEST WHERE YOU KNOW WHAT
A GUN WAS, WHAT SORT OF
INTRINSICALLY LINKED WITH OUR
AMERICAN IDENTITY AND TO OWN
ONE, MAKE SURE PATRIOT AND A
REAL MAN. AND THAT’S ACTUALLY
A FABRICATION AND THE CREATION
OF MARKETING THAT POST WORLD
WAR, ONE GUN MANUFACTURERS
CREATED A NEW MARKETING SCHEME
TO BE ABLE TO SELL THIS GLUT
OF FIREARMS THAT THEY HAD
CREATED TO A SOCIETY THAT WAS
BEGINNING TO ORGANIZE AND
PEOPLE LIVING IN CITIES DIDN’T
SEE A NEED TO HAVE A GUN IN
THE SAME WAY THAT THEY DID
WHEN THEY WERE LIVING IN THE
COUNTRY. THEY SAW THAT TIME
GUNS AS PRACTICAL TOOLS,
RIGHT? AS AS TOOLS OF HUNTING
IN PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY.
AND SO GUN MANUFACTURERS GOT
TOGETHER AND THEY BEGAN
MARKETING WEAPONS TO TEENAGE
BOYS AND CREATING THIS IDEA
THAT THAT A GUN WAS NOT SIMPLY
TO BE USED BUT WAS SOMETHING
TO FALL IN LOVE WITH. THAT HAS
TAKEN ROOT IN THIS COUNTRY AND
GUN MANUFACTURERS AND THE GUN
LOBBY HAVE CONTINUED TO USE
THAT CULTURE OF OBSESSION WITH
GUNS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON SELLING
MORE GUNS TO PEOPLE AND AND
THEY HAVE HOLY PURCHASE
CONGRESS IN THE PROCESS.
YOU’VE GOT A NUMBER OF
POLITICIANS, WHETHER IT’S ON
THE STATE LEVEL OR THE FEDERAL
LEVEL THAT ARE BEHOLDEN TO THE
GUN MANUFACTURERS AND THE GUN
LOBBY BECAUSE THEIR ENTIRE
REELECTION CAMPAIGNS RELY ON
DOLLARS FROM THOSE INDUSTRIES.
AND SO WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO
IT, WHO ARE THEY GOING TO
CHOOSE? I THINK IT SHOWS THE
19 CHILDREN WAITING TO BE
SAVED IN A CLASSROOM IN
UVALDE. ARE THEY GOING TO
CHOOSE THEIR REELECTION BID?
AND AS WE’VE SEEN, THEY’RE
GOING TO CHOOSE EVERY ELECTION
THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT
THING IS BEING HELD OVER THEIR
HEADS BY GUN MANUFACTURERS AND
THE GUN LOBBY. SO THAT’S
WHAT’S PREVENTING US FROM
GETTING SOMETHING LIKE AN
ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN OVER THE
FINISH LINE TOMORROW. BUT I
REALLY DO SINCERELY HOPE AND
BELIEVE THAT THIS MOVEMENT
THAT’S BUILDING ON THE GROUND
LEVEL IS GOING TO CHANGE
SOMETHING. THINK ABOUT THE
2020 ELECTION CYCLE FOR A
MOMENT. PRESIDENT BIDEN RAN
OPENLY ON WANTING TO BAN
ASSAULT WEAPONS. HE RAN OPENLY
ON WANTING RED FLAG LAWS
NATIONALLY ON ON WANTING TO
TALK ABOUT THE AGE OF PURCHASE
HUMAN OPENLY ON PROBABLY THE
MOST PROGRESSIVE GUN SAFETY
PLATFORM THAT WE’VE SEEN IN
DECADES. HE WAS ONLY ABLE TO
DO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A
GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT FOR GUN
SAFETY MEASURES IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT IS RESISTING THE
KIND OF POLITICAL GRIDLOCK
THAT’S HAPPENING WASHINGTON,
D.C., IN 2016, HILLARY CLINTON
WAS NOT ABLE TO RUN ON THAT
KIND OF A PLATFORM. SHE WAS
TOLD THAT IF SHE TALKED ABOUT
GUNS IN THAT WAY, SHE WOULD
AND IN TWENTY-TWENTY PRESIDENT
BIDEN WAS ABLE TO BRING THAT
INTO THE POLITICAL ZEITGEIST
BECAUSE OF THE GROUND SWELL
THAT WE HAVE CREATED. I’M
HOPEFUL THAT THAT GROUNDSWELL
LEADS TO POLICY CHANGE.
>> NOW WE’RE JUST A WEEK AWAY
FROM MARKING 6 YEARS SINCE A
GUNMAN TOOK 49 LIVES AT PULSE
NIGHTCLUB ON NEXT SUNDAY’S
EPISODE, WOLF WILL REFLECT ON
THE TRAGEDY. THE CHALLENGES HE
AND OTHER SURVIVORS HAVE DEALT
WITH AND THE EMOTIONS HE FEELS
WHEN ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING
HAPPENS IN OUR COUNTRY. WE
HOPE TO SEE YOU THEN. I’M
JUSTIN WARMOTH. WE’LL HAVE A