5:00 IN NEW YORK CITY, AND THIS
IS "THE FIVE."
>> HOW CAN THESE FAMILIES
CONTINUE TO HONOR THESE DEATHS
BY KEEPING THE DREAMS OF THESE
CHILDREN AND TEACHERS ALIVE?
AGAIN, HOW CAN A LOSS OF THESE
LIVES MATTER?
SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IS
DIFFERENT.
UVALDE, TEXAS, WHERE I WAS BORN.
UVALDE IS WHERE I LEARNED
RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.
UVALDE CALLED ME ON MAY 24th
WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE
DEVASTATING STRATEGY.
>> MATTHEW MCCONAUGHY MAKING A
PASSIONATE PLEA FOR GUN CONTROL,
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OF THE
VICTIMS OF THE MASS SHOOTING AT
ROB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER
MEETING WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND
CALLING ON LAWMAKERS TO ACT.
>> WE NEED TO INVEST IN MENTAL
HEALTHCARE.
WE NEED SAFER SCHOOLS.
WE NEED TO RESTRAIN
SENSATIONALIZED MEDIA COVERAGE.
WE NEED TO RESTORE OUR FAMILY
VALUES.
WE NEED TO RESTORE OUR AMERICAN
VALUES.
AND WE RESPONSIBLE GUN
OWNERSHIP.
RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.
WE NEED BACKGROUND CHECKS.
WE NEED TO RAISE THE MINIMUM AGE
TO PURCHASE AN AR-15 RIFLE TO
21.
WE NEED A WAITING PERIOD FOR
THOSE RIFLES.
WE NEED RED FLAG LAWS AND
CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO ABUSE
THEM.
RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS ARE FED
UP WITH THE SECOND AMENDMENT
BEING ABUSED AND HIJACKED BY
SOME DERANGED INDIVIDUALS.
>> THE ACTOR ALSO IMPLORING
CONGRESS TO FIND SOME MIDDLE
GROUND.
>> WE GOT TO GET SOME REAL
COURAGE AND HONOR OUR IMMORAL
OBLIGATIONS AND INSTEAD OF OUR
PARTY AFFILIATIONS.
ENOUGH WITH THE COUNTERPUNCHING.
ENOUGH OF THE INVALIDATION OF
THE OTHER SIDE.
JUST COME TO THE COMMON TABLE
THAT REPRESENTS THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
FIND A MIDDLE GROUND, THE PLACE
WHERE MOST OF US AMERICANS LIVE
ANYWAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT OF
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHY SHOWING UP TO
THE BRIEFING ROOM WILL BE, IF
ANYTHING?
>> FIRST, I’VE GOTTEN TO KNOW
MATTHEW AND HIS WIFE AND FAMILY,
AND HE’S A SINCERE PERSON.
YOU KNOW, HE GENUINELY CARES
ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.
HE CARES ABOUT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
SO I THINK THIS MESSAGE WAS
DELIVERED IN THAT SPIRIT.
I HOPE IT’S RECEIVED IN THAT WAY
AS WELL.
I COMPLETELY AGREE.
WE DO HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A
COUNTRY.
I THINK THERE’S COMMON GROUND
THAT CAN BE HAD WHERE I THINK WE
ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
CRIMINALS AND THOSE WHO
SHOULDN’T HAVE THEIR HANDS ON
GUNS DON’T, AND THAT WE DO NOT
IN ANY WAY UNDERMINE OUR SECOND
AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THOSE
LAW-ABIDING AMERICAN CITIZENS
WHO OWN GUNS SHOULD NOT SEE
THEIR GUNS TAKEN AWAY.
>> JUDGE, DO YOU THINK THE
THINGS THAT HE LAID OUT JUST
NOW, RAISING IT TO 21, GETTING
RID OF SENSATIONALIZED MEDIA
COVERAGE, RED FLAG LAWS, FAMILY
VALUES, DO YOU THINK THOSE ARE A
MIDDLE GROUND IN THE UNITED
STATES?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK IT WAS DELIVERED
BRILLIANTLY.
WHAT HE DID WAS, HE HAD BOTH THE
INTELLECTUAL AS WELL AS THE
EMOTIONAL PIECES COMBINED.
HE DID IT IN A WAY -- AND I
QUESTIONED WHAT HE WAS DOING IN
THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM, I
REALLY DID, BUT THEN I REALIZED
HE DID IT BETTER THAN ANYONE
FROM CONGRESS OR CERTAINLY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
COULD DO.
AND HE PRESENTED THINGS TO MAKE
EVERYONE FEEL THAT THEY WERE
VESTED IN THIS.
I THINK HE EMBARRASSED CONGRESS,
WHEN HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT,
THERE’S NO REASON WHY WE CAN’T
RESTORE FAMILY VALUES, AMERICAN
VALUES, RESPONSIBLE GUN
OWNERSHIP.
HE PROTECTED THE SECOND
AMENDMENT.
HE RECOGNIZED THAT MENTAL HEALTH
IS AN ISSUE.
HE WAS BRILLIANT.
HE WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
BY THE WAY, WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT
RED FLAG, WHICH IS THE DIFFICULT
PILL TO SWALLOW FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE, HE TALKED ABOUT
CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE WHO ABUSE
IT.
SO IF YOU CLAIM SOMEONE IS DOING
SOMETHING, AND YOU’RE WRONG, YOU
DO IT OUT OF VICIOUSNESS, YOU
NEED TO BE PROSECUTED.
>> YEAH, YOU COULD DROP A DIME
ON SOMEONE YOU HATED JUST TO
HAVE THEM INVESTIGATED, AND TAKE
THEIR GUNS AWAY.
>> I’M GOING TO DO THAT TO YOU
FIRST-CHANCE I GET.
>> YOU WOULD.
I’M A STEP AHEAD OF YOU,
THOUGH,.
>> I KNOW, I KNOW.
>> SOMEBODY IS WAITING OUTSIDE,
GREG.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I DID NOT SEE THAT AS
ANYTHING ABOUT GUN CONTROL.
I SAW THAT AS ABOUT THE UNITED
STATES.
I FELT THAT HE HAD STEPPED BACK.
IT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE’VE BEEN
SAYING, YOU’VE HEARD ALL OF
THOSE THINGS HERE AT THIS TABLE
ABOUT A MULTIFACETED APPROACH,
BUT HALF OF THE COUNTRY OR HALF
OF THE PEOPLE DON’T LISTEN TO US
BECAUSE WE’RE IN OUR SILOS.
HE HAS THE BENEFIT OF BEING
OUTSIDE THE SILOS.
HE’S UNTETHERED TO ANY IDEOLOGY.
YOU CAN’T GUESS WHICH WAY HE’S
ZIGGING OR ZAGGING HALF THE
TIME.
WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT MIDDLE
GROUND, HE’S COMING FROM A
POSITION OF GOOD FAITH.
HE’S PERSUADING AS SOMEBODY WHO
CAN APPEAL TO BOTH SIDES.
I MEAN, HE ACTUALLY WENT -- HE
DID THE HOMEWORK.
HE WENT OUT AND TALKED TO BOTH
SIDES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T DO THAT
ANYMORE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.
IT WASN’T ABOUT GUN CONTROL.
HE WAS SHOWING HOW ALL THESE
THINGS ARE INTERCONNECTED.
WHEN HE SAID THOSE TWO THINGS,
YOU KNOW, POPPED OUT, WHEN HE
SAID RESTRAIN, SENSATIONAL MEDIA
COVERAGE, HE’S SPEAKING MY
LANGUAGE, BUT IT’S COMBINED WITH
THE RESTORING OF FAMILY VALUES.
HE’S BASICALLY SAYING WE’RE
CREATING BROKEN KIDS, RIGHT?
THEN THEY ARE BEING AMPLIFIED BY
A BROKEN MEDIA.
AND THESE THINGS ALL COME
TOGETHER.
AND HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
SECURING SCHOOLS.
THAT’S ANOTHER PART OF IT.
HE’S ABLE TO DO SOMETHING
THAT -- LIKE WE COULD TALK ABOUT
THIS FOREVER.
WE’RE ONLY SPEAKING TO THE
CHOIR.
HE CAN BOUNCE FROM CHURCH TO
CHURCH AND PEOPLE PRETTY MUCH
GO, OH, HE’S A MOVIE STAR, HE’S
A MOVIE STAR.
HE’S NOT.
HE’S RARE IN THAT HE ACTUALLY --
LIKE HE’S NOT A GUY WHO TWEETS
ON TWITTER OR SOMETHING WHEN IT
HAPPENS.
LIKE YOU CAN TELL, HOPES AND
PRAYERS, TO GO TO HELL.
HE ACTUALLY DOES THE HOMEWORK.
THAT’S WHY YOU CAN TRUST HIM,
RIGHT?
SEE, THE THING IS, ONE THING HE
SAID -- AND I’LL SHUT UP -- HE
WAS TALKING ABOUT -- IT WAS A
GREAT TWIST.
HE WAS TIRED OF THE SECOND
AMENDMENT BEING HIJACKED BY MAD
MAD MEN.
THAT WAS A NICE TWIST.
YOU EXPECTED HIM TO SAY GUN
CONTROL FREAKS OR MADMEN.
HE DIDN’T ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE,
BUT IT’S IN THERE, THAT THE
OTHER SIDE LOOKS AT ALL GUN
OWNERS THE SAME.
THAT’S WHAT CREATES THE
MISTRUST, THAT WE’RE ALL PAINTED
AS REDNECKS IN THE BACK OF
PICKUP TRUCKS, TRAILING PEOPLE
AROUND, VIGILANTES.
WHAT HE WAS SAYING, OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF GUN OWNERS ARE
RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS.
THAT WAS A CLEVER AND SMART
MOVE.
THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD TAKE
THAT, EVERYTHING HE SAID, BUILD
A BILL, AND BEAT THE DEMOCRATS,
IF YOU WANT TO GET POLITICAL
ABOUT IT.
>> YEAH.
MAYBE TOMORROW HE’LL COME OUT
AND DO A PRESS BRIEFING ON GAS
PRICES.
>> SO IT’S INTERESTING,
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU -- YOU AGREE
WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU’VE
SAID.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A DIFFERENT
MESSENGER, BECAUSE EVERYBODY --
ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO
BE SAID ON THIS HAVE BEEN SAID.
PEOPLE ARE TUNING OUT THE
PRESIDENT.
EVEN THE PRESS SECRETARY, RIGHT?
SO SHE -- SHE COULDN’T DELIVER
A MESSAGE LIKE THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU MENTIONED HOW
GENUINE HE IS, SO THAT
AUTHENTICITY COMES THROUGH.
AND HE ALSO WAS TALKING ABOUT
HIS HOMETOWN.
HE KNOWS THOSE PEOPLE.
LIKE WHEN CALIFORNIA FIRST
STARTED GOING DOWNHILL, IT’S
SUPER PERSONAL TO YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, FOR
YOU AND THE MILITARY, FOR ME
RANCHERS AND FARMERS.
>> JESSE AND HIS HAIR.
>> I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF ONE
FOR HIM.
I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, WITH
CHILDREN.
LIKE WHEN YOU TALK PASSIONATELY
ABOUT CHILDREN.
SO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IN
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHY CAN SAY, "HERE’S MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE."
"HERE’S MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE."
INYOU NEED SOMEBODY THAT CAN SAY
WE KNOW THERE’S A VAST CENTER,
AND THAT THEY FEEL THEY’RE NOT
BEING HEARD, THEY DON’T HAVE A
VOICE, BECAUSE THERE ARE
EXTREMES ON BOTH SIDES THAT ARE
GETTING MOST OF THE MEDIA
ATTENTION.
SO IT’S VERY -- UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES VERY INTERESTING.
I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE MADE A
GOOD DECISION, EITHER BY
INVITING HIM, OR MAYBE ACCEPTING
HIS REQUEST TO COME.
I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THAT
HAPPENED.
IT WAS A GOOD THING TO DO.
>> BY THE WAY, HOW DID YOU MEET
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHY?
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> IT WAS GREAT.
I HAD DINNER WITH HIM AND HIS
WIFE AND KIDS.
IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL.
THEY WERE OUT IN HAWAII.
WONDERFUL FAMILY TRADITIONS.
EVERYONE GOING AROUND THE TABLE
AND SAYING WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL
FOR, THE KIDS.
AND THEY SURF A LOT.
THE KIDS LOVE TO SURF.
THEY SPEND A BIT OF TIME OUT IN
HAWAII.