Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Feinstein, Johnson debate stricter gun control

Details

  • Description

    Key lawmakers on 'Fox News Sunday'

  • Duration 10:11
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Joining us now to discuss what happened in Colorado on whether there is any better way to protect Americans from a twisted mind.

Our senator Dianne Feinstein a long time advocate of stricter gun control.

And senator Ron Johnson a strong supporter of gun rights senators welcome back to Fox News and Chris -- senate to find some let's start with a big picture another case of -- slaughtering innocent people on a college campus in a restaurant now in a movie theater.

What are your thoughts.

My thoughts -- this pure and simple.

Weapons of -- don't belong on the streets.

This is a powerful weapon he had a hundred round -- rom.

This is a man who planned it who win Ian and his purpose was to kill this many people as he could.

In a sold out theater.

I think you know we've got to sit down and really come to grips with what is sold to the average citizen in America.

I have no problem with people being licensed.

Buying a firearm.

But these are weapons that your only going to be used and to kill people in close combat that's the purpose of that weapon.

You can put -- hellfire switch on it you can fire semiautomatic.

Very rapidly.

This drum was huge she had a hundred bullets in it and he went out to kill a lot of people.

I think.

That these weapons ought to be stopped.

I think the sale and transfer that's what my bill did for ten years since my bill expired.

What happened was there in his -- weapons -- assault weapons ban there have been 452.

Instances.

650.

People have been shot.

300 have died of that of those 650.

And it's unnecessary.

They bring in senator Johnson the Supreme Court.

Has has spoken the constitution means what it says when it says that Americans.

Have a right to bear arms but but let's look at this case does the suspect.

James -- does we have -- constitutional right.

To buy an a to commit this kind of slaughter for smokers.

This is horrible tragedy in our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and and -- new aura.

The fact matter is though is he's a -- the demented.

Evil individual and unfortunately.

You I don't think society can keep sick demented individuals from obtaining any type of weapon.

To kill people I mean somebody who wants to purposely harming other individual is gonna find a method of doing it and -- Case -- point.

If you want to kill people that theater what was the first -- -- did he walked in those doors and he threw some incendiary devices he -- made some other kind of explosive this this is an issue about guns.

This this is just really an issue about sick demented individuals and it's a tragedy -- -- I don't I don't think there's a solution here in Washington solve this problem.

I was gonna ask you about that I mean what.

Is there anything that we as a society can do to protect ourselves.

From these kind of twisted minds.

You know unfortunately I don't believe so -- -- I wish there was I wish I could wave a magic wand and make this tragedy go away.

I -- -- to wave a magic wand passed a law to prevent something like this in the future.

But but the but the fact matters I really don't think there is all of them look to our families -- to our communities.

Secular education system you know we've got re instill values and in in what we're teach your children.

And -- a Feinstein you were a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors back in 1978.

When one of your former colleagues and we got some of the -- film here one of your former colleague shot and killed the mayor.

And as well as throughout fellow supervisor Harvey Milk and -- been a strong supporter of gun control -- sense but most.

Of your fellow Democrats have deserted you on this issue over the last twenty years how -- Well it's very very hard issue.

Because the gun organizations go out to defeat.

People in states where they can and they pour a lot of money and and some people lost office after they voted for the legislation before.

But you know I have respect for senator Johnson.

But let me say this I believe people use these weapons because they can get them.

I believe that a revolver.

A rifle.

A shotgun isn't going to do the damage it's the big clips.

It's a hundred rounds.

You cannot get to him -- to -- -- the gun because he can fire so rapidly and has so many bullets.

Why do you need this you don't need it for hunting.

Most states have limits on the number of -- you can have a clip he don't need it for self defense.

Why do you need it.

Why do we make it available -- -- -- but it's a little bit to very good question and not any of the -- they let me -- senator Johnson answered my billion need.

For production criminals will always be able to get correct -- what are what are they -- -- relaxed mean for for example I mean.

The left -- use the term assault rifles -- the really talking ball semi automatic weapons that really are used -- hunting that's what happens in Wisconsin these these are.

You know do rifles -- people use in hunting.

And just the fact the matter is is that this this really is not an issue of guns again we're talking about sick people doing things that you simply can't prevent.

It's really an issue of freedom.

And I I not I swore an oath to defend the constitution.

And part of that constitution's Second Amendment which guarantees a right to bear arms and these tax laws.

Infringe upon that right -- I just.

I don't -- and let me ask you -- mean and we're not talking about handguns but it does something that would limit.

Magazines and carry -- under rounds without infringe on the constitutional right.

I believe so we know what the people will talk about I'm usually lethal weapons -- mean that could be potentially discussion you can have.

But the fact the matter is there are there are magazines thirty round magazines and just common all over the place.

You can you simply can't keep these weapons out of the hands of sick demented individuals wanna do harm -- -- when he trying do it you restrict our freedom leaflet.

Around on you because I've heard.

More and more people surprising number of people to me in the last couple of days say the problem isn't too many guns it's too few.

And that if somebody in that theater had been armed.

They could have stopped -- stuck with -- -- -- Stop the carnage.

At -- taken down the shooter and defended themselves to bring about.

Well it's it's only one at one of the rational behind concealed carry.

Where criminals actually have fuel concerned before they commit criminal act that maybe somebody could stop them and I think that's better as the truth that if somebody.

Be responsible individual had been carrying a weapon may be may be.

-- -- -- You prevent some -- deaths some rules some those injuries and that's just the truth.

And maybe you could have had a fire fight and killed many more people.

These are people in the theater -- but this and I hurt you had a massive prison was with -- -- -- that's right that's right because he had such a big clip.

Now what if somebody had had a gun and been able to stop stop I would be very surprised if Connors in your state -- with a hundred round.

Ammunition feeding devices.

Eight in the bill idea that we exempted 375.

Rifles and shotguns.

By name so that no weapon used for hunting.

It was was affected at all it's just the military style assault weapon but the result.

-- -- -- It it didn't solve any problems and we've had bands here and in Washington DC with head -- in Chicago and you could argue statistics.

But -- -- to success and I say it has no measurable affect you could actually -- it's made matters worse and I saw some -- -- our rights are.

But I don't want against us into statistics we are talking about basic freedoms in the constitution Second Amendment.

And I just I'm a strong defender -- -- that prostitution.

I -- talk about the politics of this get back to -- you senator Feinstein the Brady.

Gun control campaign named after James Brady Reagan's Press Secretary was shot during.

The assassination attempt in 1981 has given President Obama and asked for his failure to lead on this issue and on Friday.

The day of the shooting Jay Carney the white house press deter secretary came out said.

He's going to offer no new policy as a result of the shoot.

Be disappointed the president.

-- I would hope that there would be and -- were a saying national conversation.

On guns.

President elect -- President Bush said he supported.

The continuation of the assault weapons legislation.

President.

Obama.

Mr.

Romney I think they should give -- a lot of consideration.

I think this is a bad time to -- -- new subject.

But.

There has been no action there has been no action because there's no been no outrage out there people haven't rallied forward they today.

-- when I did the legislation.

I had Lloyd Bentsen secretary of the treasury standing with me.

Chiefs of police police officers sheriff's.

Because one out of five police officers has killed with the salt weapon there was a tremendous amount of support and even then it was very.

Tough so it's a lot tougher now.

Because the gun organizations have become so strong.

I'm gonna give you the final word senator Johnson are these massacres.

Horrible as they are in and people -- much and looking for solutions.

Are they just a fact of life and death in America.

Well.

I can't say it but the problem -- Aaron and listen I understand senator Feinstein is seen gun violence up close and personal I don't darker and sincerity for a moment.

But I also I really would hate to see a tragedy like this used -- political agenda.

To reduce americans' freedom enough of our freedoms of our have been taken away -- -- -- anymore.

But certainly that -- senator Feinstein senator Johnson want to thank you both very much for coming in today to discuss.

Unfortunately another one of these terrible massacres thank you --

Load More