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Do we need stricter gun laws?

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    Colorado shooting tragedy reopens gun control debate

  • Duration 7:42
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As we get our first look at the suspected -- or -- mass murderer James homes since Friday shootings.

Some gun control advocates are renewing calls for tougher gun laws.

But is that really the answer.

Joining me now for Paramount debate -- -- Fox News contributor and -- -- and former deputy assistant to president George W.

Bush.

I mean I think our viewers all take this very seriously and -- and -- -- -- to start with.

Everyone -- for answers and we -- something like this you wanna find something because you wanna make yourself feel like you can have control and you can make it stop you can prevent it from happening again.

So that's I think you know the motivation for people saying maybe it's the gun laws maybe we -- -- We can't just start passing laws -- that that don't necessarily solve the problem and restrict people's freedoms as written into the constitution.

One of the stats show Brett it -- are stricter gun laws.

When their past do they reduce gun violence today reduce murder rate.

It's they don't we've seen it in in Washington DC -- in the strictest gun laws on the books with regard to handguns and other guns.

And the Supreme Court -- that we've seen it in California by the strictest gun laws verses mean that have the weakest Maine had a better.

Record of gun violence -- California to.

So the laws and -- number self are not going to bring down gun violence unfortunately we've seen that I'm the victim of gun violence I was.

The victim a botched kidnapping when I was eighteen and -- an -- -- at our house but might.

My feelings towards gun control hasn't changed since that I believe that people have an ultimate constitutional right and the Second Amendment.

To bear arms and the question is are you gonna let the rights of its super minority trump the rights of the majority.

Sally and in his case in this case Jennifer -- -- an action that -- -- -- this election she says he went in there with a Remington shotgun Smith & Wesson.

And if -- assault rifle and a Glock forty caliber handgun.

Apparently they believe he first used a shotgun.

He then began using the assault rifle which jammed with -- resorted to hand got her point is how many how many have died or been shot before he ever got to the semi automatic.

Weapon -- point which is the one that -- gun advocates are really focused on right now that any -- as we -- and he got known denounced.

We -- them until two of course any -- can be damaging and put into and look.

First of all let me just say as I know we are it's tragic that we're here having this conversation again in America and we all want to forget what we can do to prevent it.

And -- and there is no -- and has no single answer to any of this.

But here's what we do know we know.

That for instance in Massachusetts which has the most restrictive gun laws in the nation.

It has the second lowest crime rate of any state first well -- I don't think -- -- -- the -- we know that gun laws we know that look at the United States as a whole.

If you compare -- to the other 22 wealthiest nations in the world -- take their conduct.

Add them together multiply them by twenty and then you get to next -- -- right and -- their gun death rate the only difference to our country.

And those other countries is are lax gun laws and.

I'm not -- is out there.

Is that true because of the culture has evolved our society that collapse of the mental health system in many ways and this is what the other -- which -- -- It's not the only day I don't believe were violent nation -- I mean let's -- about -- -- mental health facilities right I mean don't you believe that it whether guns are also to blame rate that the gun laws I should say.

But the mental health system has to be part of this discussion rather.

There's there's no question about it and the fact is nobody sounded the alarm sufficient enough on this individual that we can give cause to believe that he should be receiving.

The kinds of weapons that that he was.

Legally.

Entitled to.

But here's but here's the problem DOJ did a study consultants.

And and so that weapons and they found -- felt that weapons -- possible they could even maker -- -- against the violence.

I have to say look they're always gonna be sick people you're right but we don't have to make -- so easy.

For them to do awful that is an -- don't wanna listen to me on this the NRA members 80% of -- members have said that they believe in common sense gun laws like.

Background checks like the fact that people who are on the terrorist watch list shouldn't be able to get access to guns -- currently the NRA support.

Colorado under and -- pressure just voted to repeal its background tracks we don't have.

Have to make it so easy in this country.

For people we can respect the rights of people hunt -- this and what family background I don't have to take it so check he had no don't agree that we don't eat it look at that gun had jammed.

Fifty to sixty rounds per minute it shouldn't be that easy in this country -- but that's -- the response.

-- -- is that he would he was determined to kill somebody who booby traps is apartment -- -- so -- he was determined to -- he would have brought in more handguns he would've brought in more weaponry.

And and by stiffening the laws do we just deprive you know -- all legitimate gun owners of their rights but let me ask you Brad on the assault -- and it is important this guy about 6000.

Let me put up the list of the things that he bought over the past year.

Hold -- okay.

This is over the past four months a Glock handgun an 87.

NAR fifteen assault rifle another Glock handgun.

At present a different -- 6000 brands of ammunition a Kevlar helmet gas mask a tactical bullet resistant -- bulletproof leggings and -- and right protector.

If there had -- some sort of centralized you know somebody who checks.

People court amassing firearms or weaponry and at an alarming rates.

Here's somebody who looks into what somebody who pulls aside from mental health and I just some some more regulatory layer.

Correct get a nice it would have been -- black.

I just 20/20 we have -- yet to be seen whether or not that that time period is that short.

Which would have triggered.

An inquiry do we want our country.

And and violating the rights of privacy on these type of inquiries.

For legal.

Products that are sold.

These are really -- I don't and I'm not saying -- of a tragedy like this we don't look and examine the loss that we have to see if they're reasonable restrictions have to be done.

But a knee jerk reaction to it to the type of of rhetoric we're hearing.

I -- from from Saddam -- say.

It's because of the assault it's we don't have an assault ban or our guns are too easy to get that's the problem because this guy never -- -- signs of somebody who should be entitled.

Two weapons that everybody else has officially -- and is legally using up.

Where we seem to agree if you don't make policy based on one incident -- we look across the -- -- new -- the fact that Virginia Tech Arizona all of these shootings.

Did have mental health elements and if there had been a background check system in place.

The gun owners overwhelmingly support and that the NRA is posing.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Make it so easy in this country to get.

Massive but.

-- semiautomatic what again that we.

We have to take the facts.

Based on the incidents and the facts suggest.

Overwhelmingly.

That there's such a small -- -- -- -- amount of people who -- gun violence -- why -- why they punish -- -- The many for the acts of a few.

At a I don't think and I got to go mentioning the semiautomatic -- -- -- -- at least have to show an idea to get one well but there's a question by a lot of people saying wouldn't be it would have been nice -- something that.

The theater had been armed with a roomful of tear gas and crowded theater come -- it would have been works really there were a lot of military announced tonight we are a lot of military but air train that's different than -- than they are rain doesn't yeah.

-- -- -- Currently running out of here unarmed again this is sort of that -- I'm.

And solicit I think one thing that we all agree on is the need for for it at least let's we're not gonna gonna agree and the guns but on the mental health system no question -- and the holes that existent system and coming up next we will speak.

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