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Dee Dee Benkie & Brian Benjamin discuss if possession of assault weapons should be against the law
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-- get.
He is now a good time to have a serious.
And earnest discussion about.
-- -- The gun laws in America to once again banned assault weapons which for a ten year period of time in all fifty states.
Was against the law of the very kind of weapon the assault weapon.
That this guy used on Friday he.
Now NY well I gotta tell you that if I think that we need to double down on guns and the reason I say that's because there were a lot of members of the military in that audience.
A lot of folks that there -- law enforcement our hat again that I would have been taking it out like that and a lot of -- -- -- so I do not think.
That means we'll I don't know even on whether an assault rifle -- has a high well -- -- -- we'll get to a solid rounds in a minute drills and Syria helping get their weapon out.
And not only that and you'll he -- -- he it was a still smoke and I mean that guy isn't it but think about this now he's shooting.
Now you have other people shooting that can cause more casualties and no I would say lie and cause casualties and you'll hear it you're in a movie theater it is dark.
I I think the other side and those the view on this and I think you know I look at Harlem.
You know have a local city -- Inez Dickens you know when things we are most concerned about is secure public housing.
We have a lot of people dense area and so for us someone like him on 125 street could be.
A catastrophe and may -- some rural towns and other places where may be.
You know this is not as much an issue but we talk about urban cities which is where I'm from some other people from.
And so he ought to ban also -- -- weapons that really should be left in Iraq and Afghanistan makes sense for us well let me just people just want my.
This on assault weapons we're talking about basically machine -- she -- no automatic weapons with high capacity clips.
And up in it in the spirit of -- bipartisan -- Back in 1994.
Both sides came together Republicans and Democrats and they banned these things because you know they what they said was look.
We cherish the Second Amendment we get that we understand that you don't need an assault weapon.
Like this.
To protect yourself -- people -- you know deer hunting right and so again for ten years.
It it was the law of the land there was a sunset provision expired.
And it was not renewed by congress -- and President Bush at the time.
For whom you -- that's correct said that that what I would I would assigned if congress had passed it once again.
You disagree we bought.
All lined out look how well let him former boss and I love President Bush and I just think we need to be very careful about blaming guns person's blaming the -- job because really the guy.
-- -- -- -- -- -- That you're picking them off one by one by one and if other people had done some one person had to take him out who really want people living -- asking heat inside them movie theater.
People -- -- -- scary I think it makes it safer or whenever you have a lot whenever you have a place where no one has got us but the bad guys as a very dangerous situation and two daughters happen I don't wanna go into movie theater known folks are packed -- For the militant there are members of the military -- wish they had -- absolutely that would have been very good it would have been a completely different outcome.
We will take the bad guy I don't always.
Gonna have -- -- the question is what can be used to harm people.
And I think there's really no reason -- urban urban environments for this kind of weaponry I mean you know if you're going deer hunting that's not in the middle of the city.
And so I just think why can't there be some kind of compromise the right now -- -- -- about the going to be completely and it's very unsafe at that but here's my point why could there be some kind of compromise an -- NRA.
You know I understand how powerful they are.
Like -- to be some kind of come Martha says in certain areas.
We don't need to have assault assault weapons and that doesn't have them.
What was about what we -- as strong as we -- war -- -- -- bad people have those that doesn't mean we make it legal so I think it's the same it's the same argument -- you know understand and -- -- pushing on us but let me turn the corner a little bit.
And talk about.
How this is affected the political campaign for the presidency.
After the Tucson shooting last year.
I room I remember quite clearly there was a pause for a fairly lengthy period of time but then the two parties plunged back into the partisan Rinker.
Is that what's gonna happen here this is just fleeting -- state cessation of political hostilities as you know.
It's gonna get caustic and ugly and nasty all over again.
Well that you -- -- campaign is right around the corner this is it terrible tragedy and -- -- -- -- taken off it's still they've laid off some but now they've started campaigning again but I'm running for president.
-- mean this is a very important position so.
It has to continue.
Unfortunately it is very sad what happened.
But the campaign is -- you it's already started.
President Obama as well as Mitt Romney governor Romney.
And you know I things slower.
You know now and then it will rev up and by the end of the week they perhaps to be right back at.
Whether or what a play sound bite from President Obama he was at the university Colorado hospital -- -- roar and he delivered.
A very moving statement to the people who have gathered there this was yesterday evening take a listen.
My main task.
Was.
To serve as a representative.
Of the entire country and let them know that we are thinking about them.
At this moment and war continues to think about them each and every day and that the no awareness that not only all of America but much of the world is thinking about them might service some comfort.
He came there and he met individually.
With various family members of the victims those who died -- those who survived.
And some very emotional moment when the president came out he said look I'm not here as as your president I'm here as a representative to tell you that we care about it.
And there were hugs and there were tears and there were stories.
Survival that were really quite heartwarming stories of heroism.
And the you know the president this is part of his role -- sort of -- solar in chief at times of crisis isn't it.
It absolutely.
And I think he did a good job and quite frankly I want to give governor Romney credit I think his tone was also appropriate.
I think one of the things that is so important for us to remember is that the president.
Would like in my opinion from what we we know two to look at.
Ban on assault weapons but he knows doesn't have -- both in the congress -- so will be completely disingenuous to go.
And take you know take advantage of this moment and make this broad statement about what he would love to do knowing that he is have to -- since.
Well -- women and that's a disingenuous or curricula to.
Quite straight and an appropriate because he really good week or so and he did a wonderful job by the way president President Obama did a great job -- governor Romney -- wow you know immediately serious debate needs to happen in the days ahead after those who have lost their lives have been laid to rest and properly honored and revered and remembered they.
Handle it well you know Mayor Bloomberg was real I mean how many minutes he had any Bloomberg -- it took minutes before you say you know we need to talk about this console is okay.
In what was it nice words consoling words.
I'm not sure exactly and I -- that -- one but soothing words that we need to talk about gun control I thought that was incredibly inappropriate and does it sometimes appears to be in his.
-- -- that neither did the governor Romney good for them.
