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Sen. Joe Lieberman reacts to school shooting

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    Longtime Connecticut senator speaks out

  • Duration 6:18
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-- -- as Nash suiting as the worst in Connecticut history the second worst ever in this country.

Cold numbers only magnified by the fact so many of the victims were little children.

Joining us now is Joseph Lieberman who has represented Connecticut in the senate for 24 years.

Senator thanks for coming in on this difficult weekend is.

When we do.

You know Muslims -- and there's no answer I mean this is.

Evil.

We've been through this before too many times column by and Gabby Giffords are Rorer the in the movie theater in Virginia Tech.

I think we need on national commission on mass violence and not.

Two.

Be it be in place of anything else.

The president or congress or state governments want might want to do.

But to make sure that the heartbreak and the anger that we feel now.

Is not dissipated over time -- lost.

In legislative gridlock I gotta tell you this reminds me.

Of the days and weeks after the terrorist attacks against -- of 9/11 and at one point John McCain and I turned to each other and said we can't let this does go we've got to create a National Commission to investigate.

Exactly the questions were asking about new -- how could this have happened.

And is there anything we could do took to try to prevent.

It from happening again but you know there were reforms after 9/11 and after the commission and the way that.

The intelligence community and the FBI shared information it wasn't just.

Let's.

Wallow in our -- and well let me ask you a specific question normalize that wants it very quickly that that's exactly what I don't want to happen I don't want -- to -- -- want -- to ask.

What can we do as a society to make sure that young men like Adam -- to get mental health.

Help before they become shooters and killers what's the role of violence in our entertainment culture today and stimulating a vulnerable -- like this.

And what -- can we do to keep dangerous weapons hands OK let me ask you about some of those specific questions back in the nineties.

You supported the Brady Law which called for a five day waiting period -- -- who supported the assault weapons ban then in 2000 new and Al Gore campaigned around the country.

And you lost and a lot of people took as a lesson part of what was in states like Tennessee and West Virginia the fact that you were pro.

Gun control and quite frankly ever since Democrats have been scared.

Of touching that issue is -- time for Democrats to push for stricter gun control.

It's time for Democrats Republicans and independents to say acknowledge two things.

One is the strongest conceivable gun control laws won't stop or acts of violence.

But also to acknowledged that the stronger gun control laws are there fewer acts of violence including mass -- -- -- will happen in our society.

So as a result of the Brady Law and is still exist -- if you go into a -- federal firearms dealer to buy a gun.

If you have a background check and it's a -- -- But if you if you buy a gun from somebody was not licensed -- -- -- -- you don't have to be checked at all that that's a loophole that we go to closed.

Assault weapons these were develop.

By the US military originally as as weapons of war.

And I think we ought to restore that assault weapons ban because they're not to take anybody's guns away from them that they have now.

But to stop the the manufacturer and and Cyril of those weapons.

And now because.

And look what would -- -- did to these were kids could look now let's talk about a couple of other things mental illness you know this is obviously a disturbed -- than any of these other cases are Holmes and Aurora to stir.

The entertainment -- history.

-- you know there's some statistics about kids will have watched.

Thousands.

Of acts of violence on the videos on games and movies and TV by the time you know their their ten.

Specifically what kind of thing what we do about that.

That's why I think we need a National Commission LT -- spent enough time on this question of violence -- entertainment culture.

To reach this conclusion that that the violence in entertainment culture particularly with the extraordinary -- realism to video games movies now -- that are.

Does cause vulnerable young men particularly.

To be more violent doesn't make everybody more violent but it it it's a positive factor in some cases we've -- -- -- the entertainment industry.

What you gonna do it the the trip home that down voluntary or would you would you pass a law in our society orchestra to do it voluntarily but I think we've got to a point group we've got -- say if if not maybe there's some things we can do.

To tone it down there's a better rating system now -- there used to be on video games and violent movies but but there's still out there when it comes to.

The -- health system.

I think we really got to ask ourselves.

First look this is like -- slogan that we use in Homeland Security see something say something we've got to ask.

Parents friends school officials if you see a child a young person.

That really looks like they're potentially.

-- -- it really troublesome.

Get them mental health help and then we -- ask ourselves as a society.

Is there enough mental health help available for these kids there's no -- -- -- violence is as old as.

Cain killing his brother Abel but but god didn't.

Except that there's a governance have to implemented to -- leader your leader are where's your brother and able.

McCain says a -- -- brother's keeper and -- is essentially yes I hear.

Your brother's blood crying out to me from the ground and and I think we've got to continue to hear.

This screams of these children and see their blood -- -- we do something.

To try to prevent this from happening again.

Senator Lieberman thank you our sympathies go out with you as you head back home today thanks for your home state of Connecticut for the vigil tonight thank you either.

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