Both ABC's Good Morning America and CBS This Morning on Thursday used the shooting death of two journalists in Roanoke, Virginia to highlight gun control. GMA co-host Robin Roberts talked to the boyfriend of slain reporter Alison Parker and lectured, "...When something like this happens, the conversation turns to gun control."
Citing the father of Parker speaking out on guns, Roberts pressed boyfriend Chris Hurst: "... You were standing next to him when he said he'll make it his life's mission. Have you had a chance to give any thought if you're going to join Alison's father in his efforts?"
On CBS This Morning, Norah O'Donnell talked to Governor Chris Christie about the shooting and quizzed, "New Jersey has one of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country. Is that because of some of the gun control laws in your state?"
The Republican retorted, "No. That's because they have a governor who enforces the law and also supports community policing."
CBS's Margaret Brennan followed-up:
MARGARET BRENNAN: But in the case of this shooter in Virginia, he didn't set off any trip wires. He did have this history of complaints against him, of threatening people, but he legally purchased gun. If you're president, how do you stop something like that from happening?
On the CBS Evening News, Wednesday, Jane Pauley touted Barack Obama's call for more gun control:
JANE PAULEY: And this is what President Obama had to say about the shooting.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I think it's one more argument for why we need to look at, you know, how we can reduce gun violence in this country, but right now, the FBI has been helpful with local authorities in trying to solve what is really a tragic death.
A transcript of the August 27 GMA question is below:
7:12
ROBIN ROBERTS: Both of you know, as journalists, that when something like this happens, that the conversation turns to gun control and Alison's father has already been very outspoken. And, Chris, you were standing next to him when he said he'll make it his life's mission. Have you had a chance to give any thought if you're going to join Alison's father in his efforts?
CHRIS HURST (Boyfriend of Alison Parker): As a journalist, my issue that I have looked at extensively has been mental health. There are mental illnesses in my family that have affected me personally and it's been something that I've been reporting on. I don't – I don't have any comments on what her father would like to do other than I support -- I support him and I support their family immensely. I told them yesterday for the first time, because who would say it to parents of a girlfriend after nine months that I loved them and they told me that they loved me back and that I was a part of their family forever and that they were a part of my family forever and that they were part of my family forever.
