Tuesday's Fox & Friends highlighted the problem of American troops not being allowed to carry their own weapons for self-defense on some military bases as the Fox News show hosted the family of Pensacola Naval Air Station shooting victim Joshua Watson.
At 7:33 a.m. Eastern, co-host Ainsley Earhardt picked up on a Facebook post by his brother, Adam, who was one of the guests, and posed to him:
Adam, I know on your Facebook page you wrote some beautiful things about your brother, saying that he gave his life for his country. You did mention that it was a senseless shooting. Is there anything that needs to be changed on these military bases?
After her guest answered in the affirmative, Earhardt added: "What would you like to see change?"
Adam Watson then argued against the gun ban that prevented Joshua from carrying his own gun to protect himself even though he was a trained soldier:
My brother was, you know, these men and women are asked to, you know, go defend their country overseas or wherever, and my brother was an expert marksman. He was captain of the rifle team for the Navy. He was well-qualified to have a firearm and defend himself. And if we're going to ask these young men and women to stand watch for our country, they need the opportunity to defend themselves. This isn't the first time this happened, and, if we don't change something, it won't be the last.
Co-host Brian Kilmeade then jumped in to comment on the gun ban issue and follow up: "Yeah, somehow the shooter got a gun, but you're not allowed to carry a gun on the base. Does that sound right to you?"
Watson then suggested his brother might still be alive if not for the gun ban:
No, sir. Security can't check every vehicle, and, you know, that shooter was authorized to be on base, and so these attacks are not coming from, you know, someone who shouldn't be there... They're coming from, you know, from people that are supposed to be your brothers in arms, and it's just not right to ask these young men and women to stand watch but not give them the ability to defend themselves. If my brother had not had that right stripped from him, this would be a different conversation.
Co-host Earhardt then turned to Joshua's mother, Sheila, and asked her about the issue: "When you hear he didn't have a right to have a gun and defend himself, that has to make you irate. How do you feel?"
Sheila Watson began her response: "He was my baby, and it hurts me. It doesn't really anger me as much as it hurts me that my baby was standing watch, and he lost his life because he wasn't armed. He wasn't able to defend himself.
Below is the relevant portion FNC's Fox & Friends:
FNC's Fox & Friends
December 10, 2019
7:33 a.m. EasternAINSLEY EARHARDT: Adam, I know on your Facebook page you wrote some beautiful things about your brother, saying that he gave his life for his country. You did mention that it was a senseless shooting. Is there anything that needs to be changed on these military bases?
ADAM WATSON, BROTHER OF SHOOTING VICTIM: Yes, ma'am.
EARHARDT: What would you like to see change?
ADAM WATSON: My brother was, you know, these men and women are asked to, you know, go defend their country overseas or wherever, and my brother was an expert marksman. He was captain of the rifle team for the Navy. He was well-qualified to have a firearm and defend himself. And if we're going to ask these young men and women to stand watch for our country, they need the opportunity to defend themselves. This isn't the first time this happened, and, if we don't change something, it won't be the last.
BRIAN KILMEADE: Yeah, somehow the shooter got a gun, but you're not allowed to carry a gun on the base. Does that sound right to you?
ADAM WATSON: No, sir. Security can't check every vehicle, and, you know, that shooter was authorized to be on base, and so these attacks are not coming from, you know, someone who shouldn't be there -- they're coming from people that are supposed to be there. They're coming from, you know, from people that are supposed to be your brothers in arms, and it's just not right to ask these young men and women to stand watch but not give them the ability to defend themselves. If my brother had not had that right stripped from him, this would be a different conversation.
EARHARDT: Sheila, this is your son. We're all parents, and I know how much time and effort you put into raising these children to be wonderful individuals to serve out country. He went to the U.S. Naval Academy, such a hero. When you hear he didn't have a right to have a gun and defend himself, that has to make you irate. How do you feel?
SHEILA WATSON, MOTHER OF SHOOTING VICTIM: He was my baby, and it hurts me. It doesn't really anger me as much as it hurts me that my baby was standing watch, and he lost his life because he wasn't armed. He wasn't able to defend himself.
