On Wednesday's New Day, CNN's Chris Cuomo and Michaela Pereira marveled over the "huge step" and "unprecedented move" by People magazine in publishing a "call to action" on the issue of gun violence. The celebrity-centered publication printed the names and phone numbers of all 535 members of Congress, and called on "readers to contact their elected representatives to make their voices heard" on the subject. Pereira wondered, "Are we at a tipping point? Are we at a tipping point in the nation when so many of us are saying, not again – not again?!" [video below]
Cuomo previewed the segment on People magazine's decision with the "huge step" phrase, and noted that "they want to stop gun violence in the wake of the Oregon massacre." He picked up where he left off at the beginning of the short segment: "This is a big one and a surprise – an unprecedented move by People magazine. They are taking a stand on these mass shootings. They're calling on readers to act on its website and in the new issue."
The anchor also pointed out that "in the letter from the editor – it's titled 'Not Again' – the editorial director, explains why they're doing this – saying, he thinks about mass shootings when he's on a train, in a movie theater, in a classroom – like so many of us do now – if for no other reason than the media presence."
Pereira then underlined that it was "so interesting that they would take to doing this – not necessarily the publication you might anticipate something like this from." She continued with her "tipping point" question. Cuomo replied that his "concern is this: you want to act. But what do you want to do?...What law would make a difference? What law would have stopped this? It gets complicated very quickly in this gun debate, but nothing happens if nothing happens." His co-anchor replied, "Well, look, sitting on your hands isn't going to help."
In his letter from the editor, People magazine's editorial director Jess Cagle admitted that "there are no easy answers" to gun violence. However, he later asserted that "as a country we clearly aren't doing enough, and our elected officials' conversations about solutions usually end in political spin....We need to know that our representatives in Washington, D.C., are looking for solutions and not giving up, and they need to know if we agree or disagree with their strategies."
The full transcript of the segment from Wednesday's New Day on CNN:
CHRIS CUOMO: All right. This is a big one and a surprise – an unprecedented move by People magazine. They are taking a stand on these mass shootings. They're calling on readers to act on its website and in the new issue. The magazine is publishing the names and phone numbers of all 535 lawmakers in the House and Senate. In the letter from the editor – it's titled 'Not Again' – the editorial director, explains why they're doing this – saying, he thinks about mass shootings when he's on a train, in a movie theater, in a classroom – like so many of us do now – if for no other reason than the media presence. He says, 'Our voices need to be heard.' The issue gives snapshots of the lives lost in the Oregon massacre, as well as other victims of gun violence this year.
MICHAELA PEREIRA: So interesting that they would take to doing this – not necessarily the publication you might anticipate something like this from. But it's really interesting to see – are we at a tipping point? Are we at a tipping point in the nation when so many of us are saying, not again – not again?!
CUOMO: Are you going to call your lawmakers? Is that something you have ever done before? Is this a time that you would think of doing it? My concern is this-
PEREIRA: What's your concern?
CUOMO: You want to act. But what – what do you want to do?
PEREIRA: But is this a way to stop, though – to at least say, we want to bring the issue up?
CUOMO: I know, but-
PEREIRA: I want you to hear my voice.
CUOMO: But they say, what do you want me to do? What law would make a difference? What law would have stopped this? It gets complicated very quickly-
PEREIRA: It does-
CUOMO: In this gun debate, but nothing happens if nothing happens. So-
PEREIRA: Well, look, sitting on your hands isn't going to help.
