In the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting a few days ago, liberals all across the country and in the media had begun to push for greater gun control. On Wednesday, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein announced a bill to ban the so-called “bump-stocks” that allowed the shooter to use his semi-automatic rifle as one that was fully automatic. And in looking back at her past attempts at gun control, CBS Evening News whined about her previous assault weapons ban getting sunk in Congress.
“She's long supported gun control measures with little success,” sighed Anchor Anthony Mason during the led into Correspondent Don Dahler’s report.
Dahler seemed supportive of Feinstein’s latest effort, but lamented that “with some Republicans open to a hearing, it may have a chance, but recent efforts after mass shootings like in Las Vegas have, met fierce opposition.”
“Back in 2013, after 20 children and seven adults were massacred by a person with a semiautomatic rifle, Senator Feinstein proposed a law against those weapons. Congress voted it down,” he complained. “In fact, despite an average of one mass shooting of four or more people each day since Sandy Hook, there's been no major shift in the nation's gun laws.”
The CBS reporter sat down with John Hopkins University's Center for Gun Policy and Research Director Daniel Webster and obnoxiously asked: “People say, ‘Maybe this will be the one that effects change,’ and yet it doesn't. Why?” Webster responded by blaming gun rights advocates: “I think the gun lobby has been very effective in promoting the overall idea that any regulation is a violation of the Second Amendment.”
In insinuating that Republicans were legislating against the will of the people, Dahler noted that “a recent Pew poll shows 68 percent of Americans favor an assault weapons ban, a Republican-controlled Congress makes that type of ban unlikely.” But he failed to mention that when the U.S. had an assault weapons ban it did absolutely nothing to stop crimes from being committed with them.
Dahler wrapped up his report by smearing Second Amendment advocates for spending dark money in elections:
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, last year, Republicans received over $54 million in advertising and donations from the NRA. Democrats? $265.
(…)
In advertising alone, organizations that oppose any new gun legislation are outspending gun-control proponents 10 to one.
There was no effort by Dahler to explain how any of the liberal plans for gun control would have stopped the Las Vegas mass shooting. The shooter passed numerous background checks, the gun show loophole doesn’t exist, and there are hundreds of thousands of semi-automatic rifles in the U.S. so a ban doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have had one. And that’s not to mention that law enforcement had said they found bomb-making materials.
For CBS the only goal was to past sweep gun control no matter what it would actually do.
Transcript below:
CBS Evening News
October 4, 2017
6:46:06 PM EasternANTHONY MASON: In the wake of the massacre here, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California is proposing a nationwide ban on devices that turn rifles into rapid-fire machine guns. She's long supported gun control measures with little success. Here's Don Dahler.
[Cuts to video]
DON DAHLER: Stephen Paddock was able to pour hundreds of rounds into the crowd below because of these devices, bump-fire stocks, which are legal, but which Senator Dianne Feinstein wants to ban.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN: You have to stand up. You have to say, "Enough is enough."
DAHLER: With some Republicans open to a hearing, it may have a chance, but recent efforts after mass shootings like in Las Vegas have, met fierce opposition.
Back in 2013, after 20 children and seven adults were massacred by a person with a semiautomatic rifle, Senator Feinstein proposed a law against those weapons. Congress voted it down. In fact, despite an average of one mass shooting of four or more people each day since Sandy Hook, there's been no major shift in the nation's gun laws.
Daniel Webster is director of the John Hopkins University's Center for Gun Policy and Research. People say, "Maybe this will be the one that effects change," and yet it doesn't. Why?
DANIEL WEBSTER: I think the gun lobby has been very effective in promoting the overall idea that any regulation is a violation of the Second Amendment.
DAHLER: New Jersey shooting range owner Ross Osias is against any restrictions.
ROSS OSIAS: It's not the device. It's the people. And, unfortunately, you can't fix crazy until it happens.
DAHLER: Even though a recent Pew poll shows 68 percent of Americans favor an assault weapons ban, a Republican-controlled Congress makes that type of ban unlikely. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, last year, Republicans received over $54 million in advertising and donations from the NRA. Democrats? $265.
[Cuts back to live]
In advertising alone, organizations that oppose any new gun legislation are outspending gun-control proponents 10 to one. As for those bump-fire stocks that Congress may ban, retailers are selling out of them. Anthony.
