In a laudable attempt to gauge the public’s attitudes on how to address gun violence in America, MSNBC Live host Ali Velshi traveled to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and had a conversation with a panel of gun owners there, a video of which was shared during Thursday’s edition of his show. Twice during the aired portions of the discussion, the panel laughed at Velshi’s suggestions: companies pushing gun control and the idea of “gun buybacks.”
The first question showed in the video was of Velshi asking: “Who here thinks we need changes in laws?” Retired police officer Gregory Phillips didn’t miss a beat, coming back with: “Why? Why do we need changes in laws? That's silly.”
Later on in the video, Velshi broached the subject of gun buybacks. “Let me ask you about a proposal that's been floated out there by a presidential candidate or more about gun buybacks,” he prefaced. Of course, the person he was talking about was failed presidential candidate Robert O’Rourke (he dropped out last Friday), who wanted “mandatory” buybacks. A.k.a. gun confiscations.
“Who thinks that's a good idea,” Velshi wondered. To that, even some of those more inclined for gun control laughed at the idea. Panelist Robert Mallon responded by cracking a joke. “I bought mine for a million bucks. So, if they’re willing to pay that…” The rest of his comment got drowned out by the laughter of his fellow Wisconsinites.
The other case of laughter came when the panel scoffed at the anti-gun virtue signaling from companies like Walmart and Dick’s:
CAROL RUETER (Nursing home activities director): Walmart stopped selling them, you can go to Fleet Farm. It's the same people that want to get them and will get them. They're still going to get them.
HASEMAN: So now this is their way out to say they can be the hero. “We are going to get rid of all this stuff.” Well, they were probably looking for a way to get rid of them anyway.
PARRISH: They still sell alcohol, which kills as many people.
PHILLIPS: Yeah.
[Laughter]
The conversation covered a range of topics inside the gun debate, including so-called “red flag laws.” Panelist Larry Haseman, who says he owns over 100 firearms, spelled out the serious problems law-abiding gun owners have with those proposals.
“If you had red flag laws, if the individual is calling wolf, as long as there is some pretty severe consequences for somebody that goes through that motion, and then whatever the legal expense and everything for that person to get his rights back are paid by that person. I could accept that to some level,” he explained to Velshi.
In concluding the video, Velshi closed out with a quote from Phillips that pretty much summed up the thoughts of many gun owners: “Don’t mess with my rights to protect my family by trying to take away my firearms.”
[H/T to The Washington Free Beacon's Cameron Cawthorn]
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
MSNBC Live
November 7, 2019
3:49:57 p.m. Eastern(…)
ALI VELSHI: We traveled to southeastern Wisconsin and assembled a panel of eight gun owners. Men, women, Democrats, Republicans. Ranging in age from 19 to 67. Among them, a retired police officer, current school superintendent, and a nursing home activities director. All with differing opinions.
Who here thinks we need changes in laws?
GREGORY PHILLIPS (retired police officer): Why? Why do we need changes in laws? That's silly.
(…)
VELSHI: Larry, you have month than a hundred guns. Talk to me about that because that seems unusual to me.
LARRY HASEMAN: I shoot a lot of target shooting, shoot competitively, shoot for sports, for hunting. Each one requires a different firearm.
VELSHI: Brian, how many guns do you have?
BRIAN PARRISH: Nine.
VELSHI: For what?
PARRISH: Hunting, home defense, and just for fun.
VELSHI: Bob, what do you think about people who think that the issue is too many guns? Too many people with too many guns?
ROBERT MALLON: You know, the amount of guns I don't think is the problem. I think if you are using them for what they are intended for, it's no problem. I think it's that people don't care anymore.
(…)
VELSHI: Do you think that if well executed, these red flag laws, would that be something you would support?
HASEMAN: If you had red flag laws, if the individual is calling wolf, as long as there is some pretty severe consequences for somebody that goes through that motion, and then whatever the legal expense and everything for that person to get his rights back are paid by that person. I could accept that to some level.
(…)
VELSHI: I want to talk to you about the decision that some companies have made. Walmart, Dick's, in the wake of shootings at their properties or with weapons that have been bought from them. What do you all think of that?
CAROL RUETER (Nursing home activities director): Walmart stopped selling them, you can go to Fleet Farm. It's the same people that want to get them and will get them. They're still going to get them.
HASEMAN: So now this is their way out to say they can be the hero. “We are going to get rid of all this stuff.” Well, they were probably looking for a way to get rid of them anyway.
PARRISH: They still sell alcohol, which kills as many people.
PHILLIPS: Yeah.
[Laughter]
(…)
VELSHI: Let me ask you about a proposal that's been floated out there by a presidential candidate or more about gun buybacks. Who thinks that's a good idea?
[Laughter]
MALLON: I bought mine for a million bucks. So, if they’re willing to pay that [Inaudible due to panel’s laughter]
(…)
