In the aftermath of the New Zealand mosque attacks, MSNBC host Ali Velshi predictably devoted an entire segment on his show to promoting more gun control while only havng on guests who are in line with his anti-gun views.
As he gave the issue nine minutes of coverage, Velshi also repeated the myth that a "Charleston loophole" allowed Charleston mass shooter Dylann Roof to purchase the murder weapon, and the MSNBC host also cited misleading polling alleging atronomical support for "universal background checks."
At 3:33 p.m. on MSNBC Live, Velshi recalled efforts by congressional Democrats to get a new law passed: "The bipartisan background checks act of 2019 included a bill requiring background checks on every gun sale or transfer, including sales at gun shows and online."
He added: "A second bill would end the Charleston loophole that allowed white supremacist Dylann Roof to purchase a firearm when his background check was not completed within three days."
As he then shifted to speaking with gun control activist Mark Barden, whose son was murdered in the Sandy Hook attack, the MSNBC host lamented that "the United States stands in stark contrast to other places that experience mass gun violence," alluding to New Zealand moving to pass new laws quickly.
After Barden talked up the possibility of passing new laws, citing discredited polling claiming that 97 percent support universal background checks, Velshi then shifted to New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, allowing him to further argue for more gun restrictions.
As he spoke in support of more background checks, the liberal columnist at one point oddly claimed that, "in many places in the country, you have to go through more of a background check to adopt a dog than you do to buy a weapon. That's crazy."
As he shifted backed to Barden, Velshi cited a recent Quinnipiac University poll suggesting that 92 percent support universal background checks, and then added: "I don't think 92 percent of people can go out on a given day in America and agree on what the temperature is or whether the sun is shining."
He then sympathetically followed up: "Why is it that we can get agreement on these things and yet still be held back?"
Near the end of the segment, Kristof complained: "It is so frustratng the political process is completely broken down in the case of guns, and I think that is because there is a small contingent of society that cares very passionately about not having any regulations."
After recommending that liberals use the words "gun safety" instead of "gun control," which they often do already, he then called it "scandalous" that so many have died from gunshot wounds: "Since 1970, more people have died from guns in the U.S. than in all the wars in American history. It's scandalous."
