On Thursday evening, CNN hosts Chris Cuomo and Wolf Blitzer were both in the tank for Democrats in helping them push more gun control, with Cuomo lauding the plans as "common sense" and Blitzer declaring that "it only makes sense."
By contrast, on the same evening, Fox News host Laura Ingraham not only raised concerns that requiring background checks on private purchases would lead to gun registration, but also informed viewers that Democrats rejected an effort to deport illegal immigrants who get caught trying to buy guns illegally.
On his Cuomo Prime Time show, the eponymous host held a discussion on the plan passed by House Democrats with two liberal guests -- gun control activist Shannon Watts and Georgia Democratic Congresswoman Lucy McBath. At one point, Cuomo cited debunked claims that a "universal background checks" requirement is more popular than it actually is, claiming that it is supported by 93 percent of Americans.
He also impugned Republicans as wanting to "play to the culture wars" in opposing the plan:
You got 93 percent of Americans recently polled are for universal background checks. Only 61 percent approval -- that's a big number -- 61 percent approve of the COVID-19 bill -- 93 percent. But you have zero votes for this bill from the opposition party. In fact, two guys that did vote for it in 2019 -- Mast and Diaz-Balart -- pulled their votes this time. They will give you nothing on anything, but especially this because it plays to the culture wars. What's the chance you'll get it past without them blowing up the filibuster in the Senate?
Toward the end of the segment, as he praised Congresswoman McBath for becoming a gun control activist in response to her son's murder, Cuomo voiced agreement with her push for more gun restrictions, as well as the gun control efforts of his other guest, Ms. Watts. Here's Cuomo: "I may not always agree with your positions, but I do on this, and I agree with your passion. So you're always welcome on the show. And, Shannon Watts, you guys fight the good fight. I see you guys all over the country doing this. Thank you for being on the show tonight."
He further talked up the gun control efforts as "common sense," adding:
You know, I don't know when we're going to start waking up and do what makes common sense. I'm a gun owner. It's not about confiscation -- it's not a step in that direction. You heard those kinds of lies and peddling and dark arts -- got the NRA. When are we just going to start being reasonable? Not left and right. When?
Earlier in the day on The Situation Room, Blitzer asked Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy about the prospects of passing a gun control plan in spite of the possibility of a filibuster. The CNN host also voiced support for the liberal effort: "Well, good luck. It only makes sense to have important but very serious background checks for dealing with life and death issues."
But, over on Fox News Channel, Ingraham held two segments on the issue. First, she spoke with a gun rights activist, April Evans, who recalled the time she was at home alone with her young daughter, and used a gun to defend herself from a home invader.
The Fox News host then brought Republican Congressman Steve Scalise to discuss an effort by Republicans to require that ICE be informed when an illegal alien tries to purchase a gun. Ingraham recalled:
And while House Democrats worked tirelessly to keep American citizens from buying guns, it's open season for illegals who want to lock and load. Today Pelosi and pals rejected an amendment that would require ICE to be notified if an illegal tries to buy a gun. Joining me now is House Minority Whip Steve Scalise. Congressman, this seems like just a bad dream, all of it, but they don't seem to be concerned about guns falling into the hands of certain wrong people.
She went on to point out that a gun registration database would likely be required to enforce such restrictions on private gun sales.
The agenda-driven episode of CNN's Cuomo Prime Time was sponsored in part by Sentinel One. Their contact information is linked. Let them know how you feel about CNN blatantly endorsing the Democratic party's policies.
Transcripts are below:
CNN
Cuomo Prime Time
March 11, 2021
9:45 p.m. Eastern
CHRIS CUOMO: You got 93 percent of Americans recently polled are for universal background checks. Only 61 percent approval -- that's a big number -- 61 percent approve of the COVID-19 bill -- 93 percent. But you have zero votes for this bill from the opposition party. In fact, two guys that did vote for it in 2019 -- Mast and Diaz-Balart -- pulled their votes this time. They will give you nothing on anything, but especially this because it plays to the culture wars. What's the chance you'll get it past without them blowing up the filibuster in the Senate?
[CONGRESSWOMAN LUCY MCBATH (D-GA)]
You know, Lucy, I know that you said in your letter to your son that he had dreams, and I know you think one of them was that Jordan (Davis) would have gone into public service. You're living those dreams for your son. You wouldn't have taken this turn in your life otherwise. Who knows why God puts things in our path? I'm not one of these "silver linings" people. The loss of your son is unforgivable and unforgettable, but you're putting pain to your purpose -- purpose to your pain. It means everything. And I respect your commitment to the service. Thank you for joining us, Representative. I may not always agree with your positions, but I do on this, and I agree with your passion. So you're always welcome on the show. And, Shannon Watts, you guys fight the good fight. I see you guys all over the country doing this. Thank you for being on the show tonight.
You know, I don't know when we're going to start waking up and do what makes common sense. I'm a gun owner. It's not about confiscation -- it's not a step in that direction. You heard those kinds of lies and peddling and dark arts -- got the NRA. When are we just going to start being reasonable? Not left and right. When?
(...)
Fox News Channel
The Ingraham Angle
March 11, 2021
10:43 p.m. Eastern
APRIL EVANS, NRA MEMBER: It's all about training in order to keep a safe environment. Taking guns away from someone like myself, who my husband works night shifts and it's just me and her alone, how does that keep anybody safe? We both would have been dead, I'm sure.
LAURA INGRAHAM: April, thank you for sharing that story tonight. Unfortunately too many people in the United States don't hear those stories. They hear only the awful stories. Thank you. And while House Democrats worked tirelessly to keep American citizens from buying guns, it's open season for illegals who want to lock and load. Today Pelosi and pals rejected an amendment that would require ICE to be notified if an illegal tries to buy a gun. Joining me now is House Minority Whip Steve Scalise. Congressman, this seems like just a bad dream, all of it, but they don't seem to be concerned about guns falling into the hands of certain wrong people.
STEVE SCALISE, HOUSE MINORITY WHIP: Good to be with you, Laura. I wish it was a bad dream and this is just one more step in Nancy Pelosi's socialist agenda that she's pushing through the house with the complicity of all of house Democrats who continue to vote to take away more of our rights. Today they went after our gun rights with the bill to make it harder for law-abiding citizens to get guns. As your last guest mentioned, every day in America people use guns to save the lives of themselves and their families, and yet this bill would make it much harder.
In fact, right now there's a three-day waiting period. This could make it open-ended. There could be no limit to how many days unelected bureaucrats held up your application to get a gun if you're an American citizen. However, we have the amendment, as you mentioned, that if someone is here illegally and they tried to buy a gun illegally, that name should be turned over to ICE. Well, guess what? The Democrats voted against that. So they think it's okay for someone illegally in America to get a gun, but they don't want you to be able to get a gun. They are going after our rights left and right in Washington.
INGRAHAM: Congressman, this issue of banning private sales between individuals -- or making it very difficult -- people have to understand why they're doing that. To enforce a ban on private sales, what would you need? You would need ultimately a national firearms registry, correct?
CONGRESSMAN SCALISE: Well, they would love to get a registry of where all the guns are. We saw it in New Orelans after Katrina. People went door-to-door -- law enforcement went door-to-door taking people's guns after Katrina. I watched it happen. We passed a bill to prevent it from happening again, but this idea that you should have a registry, that you should be able to prevent someone you don't like from buying a gun at all in less you're illegal. That's what they passed today. That's not where America is. We believe in our Second Amendment. We're going to fight to preserve the Second Amendment rights.
