April 18, 2007
Hotline After Dark: Bush Is Up For Debate
Once again cable news focused on the VA Tech shootings, particularly on Cho Seung-Hui and his motives. And Pres. Bush and Laura Bush did interviews with the three broadcast nets. In each interview, he was asked about gun control:
Asked if there will be a nat'l debate on gun control, Bush: "I do. Yeah. I mean I think when a guy walks in and shoots 32 people it's going to cause there to be a lot of policy debate. Now is not the time to do the debate until we're actually certain about what happened. And after we help people get over their grieving, but yeah I think there's going to be a lot of discussion" (ABC, 4/17).
Asked if there should be stricter gun control: "I haven't had time to reflect nor do I know all the facts that took place. I do know that now's the time to help heal. ... There's ample time for the debates that follow" (CBS, 4/17).
More: "There's going to be plenty of time for debate and a political discussion and a policy discussion. Now is not the time. I'm more interested in helping people heal right now. And that's why we're here. ... There is going to be a lot of discussion like there has been after other incidents about what is the right policy and the wrong policy. The right thing now is for this county to pray and help these people heal."
NBC's Williams: "Is this not a part of homeland security? By that, I mean, the early reporting indicates that these guns may have been legally purchased. This young man may have waited the mandatory month-long waiting period, and if it turns out that it's the classic profile of a loner who exhibited trouble, isn't that a trend that deserves now more resources?"
Bush: "Well, I don't know what you are talking about spending money on, but it is certainly something people ought to pay attention to. In other words, and that's one of the things that after the Amish school shooting, we had a symposium, and one of the things the experts told us was that adults need to be paying attention to different kind of behavioral patterns. You can't predict obviously, but you can discern if somebody needs help and/or is the type of personality that may act up. This is a difficult situation here, Brian, because there is 20,000-something kids who go to school here, and 10,000 professors or whatever. I mean, it's a lot of people in and out."
More: "There will be ample time for these kinds of discussions. Trust me, there is going to be a lot of debate. And I understand it and will participate in it" (NBC, 4/17).
Posted at 07:17 AM
Comments
Is Bush for or against selling guns to terrorists or soon to be terrorists like Cho? Whats the use of global war on terror if anyone can walk into a gun shop, buy the gun and then kill innocent people? If republicans have any brains they will suggest atleast some gun control.
ar | 04.18.07 09:12 AM
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ar...please don't try to sound intelligent, it isn't working. Yes, this was a tragedy. It could have been prevented had VT officials identified this man as the lunatic he was in years past. Gun control will only weaken the ability of legal CITIZENS to own guns. He wasn't a citizen, and if he can legally purchase a firearm, then yes, that needs to be fixed.
Joe American | 04.18.07 04:59 PM
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