CNN released a new documentary entitled Political Violence: America’s Bloody History on Saturday, but beyond the history lesson from the Boston Massacre up through the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, narrator Sara Sidner tried to blame conservative opposition to gun control for recent shootings while also condemning the Republican National Convention’s “extremely divisive language.”
During a discussion on the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, Sidner recalled, “The gun lobby was outraged by the new gun restrictions. This time, a more extreme fringe subset of Second Amendment supporters mobilized an edge their way into the mainstream.”
She added that, “this uncompromising vision of an absolute Second Amendment right stymied future gun legislation and dominated right-wing politics.”
Sidner also mentioned that the law had a ten-year sunset provision, which led to a clip of UCLA law Prof. Adam Winkler lamenting, “The NRA and the gun rights movement were instrumental in defeating the reauthorization of the assault weapons ban. And there was no longer sufficient support in Washington, D.C. for a ban on these military-style rifles. The law expired in 2004, and in the decades that followed, we saw a huge increase in the number of these military-style rifles on the streets of America.”
For Sidner, there is a direct link between 2004 and what happened to Trump, “And in the aftermath of countless mass shootings, in the United States, the fallout from the gun debate has left a trail of dead and wounded in its wake. Gunmen in countless shootings, use semiautomatic weapons and military style equipment, including this most recent attack on former President Donald Trump.”
Later on in the program, Sidner turned to rhetoric and lamented that Trump’s RNC speech got off to a unifying start, “But he then turned back to attacking his political enemies.”
That led to a brief clip of Trump saying, “Crazy Nancy Pelosi, the whole thing.”
Sidner also claimed that “others at the RNC also returned to extremely divisive language.”
Other clips included Florida Sen. Rick Scott claiming “Biden, the Democrats are doing everything they can to tear down this great country” and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz condemning “illegal immigrants that the Democrats have released.”
Additionally, West Virginia Governor and Senate candidate Jim Justice was shown claiming, “We become totally unhinged if Donald Trump is not elected in November.”
Blaming conservatives for gun violence, even violence directed at Republican politicians is fine for CNN. What is not fine is calling Democrats “crazy.”
Here is a transcript for the July 27 show:
CNN The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper: Political Violence: America’s Bloody History
7/27/2024
8:38 PM ET
SARA SIDNER: The gun lobby was outraged by the new gun restrictions. This time, a more extreme fringe subset of Second Amendment supporters mobilized an edge their way into the mainstream.
ADAM WINKLER: The extreme gun rights advocates that emerged thought that Democratic and liberal policies adopted in Washington were illustrations of government grown too big and too powerful, and too oppressive. That view, the right to bear arms, became much more popular over the course of the 1990s and into the 2000s.
SIDNER: This uncompromising vision of an absolute Second Amendment right stymied future gun legislation and dominated right-wing politics.
KRIS BROWN: Guns are clearly embedded into our national identity.
SIDNER: The assault weapons ban passed in 1994 included a provision that forced Congress to reauthorize it after ten years, or it would expire.
WINKLER: The NRA and the gun rights movement were instrumental in defeating the reauthorization of the assault weapons ban. And there was no longer sufficient support in Washington, D.C. for a ban on these military-style rifles.
The law expired in 2004, and in the decades that followed, we saw a huge increase in the number of these military-style rifles on the streets of America.
SIDNER: And in the aftermath of countless mass shootings, in the United States, the fallout from the gun debate has left a trail of dead and wounded in its wake. Gunmen in countless shootings, use semiautomatic weapons and military style equipment, including this most recent attack on former President Donald Trump.
…
SIDNER: On the last night of the RNC, former President Trump began with a message of unity.
DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much. In an age when our politics too often divide us, now is the time to remember that we are all fellow citizens. We are one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
SIDNER: But he then turned back to attacking his political enemies.
TRUMP: Crazy Nancy Pelosi, the whole thing.
SIDNER: Others at the RNC also returned to extremely divisive language.
RICK SCOTT: Biden, the Democrats are doing everything they can to tear down this great country.
TED CRUZ: Illegal immigrants that the Democrats have released.
JIM JUSTICE: We become totally unhinged if Donald Trump is not elected in November.
