CNN anchor Jim Acosta rolled out another attack segment on Ron DeSantis on Sunday night, this time on guns. Acosta touted "Gun violence prevention advocate Fred Guttenberg joins us now. His daughter Jamie was killed in the Parkland school shooting back in 2018. He's also the author of American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence."
After recalling that the GOP-controlled Florida legislature is likely to pass a new law that will allow legal gun owners to possess a concealed weapon without having to get a permit, the CNN host went to Guttenberg for his response. Guttenberg -- who's been lambasting Republicans from CNN's Parkland town hall/GOP-bashing festival five years ago -- called the new bill "a dangerous and deadly political bill for the DeSantis presidential campaign. And what's amazing is while he runs around screaming 'woke, woke, woke,' which is just the latest shiny object on a bunch of woke BS nonsense."
DeSantis would make the state a more deadly place:
But this dangerous and deadly bill that will roll back safety in Florida, while DeSantis says, "Florida is where woke goes to die," Florida is going to become the state where people go to die because you're now going to have gun owners that will not have required training that these -- you can't make it up, but they're actually going to lower back the penalties for someone who now gets caught on a school campus, okay, without a permit from a felony to a misdemeanor. They're doing everything they can to make Florida a more dangerous and deadly state while he runs around screaming, "Woke."
After complaining about proposals to allow 18-year-old adults to purchase guns, Guttenberg further declared:
But all of these lunatics who run around screaming, "Woke" are going to do things to appeal -- throw red meat to their base, and it may make Florida a more deadly state, and we can't let them do it.
Instead of providing any kind of pushback, Acosta followed up by asking his liberal guest what he thought should be done: "And what do you want to see happen, Fred? At the state level, it seems like gun laws are only getting looser. What needs to change?"
After advising Democrats in the state legislature to walk out, the liberal activist made more cracks about the state's Republican governor:
Make sure every voter in this state knows the truth about what's happening in Tallahassee and the risk to those they love because, right now, Ron DeSantis isn't acting like a governor for Florida anymore. He's acting like a guy who wants to lock up a Republican base, and that is -- there is a deadly consequence to that if he gets away with it.
In the CNN's host's final question, he asked his liberal guest what he wants President Joe Biden to do on the issue:
And you mentioned the President is going to be in California. He's going to be talking about gun violence. After the mass shooting that they had there in recent months. Fred, what more do you want to hear from the Biden administration, though? Because I know you have said many times, even though that bipartisan piece of legislation got through -- was passed, signed into law at the federal level, we're still having mass shootings in this country on a very regular basis.
Not mentioned is that research has shown that schools that allow teachers to have guns have not had the same problems of mass shootings that gun-free zones have had, thus pointing to a solution to the recurring problem.
This latest gun control activism by CNN was sponsored in part by GoDaddy. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows:
CNN Newsroom
March 12, 2023
6:19 p.m. Eastern
FRED GUTTENBERG, GUN CONTROL ACTIVIST: There will be a full session to pass in the (Florida) House of Representatives and next in the Senate -- permitless carry -- a dangerous and deadly political bill for the DeSantis presidential campaign. And what's amazing is, while he runs around screaming, "Woke, woke, woke" -- which is just the latest shiny object, a bunch of really BS nonsense -- what people, while they pay attention to him, they're not paying attention to what's happening in Tallahassee -- which is the supermajority has shut down debate by only allowing people one minute to speak. So they've shut down debate, and so nobody is paying attention to it.
But this dangerous and deadly bill that will roll back safety in Florida, while DeSantis says, "Florida is where woke goes to die," Florida is going to become the state where people go to die because you're now going to have gun owners that will not have required training that these -- you can't make it up, but they're actually going to lower back the penalties for someone who now gets caught on a school campus, okay, without a permit from a felony to a misdemeanor. They're doing everything they can to make Florida a more dangerous and deadly state while he runs around screaming, "Woke." Don't pay attention to the shiny object. Pay attention to what they're doing in Tallahassee, and don't let them get away with it.
JIM ACOSTA: And, Fred, the governor wanted even looser gun restrictions. Am I right about that? Like, permitless open carry.
(cross talk)
GUTTENBERG: He may get it.
ACOSTA: But is he backing off of that?
GUTTENBERG: Well, no. See, what's interesting is, he has said he will support it if they get it in this bill, and the supermajority may, in fact, try to do that. They have even said -- they may try to slip in rolling back the age from 21 to 18, which we passed after Parkland. We raised the age to 21. It has saved lives. But all of these lunatics who run around screaming, "Woke" are going to do things to appeal -- throw red meat to their base, and it may make Florida a more deadly state, and we can't let them do it.
JIM ACOSTA: And what do you want to see happen, Fred? At the state level, it seems like gun laws are only getting looser. What needs to change?
GUTTENBERG: Well, listen, I'm realistic. They have a supermajority in the state. I want to see Democrats stop acting like they are intending to be in a permanent minority. And I want to see them step up and fight. I want to see them -- if it is required -- if they're just going to shove this down everybody's throats, walk out. You're not needed there.
Go have a debate in the public square. Go old school. Go show Floridians who you are and what you stand for. Make sure every voter in this state knows the truth about what's happening in Tallahassee and the risk to those they love because, right now, Ron DeSantis isn't acting like a governor for Florida anymore. He's acting like a guy who wants to lock up a Republican base, and that is -- there is a deadly consequence to that if he gets away with it.
And I got to tell you, I know President Biden is going to California this week. I hope he calls out the differences between the states and how certain states -- like the one he's going to, California, are doing everything they can to reduce gun violence, and successfully. They have a lower per capita instance of gun violence than Florida, and the issues caused by states like Florida who are making it harder to stop those who intend to harm others.
ACOSTA: And you mentioned the President is going to be in California. He's going to be talking about gun violence. After the mass shooting that they had there in recent months. Fred, what more do you want to hear from the Biden administration, though? Because I know you have said many times, even though that bipartisan piece of legislation got through -- was passed, signed into law at the federal level, we're still having mass shootings in this country on a very regular basis.
GUTTENBERG: Yeah, listen, when my daughter was killed five years ago, we had 300 million weapons in America. We now have over 400 million plus ghost guns. That legislation was critical, and it was important, and I do think it will start to bend the curve. But there's more that we need to do. And there is, either through executive action -- which is a reflection of the reality that we have in Congress right now that legislation is going to be complicated, but really also working with the ATF and a real director that we now have ensuring that legislation that was previously passed is executed on, and all the rules are carried out. There is so much the Biden administration can do. And, by the way, they can also set the agenda. Run on gun violence going forward. Make this a voting issue going into the next election.
ACOSTA: Yeah.
GUTTENBERG: Do what you can to bring attention to the reality that assault weapons have no place on our streets. President Biden can use the bully pulpit, and I expect he will.
ACOSTA: All right, Fred Guttenberg, great to talk to you as always. We know you're so passionate on this -- a very important issue. And, of course, if Governor DeSantis ever wants to come on and talk about this, we're happy to have him on as well. Fred, great to see you. Thanks very much.
GUTTENBERG: He's weak, and he won't.
ACOSTA: Well, we'll see -- well, we invite him on.
