CNN Report Tilts 4 to 1 Towards Gun Control Advocates
CNN keeps giving oxygen to the gun control movement. Correspondent
Jason Carroll touted the push by New York City and Philadelphia for
stricter gun laws and loaded his report with pro-gun control statements
on Friday.
Carroll quoted four guests in favor of stricter gun laws and provided
only one statement to the contrary, from Pennsylvania's governor
explaining why the state court struck down Philadelphia's gun control
measures.
He
began and ended his report with a grieving Philadelphia resident who
railed against guns on the city streets. "Anger and rage rise to the
surface because there has to be something that we can do as a nation to
get these guns off the streets," the resident told him.
Carroll also included statements from prominent gun control advocates:
Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter (D) and New York's Mayor Michael
Bloomberg (I). Nutter criticized the state court striking down his
city's strict gun laws, and Bloomberg did the same.
In addition, Carroll included this statement by Richard Aborn of the Citizens Crime Commission: "Philadelphia, unfortunately, has not had the same support from the legislature in Harrisburg. They have not been willing to pass strong gun control laws, and we see the impact in Philadelphia."
And Carroll even cited statistics to support that argument: "In 2011,
Philadelphia saw 17 gun-related murders per 100,000 people, New York
City, four per 100,000."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on January 11 on CNN Newsroom at 10:04 a.m. EST, is as follows:
CAROL COSTELLO: With such deeply divided interests, it's easy to see
how opposing sides are becoming even more polarized. But even common
interests can be tested. CNN's Jason Carroll has a tale of two cities
and the different ways they work with state government on gun control.
(Video Clip)
JASON CARROLL, CNN national correspondent (voice-over): The New Year
under way and already in New York City, three police officers shot in
two different incidents. Philadelphia, Steven Johnson, a Temple
University student, shot during an argument. He's among that city's
first homicides of 2013. He was also Movita Johnson-Harrell's cousin.
MOVITA JOHNSON-HARRELL, lost son and cousin to gun violence: Children are just dying on the streets for no reason whatsoever.
CARROLL: Even before her cousin's death, Johnson was mourning the loss of her son Charles. Shot two years ago. He was 19.
HARRELL: Anger and rage rise to the surface because there has to be
something that we can do as a nation to get these guns off the streets.
CARROLL (on camera): In order to battle crimes, cities such as New York
and Philadelphia have looked to strengthen their gun control laws, and
New York has done so. It has some of the strictest gun control laws in
the country, including a ban on assault weapons, restrictions on
ammunition clips over ten rounds, and mandatory background checks for
gun buyers, including buyers from gun shows.
(voice-over): Philadelphia's mayor supported legislation banning
assault weapons and so-called straw purchases of handguns in his city.
It passed, but was overturned by a state court.
Mayor MICHAEL NUTTER (D), Philadelphia: The state has taken the
position that they should be the only ones who can legislate in the area
of gun safety and gun regulations. Many of us have a very different
position.
CARROLL: A key difference, New York City and New York State are on the
same legislative page. Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, worlds apart.
RICHARD ABORN, Citizens Crime Commission: Philadelphia, unfortunately,
has not had the same support from the legislature in Harrisburg. They
have not been willing to pass strong gun control laws, and we see the
impact in Philadelphia.
CARROLL: In 2011, Philadelphia saw 17 gun-related murders per 100,000
people, New York City, four per 100,000. Mayor Michael Nutter says he
will propose stricter gun control measures again. Those opposed to it,
New York's mayor would say this --
Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), New York City: It would be interesting to
see if they have the courage to come with me and explain to the police
officer who got killed, to their spouse or their child or their parents
that it was a murder we could have stopped and we didn't have the
courage to do.
HARRELL: My son could still be here had it not been for someone with a
gun. My cousin would still be here had it not been for someone with a
gun.
(End Video Clip)
CARROLL: So, the question, Carol, for people like Mayor Nutter and
other mayors across the country who are trying to do the same thing is,
in Mayor Nutter's situation will he be successful this particular time
in trying to get new gun legislation passed?
Well, we reached out to Pennsylvania's governor, here's what he had to
say, this is part of a statement that he released. It says, "if they,"
meaning Philadelphia, "were to craft gun laws in Philadelphia which were
more prohibitive than the rest of the state, it would not prevent
criminals from obtaining those guns elsewhere and bringing them into
Philadelphia. Our state laws must be uniform when it comes to gun
regulations."
So, when we mention there in the piece that you've got the city and the
state that are worlds apart, it appears that still has not changed.
Carol?
COSTELLO: Yes, it doesn't sound like it. Jason Carroll reporting live for us this morning.
-- Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center
