Piers Morgan Admits He Wants UK-Style Gun Ban in the States

For the second time on Piers Morgan's CNN show, Breitbart's Ben Shapiro got the better of his host as on Thursday he goaded Morgan into calling for a British-style handgun ban in the U.S.

"You're from the UK, why don't we go with a full gun ban?" Shapiro challenged Morgan, who, audibly flustered, admitted, "Listen, we've discussed this. The UK has 40, 50 gun murders a year, America has 12,000. Why don't we try our way?" He then promptly switched the topic.

[Video below. Audio here.]

"I'm glad you finally let your agenda out there," Shapiro gloated. Just before, Morgan denied wishing to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of Americans: "I'm not remotely against people having right to bear arms, I'm seriously against the right to have military style assault weapons to blow kids' brains to pieces in school."

The two were discussing poll numbers showing 29 percent of Americans affirming that "In the next few years, an armed revolution might be necessary in order to protect our liberties." Shapiro placed some blame for that fear at Morgan's feet.

"And honestly, I think part of it is due to folks like you, Piers because, you know, you go out of your way to really give the impression that you're interested in taking away people's fundamental right to bear arms and I think that scares a lot of folks," Shapiro insisted.

Back in January, Morgan scoffed at Shapiro using a pocket-sized Constitution on set as he argued against gun control. "You come in. You brandish your little book as if I don't know what's in there," Morgan sneered.

Shapiro had also attacked Morgan's gun crusade: "You tend to demonize people who differ from you politically by standing on the graves of the children of Sandy Hook saying they don't seem to care enough about the dead kids."

Below is a transcript of the segment, which aired on Piers Morgan Live on May 2 at 9:42 p.m. EDT:

[9:42]

PIERS MORGAN: But you personally believe, like a third of these people, that you will need in the next few years, it says, you will need to have weapons to take on your own government?

BEN SHAPIRO: I don't believe in the next few years. I believe that there is always the possibility of government tyranny. I don't see that happening in the next couple of years. I do think, Piers, I have to say, I think the reason that there are so many folks who are talking about the possibility of government tyranny is threefold really. It's the Obama administration's increasing reliance on big government. And that, I think threatens some people. I think it's folks like Alex Jones who do this routine where every time they shut down a city like Boston because of a terrorist attack, it's the end of the world and military law is at hand.

And honestly, I think part of it is due to folks like you, Piers because, you know, you go out of your way to really give the impression that you're interested in taking away people's fundamental right to bear arms and I think that scares a lot of folks.

MORGAN: Well no, I'm not – we've discussed this. I'm not remotely against people having right to bear arms, I'm seriously against the right to have military style assault weapons to blow kids' brains to pieces in school.

SHAPIRO: I still don't understand your position on this, because you've said you're against assault weapons, but you are okay with handguns. Handguns kill 6,000 people a year. Assault weapons kill 300.

MORGAN: Well, they're both a big problem. Handguns and assault weapons with mass shootings.

SHAPIRO: You're from the UK, why don't we go with a full gun ban?

MORGAN: Listen, we've discussed this. The UK has 40, 50 gun murders a year, America has 12,000. Why don't we try our way? Let's move on to this. Jason Collins –

SHAPIRO: I'm glad you finally let your agenda out there.

-- Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center