CNN's Michael Smerconish Rebukes Conservatives' Go-To Mass Shooting Response: “This Is The Appropriate Time” To Talk About Gun Violence

Written by Media Matters Staff

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During the July 24 broadcast of CNN's New Day, CNN's Michael Smerconish rejected the notion that it is inappropriate or disrespectful to talk about gun laws following a mass shooting. Conservative media figures, Republican politicians, and the National Rifle Association have often argued that talking about gun violence following a mass shooting is “exploiting” tragedy for “political purpose,” but as Smerconish noted, “If you're not having it today, we'll be back to Trump by Sunday. We're not going to have [the conversation] then.”

MICHAELA PEREIRA: We had other topics to talk to you about today, all sorts of things going on in the political world, but this has to take a front seat. I think everybody in Lafayette is thinking this could be -- and Bobby Jindal said it, the governor -- this could be anywhere, U.S.A. Is this going to change the conversation on gun violence in the United States?

SMERCONISH: No. Maybe for a day or so. It's much like a presidential debate in that one side or the other will get a bump from the numbers and then it dissipates.

[...]

CHRIS CUOMO: What do you think of this first line of push back? Respect the victims, Smerconish. There will be time for this talk that you want to have, but not right now.

SMERCONISH: I heard it.

CUOMO: Do you believe that that is legit? Or do you believe it's a hedge because the one thing that victims and their families want most is change because they don't want to see anybody else suffer?

SMERCONISH: I think it's a hedge. I heard it. I was sitting in the green room, and I watched it, and I thought, that was a punt. This is the appropriate time, I think, with full deference to the victims to have this kind of a conversation. If you're not having it today, we'll be back to Trump by Sunday. We're not going to have it then.

Related:

CNN: Gunman kills 2, himself in Lafayette, Louisiana, movie theater

Bobby Jindal: “Now is the time for prayer, now is the time for healing. As far as the political spectrum, this isn't the time.”

Previously:

The National Rifle Association's Mass Shooting Hypocrisy