Journalists Killed By Gunman In Virginia

Gunman Kills Two Journalists In Virginia. While reporting live for Roanoke, Virginia ABC affiliate WDBJ, reporter Allison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were shot and killed by a gunman, who later committed suicide. [The New York Times, 8/26/15]

Obama Administration Calls For Congress To Pass Gun Safety Laws After Shooting

President Obama: Gun Deaths Around America “Dwarf” Those Caused By Terrorism. Speaking to WPVI of Philadelphia, President Obama said, “It breaks my heart every time you read or hear about these kids of incidents,” and also said, “What we know is that the number of people who die from gun-related incidents around this country dwarfs any deaths that happen through terrorism.” [WPVI, 8/26/15]

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest: Congress Should Pass “Common Sense” Gun Laws. During an August 26 press conference, Earnest called on Congress to pass new laws “that we know would have a tangible impact in reducing gun violence in this country”:

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest renewed the Obama administration's call for Congress to take action on gun control after a gunman shot and killed a reporter and cameraman during a live television broadcast on Wednesday.

“This is another example of gun violence that is becoming all too common in communities large and small all across the United States,” Earnest said. “And while there is no piece of legislation that will end all violence in this country, there are some common sense things that only Congress can do that we know would have a tangible impact in reducing gun violence in this country. Congress could take those steps in a way that would not infringe on the constitutional rights of law abiding Americans.” [Huffington Post, 8/26/15]

Andy Parker, Whose Daughter Alison Was Killed In Shooting, Calls On Congress To Take Action On Gun Violence During Fox News Appearance

Alison Parker's Father: “My Mission In Life [Is] ... To Get Gun Legislation” On Background Checks. On the August 26 edition of Fox News' The Kelly File, Alison Parker's father, Andy Parker, told host Megyn Kelly “I'm going to do something, whatever it takes, to get gun legislation to shame people, to shame legislators into doing something about closing loopholes in background checks and making sure crazy people don't get guns”:

ANDY PARKER: And, you know, I'm not going to let this issue drop. We've got to do something about crazy people getting guns. And, you know, and the problem that you guys have is that -- and I know it's the news business and this is a big story. But next week it isn't going to be a story anymore and everybody is going to forget it. But you mark my words, my mission in life -- and I talked to the governor today. He called me and he said -- and I told him, I said, I'm going to do something, whatever it takes, to get gun legislation to shame people, to shame legislators into doing something about closing loopholes in background checks and making sure crazy people don't get guns. And he said, you go, I'm right there with you. So, you know, this is not the last you've heard of me. This is something that is Alison's legacy that I want to make happen. [Fox News, The Kelly File, 8/26/15]

Fox Figures Attack Obama For Making Similar Comments To Parker's Father

Fox's Keith Ablow Criticizes President Obama For Calling For Gun Reform. On the August 27 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, Fox contributor Keith Ablow criticized President Obama's support for stronger gun laws, telling the president to stop discussing the issue:

ABLOW: It would be helpful if President Obama frankly would stop tweeting or whatever he does about gun control and get serious about attacking mental health care and stop inflaming racial discord. Because there's some people unhinged out there who actually think he's right when he's just trying to fan the flames of racial disharmony. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/27/15]

Fox's Peter Johnson Jr. Asks If Obama “Spoke Too Soon” About Gun Reform After Shooting. On the August 27 edition of Fox & Friends, Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. asked, “How soon is too soon when it comes to using the tragedy in Virginia to push for gun control? Did our president speak out too soon?” While Johnson spoke, an on-screen graphic displayed the words “Politicizing Tragedy” below a picture of Obama:

[Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/27/15]

Fox News Graphic: “Tragedy Turns Political” And “Democrats Blame Murders On Gun Laws.” While Fox correspondent Kirstin Fisher reported on President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Marco Rubio's reaction to the shooting, a Fox graphic said, “Tragedy Turns Political” And “Democrats Blame Murders On Gun Laws”:

[Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/27/15]

Fox's Gregg Jarrett: Obama Was “Stirring The Pot With A Controversial Remark Elevating Gun Deaths Above Terrorism.” During the August 27 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, host Gregg Jarrett said that reaction to the shooting was “quickly turning political” and claimed that Obama was “elevating gun deaths above terrorism”:

JARRETT: Yesterday's deadly shooting of a news reporter and her cameraman quickly turning political, I mean in a nano-second. President Obama stirring the pot with a controversial remark elevating gun deaths above terrorism, quote, “It breaks my heart every time you hear about or read about these kinds of incidents. What we know is that the number of people who die from gun related incidents around this country dwarfs any deaths that happen through terrorism.”

[...]

Well, yes, David, gun deaths happen every day and far more often than I eat pastrami on rye, but what does one have to do with the other? How is terrorism related to these domestic gun deaths? [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 8/27/15]