CNN Contributor: ‘As Long As There Are No White Children Losing Their Lives’ There Won’t Be Gun Control
During a CNN panel discussion on Thursday regarding stalled gun control legislation in the Congress and the waning public support for new laws regulating gun ownership, one CNN contributor and SiriusXM host, Pete Dominick, expressed his exasperation with the slow pace of reform. He said, in the wake of the Newtown massacre, it was inexcusable that Congress not pass any new laws. He attributed the lack of a sense of urgency among the public to the fact that “no white children” are currently “losing their lives.”
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CNN anchor Carol Costello cited CNN/ORC polling which showed a drop in support for gun control in the months that have elapsed since the Newtown shootings – from 52 percent support in December, 2012, to 43 percent support today.
When asked why this could be the case, Patricia Murphy, editor of Citizen Jane Politics, said that the issue had simply lost momentum.
“I don’t think it’s so much the tragedy of Newtown is fading as it is the way that gun rights advocates are portrayed — and the other side is portrayed,” opined Costello. “It’s so extreme, we’re like losing focus.” She asked Dominick if he agreed with her assertion.
“Out of sight, out of mind,” Dominick replied. “As long as there’s no white people and white children losing their lives – I mean, it’s still happening, obviously, in places like Chicago to black youths – people don’t think about it as much.”
He praised President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, for keeping the issue of gun control alive.
“We in the media deserve some responsibility for whether or not we’re talking about it,” Dominick added.
Watch the clip below via CNN: