Tapper Awkwardly Corrects Leon Panetta For Saying ‘Mentally Retarded’ People Shouldn’t Have Guns

Leon Panetta used the “R” word when speaking to Jake Tapper about gun control, and Tapper was quick to correct him, resulting in a cringeworthy moment.

“I know a lot of people thought that after Sandy Hook… if Congress wasn’t willing to [pass reform to prevent the mentally ill from obtaining guns], why would they be willing to do it for any other incident?” Tapper asked Panetta.

“That’s the question, Jake,” Panetta said. “At this stage, I would be satisfied if they moved anything dealing with trying to limit weapons going to those who are mentally retarded. Establishing a file. Establishing communication. I mean, my God, even the killer that was involved yesterday is somebody who clearly had indicated that he was gonna shoot people.”

“I think you meant ‘mentally disturbed’ there in that previous sentence, I think you misspoke,” Tapper mumbled, quickly moving on. Panetta nodded blankly in response.

Meanwhile, Panetta called for congressional action to stop these events from occurring.

“Just do something,” he said. “Just take some kind of action to show that this country understands how terrible it is that these kinds of mass killings continue to take place.”

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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