ABC’s ‘The Conners’ Disparages Responsible Gun Owner and Pushes Anti-Gun Agenda in Mass Shooting Episode

ABC’s The Conners tackled the subject of gun control on Wednesday’s episode, “Triggered,” and it was as bad as you can imagine. Dan (Jon Goodman), a gun owner who is responsible, is made out to look irresponsible. His critics are made out to appear like rational people trying to protect everyone. Worse, Dan’s granddaughter Harris (Emma Kenney) is lauded as a hero when she steals her grandfather’s gun and sells it to the police.

The episode begins with a shooting at a local mall where Becky’s (Lecy Goranson) daughter is at with her father. A discussion ensues about things being harder for today’s kids, and Dan heads upstairs to retrieve his gun when he learns the shooter is in their neighborhood:

HarrisYou are talking about: It’s still simple to be a child. Accept that life is hard and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Jackie: Harris, that’s awful. You wouldn’t be surprised to find young people who want to improve the world.

HarrisThey’re all scum.

Darlene: There’s my little DNA. I feel relieved Mark is now at the state capitol.

BenYes, because no mob of angry people ever storms the capitol.

Darlene: Ben! Check out the Room!

Ben: This guy isn’t being found by the police.

Jackie: It isn’t easy. It’s all too common. Their numbers are probably quite small. You should hear the following part.

HarrisIt’s just too loud. It’s like a helicopter is hovering right above our home.

DarleneAnswer: It’s not. It’s on our road.

HarrisGod, this is just embarrassing. A neighbor of hillbilly made a patch on their roof by using a trash bag and bricks to hold it down.

JackieYou’re correct about the hillbilly bit. It’s our house.

DarleneYou fixed our roof hole by doing this.!

BenYou’re seeing it.

Darlene: At least he isn’t on our block. They are moving on.

Becky: Take a look at the cops outside this house. It’s next to St. Luke’s, on Lennox.

DarleneYou see that McNulty home? You can find it about a block and half from our house. He might be hiding in the back yard.

Ben: Oh, man. It’s a shame he hasn’t come in, and is holding everyone hostage.

Darlene: Again? Are you as clueless now that I’m dating you?

Ben:

LouiseDan: Dan. I’m sorry, Dan. But you should have spoken to me first. This waterbed will not stay. Okay. Okay.

Dan: I’m sorry. That’s what I thought. It was my mistake.

Louise: Are you sure that you are going to need it?

Dan: It is not my hope.

Of course, there’s no mention of why crime is up or why police are spread so thin. At a time when police have been defunded in many areas, and ambushed, shot, and killed in record numbers, it’s naturally led to early retirements and resignations. The result has been an increase in crime.

When the family sees Dan’s gun, they attack him rather than thank him for keeping them safe:

HarrisWhat happened to Beverly Rose?

Becky: The police can’t let them through, so they stay at Emilio’s. You’re safer there.

Darlene: Becky, look. They are showing the photo of the shooter. James McNulty is the shooter.

BeckyJames. I was treated well by him. He always smiled at me and said “Hi,” when he shoveled walkways for people.

Harris: My school went with him. Although he had his issues, we all have them. He was not the only child I expected to leave behind.

Dan: Aw man, McNulty’s kid is the killer? He was once the one who delivered our newspaper. This is what I need to hear.

Harris: That’s a gun! Is that a gun, Grandpa!!

Darlene: That thing is still yours?

Becky: OK, now I’d like it to go.

Dan: No. No. He leaps over a fence looking for somewhere to hide.

Darlene: Are you ready for something, Dad? Have you ever imagined a shooting match in your living room? You’re asleep and someone breaks into your room? What if someone breaks in while you’re sleeping?

Louise: Don’t worry. You don’t have to worry.

Becky: You are crazy? Ours is the group that wanders the house during the night. We have a higher chance than anyone else of being shot. Get rid of that gun.

Darlene: Hey, everybody! Mary’s here. We should turn the TV off.

Jackie: No, wait. Keep on. You’re almost there. He will be standing with both his hands raised.

Darlene: Thank you, God.

Dan: Damn, no. He is reaching for something. He has a gun.

Mary: Is he dead?

Dan: It’s okay, honey. It’s over.

It’s all over because of “that thing” called a gun. The police shot and killed the suspect…with a gun, just as Dan would’ve rightfully done had the shooter entered their home.

Later, Dan’s granddaughter Harris shamelessly announces she sold his gun to the police behind his back:

Becky: Where’s Dad the Gun?

Dan: Keep it safe.

BeckyA 3-year-old boy who is curious and gets in on everything has been given to me. You have to know the exact location.

Dan: I found it in a drawer, in a locked box with a combination no one knows except me.

Jackie: Oh, come on, Dan. The same thing is true for everyone in Chicago. This is the Super Bowl year that the Bears won.

All: 1985.

DanI must now change my passwords. You don’t have to worry, no one can reach that gun.

Harris: You got your money.

Dan: Why is that important?

Harris: Your gun was sold to me.

DanThe answer is:!

Harris: I took your gun to the station and was given cash.

Becky: Wow.

Louise: Yeah. Gutsy. It’s nice to know you.

Darlene: What happened to the whole, “The world’s screwed and there’s nothing you can do about it?”

Harris: It is a mess in the world. You have two options when this happens to you. You have two options. I can hide like a punk, or stand up and be a boss.

Jackie: You guys…

LouiseJackie says it will all be fine. They will work it out.

Jackie?No, it is not It is so amazing to see young people do good work in the world.Because there is so much violence, and so much suffering. Then again, when I use my smartphone it is everywhere.

Dan informs her that she has no legal right to seize his property, and she should pay what the rest is worth.

“Now, I don’t agree with what you did,” he says, “but I get why you did it.”

“Okay, well, I’m glad you finally understand,” Harris replies. 

“Harris, you’re juggling chainsaws here,” Louise cautions. “Just take the limbs you still have and walk away.”

“We established Dan isn’t a gun nut, but he’s a guy who has a gun in the house for protection,” Executive producer Bruce Helford told Deadline.“We wanted to represent all sides and all views because when we do that, we open it up for discussions. When we attempt to promote or give an agenda, people quickly get divided and walk out of the discussion.

“Harris did something about it, right or wrong,” Helford said of the Harris character. Dan at least admitted that he understands why Harris did it, which is an important moment in the series. It’s one thing to be opposed and it’s another thing to understand the opponent—that’s what doesn’t happen enough in this country.”

Dan, wo was your understanding? His children and grandchildren treated him with disrespect and almost everyone didn’t understand that he was trying to protect them. Not surprisingly, the understanding was only towards one side. So, “understanding the opponent” was just empty words and typical leftist hypocrisy.  

One thing was clear. People do “get polarized real (sic) quickly” when a show tries to push an agenda. That’s exactly what happened with these smart viewers as expressed in their tweets after watching the episode.

Dan might be able to throw empty beer cans at an intruder who broke into Dan’s home in the middle night, because Dan’s uninformed and emotionally driven grandchild stole his gun. He turned the gun over to police. #TheConners https://t.co/TxWwoDrpvq

— SisterSara (@SisterSaraAnn) March 3, 2022

#theconners#NRA
Take the only protection u have for your family & sell it to Cops. Soon the only ones that will have guns r the criminals & cops. How is Chicago’s gun law? SAG members would never say a single line on this show.

— HateAppeasers (@Marksagaftra) March 3, 2022

Except for the possibility that this occurs again. In this case, their only option is to retreat into a corner without any protection. It’s also impossible and not legal to do that in the state of Illinois.

— Casey (@caseyofmidwest) March 3, 2022

Tonight, I heard from #TheConners that there’s no such thing as a responsible gun owner, we’re all just adding to the problem. F*** off. It will be difficult for me to believe being within range of active shooters without any way to protect myself is the better option. Complete lunacy.

— Casey (@caseyofmidwest) March 3, 2022

It was an extreme episode. His grand-daughter went to his bedroom to take a gun out of his safe, and then sold it to the police. Eek…

— Kendra Booker (@Kbook_it) March 4, 2022

Conservatives Strike Back! This episode was sponsored by Tide, CVS, and Allstate. To let advertisers know your opinion about the episode, click on each advertisement.