MSNBC’s Ruhle Worries Dems Being Too Moderate on Gun Control

During Monday’s The 11th Hour on MSNBC, Stephanie Ruhle proved once again why she isn’t a journalist. She didn’t just report the facts about gun control and ask questions to her guests; she also took sides, worrying whether Democrats were compromising with Republicans.

“I want to start by talking about the bipartisan effort in the Senate that they’re working on,” Ruhle announced while turning to her guest Robyn Thomas of the Giffords Law Center. “Chris Murphy has already said, banning assault weapons, out. All background checks that are comprehensive, out. If these two basic and essential things aren’t in there, then are we already aiming too low?”

Ruhle apparently doesn’t know that background checks can be used to purchase guns. Thomas countered by trying to show that Ruhle was as ignorant as Thomas about gun laws and The Second Amendment. 

Thomas claimed that “if you don’t have universal background checks, then even when you have red flag laws, they’re very, very difficult to enforce and implement, because we don’t have records at all of those transfers, we can prohibit someone from buying guns, using a risk protective order.” 

She added that she was “really disappointed to hear universal background checks are not part of that discussion. And I don’t know if I’m surprised or not, I had hoped Uvalde might move the needle in terms of some Republicans realizing that it’s long past time for them to get on with this.” 

Later on, Ruhle played a soundbite from earlier in the day on MSNBC in which Jason Johnson ranted: “I would be connecting this to voting rights. This would connect to January 6. I would be saying, we need to get rid of the gun-loving terrorists, who are trying to kill your grandma at the grocery store.” 

Ruhle then turned to Thomas and said “he makes quite an argument, is he right?”  Predictably, Thomas replied, “I think he’s right.”

This segment was made possible thanks to Golden Corral. They are linked. 

To read the relevant transcript click “expand”:

MSNBC’s The 11th Hour
6/6/2022
Eastern at 11:24 p.m.

STEPHANIE ROHLE: First, let me talk about the Senate’s bipartisan efforts. Chris Murphy already stated that assault weapons should be banned. All background checks that are comprehensive, except. These two essential and basic things must be present in order to set a good example.

ROBYN THOMAS : Stephanie, this is something Stephanie and I have talked about before. All other matters are subject to universal background checks. You know, I’ve heard they’re talking about implementing a red flag law or providing funding so that states can implement red flag laws. If you don’t have universal background checks then red flag laws are very hard to implement and enforce. We don’t have any records of all transfers so we cannot prohibit anyone from purchasing guns. They can get around the law and legally buy a firearm online or at a gun fair, but it won’t have that same effect. So I’m really disappointed to hear universal background checks are not part of that discussion. And I don’t know if I’m surprised or not, I had hoped Uvalde might move the needle in terms of some Republicans realizing that it’s long past time for them to get on with this. In the Dallas newspaper this morning, I read that some Texas GOP donors spoke out for universal background checks. While I believe it’s time to act, I am disappointed that assault weapon regulations and universal background checks aren’t part of the discussion. 

(…)

This suggestion was made by Jason Johnson earlier in the day. Take a look at this. 

JASON JOHNSON : People could be told to vote. One could tell them to vote. You can say, “Get rid of this person or that person.” But they won’t be able to vote out those who keep these policies in effect if nothing is done about voting rights. When you get issues that are of importance, when 99 percent of the public is like we’re scared and we want something done, if they are prevented from expressing their frustration, when it comes to getting to the ballot box, then, nothing actually changes. This is why I’d be linking it to voting rights. This would connect to January 6. My message would be, “We need to eliminate gun-loving terrorists who want to murder your grandma in the grocery store.” 

RUHLE – He is quite a shrewd argument. 

THOMAS: He’s correct. We know Americans are in favor of this bill, but then we find out that the Senate isn’t taking action. I’ve been saying for a long time if 90 percent of Americans want this, and they’re not doing it, then they clearly don’t represent the will of the American people, the safety of our children, they represent something else. Now, people can’t vote. This is possible. 

It’s possible to be in the Senate while voting for NRA and supporting the gun industry. We can’t vote them out, but it’s impossible to do so if we don’t have voting access. In the sense that it is impossible to make this change unless people feel threatened by their jobs, I believe he has a very valid point. That is the thing that motivates them, and if their jobs aren’t at stake, because these laws are being passed that prevent people in their– in their districts and their states from actually voting, then they can get away with anything.