02/16/2018 | 25m 24s | Video has closed captioning.
Tarana Burke: We speak with the originator of the #MeToo movement. Domestic Violence Scandal: Two White House staffers resign after allegations of abuse. School Tragedy: Students demand action on gun control. Panel: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ann Stone, Patrice Lee Onwuka, Siobhan "Sam" Bennett
Aired: 02/16/18
THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, ME TOO FOUNDER TARANA BURKE RESPONDS TO THE PRESIDENT.
THEN, HOW THE WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCANDAL IS PLAYING WITH AMERICAN WOMEN.
AND SCHOOL SHOOTINGS HAVE FAMILIES WONDERING HOW TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE.
HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST MY INTERVIEW WITH ME TOO FOUNDER TARANA BURKE IN OUR ONE-ON-ONE, THE FOUND YOUR OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT IS SKEPTICAL OF TRUMP'S DECLARATION THAT HE IS OPPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE HIM.
I BELIEVE IN ACTION AND WORDS ARE NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AS ACTION.
HIS STORY ABOUT ROB PORTER IS ALMOST TWO WEEKS OLD AND OUR PRESIDENT HAS COME OUT AFTER REFERENCING NEAR ACCUSATIONS IN THE SAME BREATH AS BEING A NATIONAL MEDIA STORY AND HE COMES OUT AND SAYS AFTER TWO OP-EDS COME OUT OF THE FORMER WIVES AND HE TALKS ABOUT HE DOESN'T SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
>> LAST WEEK TRUMP TWEETED PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE BEING SHATTERED AND DESTROYED BY A MERE ALLEGATION.
SOME ARE TRUE.
SOME ARE FALSE.
IS THERE NO SUCH THING ANY LONGER AS DUE PROCESS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REMARKS THAT THE #METOO MOVEMENT IS SOMEHOW DESTROYING AMERICAN SOCIETY?
>> I THINK THAT THE TWEET HE MADE WHEN HE USED THE WORD MERE ACCUSATIONS WAS REALLY TELLING AND WAS PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM HIM IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING WOMEN AND WOMEN'S ISSUES.
SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE -- >> DO YOU THINK WOMEN ARE GOING TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS?
IS HE AFFECTING OUR CULTURE AND HOW YOUNG BOYS THINK THEY SHOULD TREAT WOMEN AS WELL AS POLITICAL LAWS?
>> I THINK THAT WOMEN ARE DEFINITELY EMBOLDENED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND EMBOLDENED BY THE AUDACITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE SO UP FRONT AND OUT FRONT WITH THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY DO NOT SUPPORT WOMEN'S ISSUES AND THAT HAS GALVANIZED WOMEN TO ORGANIZE IN WAYS WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN RECENT HISTORY.
SO I THINK THE POWER OF THAT COLLECTIVE STRENGTH OF WOMEN WHO ARE REALLY JUST AT THE END OF THEIR ROPE BECAUSE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE SIGNIFICANTLY PARTICULARLY IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.
>> BURKE TOLD ME IT IS NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HER MOVEMENT.
THE MEDIA ALSO MISREADS HER MESSAGE.
SHE WANTS STORIES TO FOCUS ON SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND VIOLENCE NOT ON THE PERPETRATORS.
>> WHAT THE MEDIA PORTRAYS IS NOT WHAT THE WORK OF #METOO IS.
EVEN THE HASHTAG IS NOT WHAT THE MEDIA MADE IT INTO SOMETHING WHAT PEOPLE THINK THIS IS ABOUT TAKING DOWN POWERFUL MEN OR THIS IS ABOUT SOME KIND OF WITCH HUNT.
THE FOCUS OF THIS MOVEMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF SURVIVORS AND GIVING THEM THE FOCUS THEY NEED TO START THE HEALING JOURNEY AND DOING THE WORK OF ENDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
EVERYTHING ELSE EVEN THE WOMEN WHO FIRST CAME OUT AROUND HARVEY WEINSTEIN DID NOT MAKE A CALL FOR ANYTHING THEY WERE SHARING THEIR TRUTH.
>> WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE MOVEMENT?
>> WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN GIVE RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND WE WILL PROVIDE A ROADMAP FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY PROVIDING STEPS WHAT COMMUNITY CHANGE LOOKS LIKE AROUND SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
>> SO CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON IS SOCIAL MEDIA A STRONG ENOUGH FORCE TO PUSHBACK POLITICAL ATTEMPTS TO TAKE RIGHTS AWAY FROM WOMEN?
>> I THINK SO, BONNIE.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS A NEW FORM OF SELF EMPOWERMENT.
THAT PRODUCED THE BIGGEST MARCH EVER IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL AND SENT A MESSAGE THIS TIME WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS.
>> I DON'T KNOW LET ME GOOGLE THAT.
BUT I THINK IF SHE WANTS TO MFS SURVIVAL NOT VICTIMHOOD THAT IS WONDERFUL AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SOCIAL MEDIA CAN AND WILL REENFORCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S DOING TWO THINGS.
IT'S REMOVING THE CONE OF SILENCE THAT OFTEN SURROUNDS SEXUAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ALLOWS IT TO BE PERPETRATED AND BUILDING A SELF HAVEN OF MILLIONS OF WOMEN THAT ARE SAYING ME TOO.
>> SOCIAL MEDIA IS IMPORTANT HERE BUT THERE ARE WOES THAT NEK IN AND USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS A WAY TO BRING FALSE ALLEGATIONS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONCERNING.
>> WHAT ABOUT MS. BURKE'S COMMENT THAT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA ARE COVERING THE MOVEMENT INCORRECTLY?
HOW IF THEY COVER IT MORE WOMEN TELLING THEIR STORIES OF ABUSE, HOW WOULD THAT HELP AS OPPOSED TO -- ANOTHER PICTURE OF HARVEY WEINSTEIN ON THE FRONT PAGE.
"NEW YORK TIMES".
>> IT'S MAKING IT INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR THINGS TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN FOR TIME IN MEMORIAL.
THAT IS THE BIGGEST BENEFIT TO HOW THE MEDIA IS COVERING IT.
BUT I AGREE IN THE SENSE THAT THE REAL NARRATIVE IS HOW DO SURVIVORS LIKE MYSELF, GO ON TO FORGE POWERFUL MEANINGFUL LIVES IN THE FACE OF THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE BEEN METED OUT.
AND ANNE HAS STRONG THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> AND I THINK THE MEDIA STILL TOO MANY OLD BOYS AS EDITORS IN THE NEWSROOMS, I HAVE A CASE I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BUT I HAVE A CASE WHERE THIS REPORTER THAT WAS TRYING TO HELP ME EXPOSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTUALLY QUIT HER JOB BECAUSE THE EDITORS SAID WELL, HE ONLY BEAT HER UP ONCE THAT DOESN'T MAKE HIM AN ABUSER.
THERE'S A PROBLEM IN THE NEWSROOMS.
>> I AM REALLY CONCERNED BECAUSE ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION HAS NEVER FOCUSED NOT ONE TIME THAT I CAN REMEMBER ON THE WAY IN WHICH SEXUAL HARASSMENT IT FACES THE AVERAGE WOMAN IN THE WORKPLACE.
THAT IS WHY I HAVE A BILL THAT I'M WRITING NOW THAT WOULD FORM A COMMISSION ON A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND THE WAY WE'VE DONE ON GAMBLING AND IMPORTANT PROBLEMS AND IT WOULD GO NATIONWIDE.
IT WOULD HEAR FROM WOMEN IN RETAIL AND IN OFFICES AND IN FACTORIES WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE.
FOR US TO BE DEALING WITH WOMEN AT THE LEVEL OF HARVEY WEINSTEIN AND NOT WHERE THE AVERAGE WOMAN IS ON US.
>> AND WE'RE TRYING TO BREAK US OUT OF THAT, TOO.
>> AND YOU'VE SEEN THE TIMES UP MOVEMENT INITIATIVE SPRING UP IN RESPONSE TO THAT.
IT IS A $4 MILLION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR WOMEN COMING OUT OF RETAIL AND LOW WAGE JOBS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO BRING THEIR CASES FORWARD.
I DO THINK I LIKE HER EMPHASIS ON THE SURVIVORS.
BECAUSE I THINK IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF POWER AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VICTIMS BUT ARE USING IT AS A ROUSE.
#METOO AND FOCUSES ON WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN HURT AND ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES AND SHOWS YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR LIFE AS WELL.
>> WHEN I BECAME CHAIR OF THE EEOC TO SHOW YOU HOW NEW SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAD NOT BEEN DECLARED A VIOLATION OF THE TITLE VII OF THE STATUTES AND WE HAD TO HOLD HEARINGS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS SEEN AS A FORM OF SEX DISCRIMINATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, MORE THAN 20,000 COMPLAINTS ARE BROUGHT EVERY YEAR BY AVERAGE WOMEN.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY GO THROUGH.
WE HAVE TO FIND OUT.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR THAT CONGRESSWOMAN.
AND I THINK WHAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS SAYING IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A CULTURE THAT HAS PERSPECTIVE PETIATED THIS AND IT TRICKLES DOWN.
THE IDEA THESE ARE ISOLATED CASES MISSES THE POINT.
BUT I SAY TO YOU, SO HARD TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH.
THERE'S GOT TO BE VERY FEW USING IT ERON NEWSLY.
>> DO YOU THINK THE MOO TAO MOVEMENT CREATED A MASCULINITY CRISIS?
>> NOT ONLY A MASCULINITY CRISIS OR A BACKLASH AGAINST WOMEN BEING HIRED IN CERTAIN POSITIONS WHERE MEN ARE UNCOMFORTABLE I CANNOT TAKE THEM ON TO A BUSINESS DINNER, AND BOTH.
AND IT'S INTERESTING IN SWEDEN WHERE THEY WERE AGGRESSIVE AT TRYING TO NEUTRALIZE THE GENDER DIFFERENCES, THERE IS A MOVEMENT IN SWEDEN WHERE THEY ARE IMPORTING MEN FROM LATIN COUNTRIES BECAUSE THEY FIND THEIR MEN TO BE TOO WITH USY.
AND -- WUSSY.
AND SWEDISH MEN ARE BECOMING NEUTRALIZED.
>> I WILL GOOGLE THAT.
>> I HAVE TO PUSH YOU BACK SHOULD WE NOT BE PROSECUTING MURDERERS -- >> WE SHOULD.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE BALANCE.
THERE HAS TO BE -- >> AFTER HUNDREDS AND AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF THIS GOING UNREPORTED AND RAMPANT IN CORPORATE CULTURE IT'S TIME.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO STRIKE THE BALANCE NOW.
SO THE OTHER WAY THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
>> BUT YOU ARE ALREADY HEARING CRITICS ABOUT IT.
>> ORGANIZATIONS CHERYL SANDBURG'S GROUP RELEASED NUMBERS LIKE 6 OUT OF 10 MALE MANAGERS DO NOT WANT TO BE MENTORS TO YOUNG WOMEN BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID TO BE IN A ROOM ALONE OR HAVE DINNER.
THERE'S BEEN A CHILLING EFFECT AND I TALKED TO REGULAR GUYS IN MY LIFE AND THEY SAY I WORRY THAT I WILL HAVE A MEETING WITH SOMEONE AND THEY WILL TAKE SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATELY OR THEY WILL COME UP WITH SOMETHING AND MY CAREER IS OVER.
SO I THINK THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG TOO FAR.
>> IT'S ALL PART OF THE PROCESS.
ALL PART OF THE PROCESS WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH RAISING THE CONE OF SILENCE AND MOVING FORWARD.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM ME TOO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE WHITE HOUSE IS UNDER FIRE FOR ITS HANDLING OF TWO STAFFERS WHO RESIGNED LAST WEEK AMID ACCUSATIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS YET TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN OR CONDEMN EITHER ROB PORTER OR DAVID SORENSEN, THE TWO ALLEGED ABUSERS.
ACTIVISTS CHARGE THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY CONCERNED WITH PROTECTING WOMEN FROM THIS SERIOUS CRIME.
EVEN REPUBLICAN WOMEN HAVE EXPRESSED EXASPERATION AT THE ADMINISTRATION FOR NOT DEALING WITH ABUSERS MORE FORCEFULLY.
THIS WEEK, THE FBI REVEALED ITS SECURITY CLEARANCE INVESTIGATION INTO PORTER WAS COMPLETED WHEN HE WAS UP FOR PROMOTION.
THIS CONTRADICTS THE WHITE HOUSE'S CLAIMS THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS STILL ONGOING WHEN THE SCANDAL WENT PUBLIC.
>> IF THE #METOO MOVEMENT IS EXPANDING THE CIRCLE OF ABUSERS WHO ARE OUTED, SO TO SPEAK BUT YOU HAVE A WHITE HOUSE THAT IS PROTECTING THEM, WHAT IMAGE DOES THE PUBLIC GET?
>> THIS IS NOT THE FINEST HOUR THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS.
BUT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THIS IS A GUY THAT ALL OF THEM WORKED WITH CLOSELY THEY WERE FRIENDS ONE WAS DATING.
THEY -- >> THEY KNEW FOR TWO YEARS AGO.
>> SOME OF THEM KNEW.
THEY WERE IN THIS BUBBLE AND NOBODY WANTED TO BELIEVE IT AND YOU NEVER DO WHEN YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT WELL.
LOOK AT THE CELEBRITY WORLD PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT BUT IT'S TRUE.
HOPEFULLY THIS IS A TEACHABLE MOMENT AND THEY CAN GO FORWARD.
I HAVE SUGGESTIONS I'M MAKING TO THEM AND OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE -- >> WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING?
>> STUFF I CANNOT TALK ABOUT YET.
BUT CLEARLY, NOT THEIR FINEST HOUR.
>> THERE ARE WAYS TO HAM THIS.
I CAN UNDERSTAND IF YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH SOMEONE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS GET OUT IN FRONT AND SAY THEY DID SOMETHING BAD.
YOU SEE WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S MIND IS WHEN IT WAS CLEAR THIS WAS OUT HE CAME OUT AND HE DID NOT SAY A WORD ABOUT THE WOMEN.
SO HE COULD HAVE STARTED JUST AS YOU WOULD IF A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS HAD BEEN FOUND THAT I'VE WORKED WITH THIS PERSON AND PERHAPS WORKING WITH THEM AND HAS MADE ME THINK HARD ABOUT IT.
BUT I WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW THAT WHILE THEY ARE MY FRIENDS, I CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THE FACT THAT IT NEVER OCCURRED TO HIM EITHER IN HIS TWEETS OR WHEN HE SPOKE SHOWS YOU WHERE HIS HEAD IS.
AND IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.
>> DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS AT THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> I HOPE NOT.
I THINK AT THIS POINT EVERYONE WHO MAY STILL HAVE PENDING SECURITY CLEARANCES ARE PROBABLY BEING SCRUTINIZED.
BUT ANNE, YOU MADE A GROUND POINT OFTEN THESE PEOPLE -- >> HOLD ON A SECOND.
YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING BACK OVER PEOPLE WHO ARE UP FOR SECURITY CLEARANCES -- >> I WOULD HOPE SO.
>> AND LOOK MORE CLOSELY ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
>> I SHOULD HOPE SO BECAUSE THERE IS GREATER SCRUTINY.
AND NUMBER TWO THE ESSENCE IS YEAH, THERE WAS SOMEONE WORKING WITH YOU NO MATTER WHAT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS ARE AND THEIR SKILL LEVEL, THERE IS A CHARACTER FLAW WITH THEM AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AND THAT IS TRUE IN SOCIETY WE NEED TO STOP BEING BLINDSIDED BIATHLETE'S ABILITY OR AN ACTOR'S INTELLIGENCE AND POISE ON CAMERA AND FOCUS ON THE CHARACTER FLAWS THERE.
>> I THINK THEY MAY HAVE LEARNED THEIR LESSON THEY BETTER OUT THEM BEFORE THE PRESS DOES.
>> AND IT IS NOT A CHARACTER FLAW IT IS A CRIME.
AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS FOR THE CRIMES THAT THEY ARE.
AND TREAT THEM ACCORDINGLY.
>> IT'S BOTH.
>> IT'S CRIMINAL.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL INQUIRER BUYING THE STORIES OF STORMY DANIELS AND THEN NOT LETTING THEM TALK FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND NOW THEY ARE ABLE TO TALK.
DOES THAT SHOW WE HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL ABUSER OR USER OF WOMEN?
>> THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
HE HIMSELF HAS EXERCISED TO BE KIND TO HIM AND RESPECTFUL OF THE OFFICE LET'S SAY THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE HAS NOT EXERCISED THE BEST JUDGMENT IN HIS OWN LIFE.
THAT BEING SAID NOW HE IS THE PRESIDENT.
NOW HE IS UNDER A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY AS IS THE ADMINISTRATION AND AGAIN, I WANT TO REPEAT THIS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT CHARACTER FLAWS BUT CRIMES BEING PERPETRATED.
>> AND CHARACTER FLAWS, PLEASE.
>> OK. >> BUT IT IS A CRIME.
>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HIM NOW THAT HE IS IN OFFICE THAT OTHER STUFF WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT IT'S SO YESTERDAY.
AND YOU CAN TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH AND MAYBE IT DOES FACTOR IT BUT LET'S START WITH THE LONG LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT THAT HAVE HAD WORST BECAUSE IT IS A LONG LIST AND LET'S JUDGE HIM WHAT IS GOING ON AND LEAVE WHATEVER FLAW IS TO BE TREATED BY HIS WIFE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] EVEN JOHN KENNEDY, MARILYN MONROE.
TODAY, YOU THINK IT IS OK TO HAVE A MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO HAS HAD SERIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROSTITUTES AND -- >> ALL OF IT IS ALLEGED.
>> AND WHAT ARE THERE 12 WOMEN SUING HIM?
>> ALLEGED.
ALLEGED.
>> YOU'RE PARSING WORDS HERE, ANNE.
>> I'M TRYING TO BE FAIR.
>> I AM ALL ABOUT RESPECTING THE OFFICE EVEN WHEN I DISAGREE WITH THE ONE THAT HOLDS IT.
BUT WE CANNOT DISPUTE THE FACT THAT THERE IS A MOUNTING BODY OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE REAL PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA WITH THIS PRESIDENT WHICH IS WHY THERE'S BEEN A BENEFIT TO IT.
I THINK MS. BURKE ELUDED TO IT.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MORE GALVANIZING ADMINISTRATION FOR WOMEN.
IT'S WOKEN UP THE WOMEN AND DRIVEN THEM TO THE STREETS WITH THE LARGE OF THE MARCH THAT WASHINGTON HAS SEEN AND TO THE POLLS SO I WILL GO DOWN AS SAYING -- >> WILL THAT ENERGY LAST UNTIL NOVEMBER?
>> IT'S LASTING.
LOOK AT ALL THE ELECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD.
>> GENERIC BALLOT WENT FROM 13 AND REPUBLICANS ARE AHEAD BY ONE.
WILL IT LAST?
I'M NOT SURE.
NOT SURE.
ON THE COASTS MAY BUT -- I DO WANT TO GET BACK TO THE POINT THAT WITH THESE WOMEN YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO STICK TO THE ALLEGATIONS AND WHAT HE DID OR DIDN'T DO WITH THESE WOMEN WAS IN HIS PRIVATE LIFE IT'S BETWEEN HIMSELF AND HIS WIFE.
AT THIS POINT.
>> FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE SCHOOLHOUSE... PARENTS ARE ARE WORRIED THAT SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AS BECOME THE EQUIVALENT OF SENDING THEM INTO WAR ZONES.
THIS WEEK'S SLAUGHTER OF 17 TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN SOUTH GRA BY A FORMER STUDENT WHO HAD HAD BEEN EXPELLED HIGHLIGHTS WHAT ACTIVISTS BELIEVE IS THE NEED TO KEEP AUTOMATIC WEAPONS OUT OF THE HANDS OF MENTALLY ILL AMERICANS AND THERE WAS A BACKLASH AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRO GUN POLITICIANS OFFERING THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO VICTIMS OF MASS SHOOTINGS.
18 SO FAR THIS YEAR AT SCHOOLS ALONE.
IN SOCIAL MEDIA SURVIVORS OF THE FLORIDA ATTACK SAID FORGET THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
AND START PASSING LEGISLATION TO PROTECT STUDENTS.
SO NOW THE WHITE HOUSE IS PUTTING THE FOCUS ON CATCHING MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE BEFORE THEY ACT OUT.
IS THAT HUMANLY POSSIBLE?
>> WELL, JUST TO PUT FRAMING AROUND THIS, BONNIE, I'M WEARING THIS BLACK JACKET IN MOURNING FOR THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY COVERING UP MY PROUD EAGLE'S SHIRT FOR THE WIN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
BUT AS A PARENT MYSELF OF A 15-YEAR-OLD WHO COULD HAVE BEEN IN THAT SAME SCHOOL, THE THING THAT DISAPPOINTED ME ABOUT THE FRAMING OF THE WHITE HOUSE CURRENTLY, IS GUNS WERE NOT MENTIONED ONCE.
THEY ARE FOCUSING ON OTHER THINGS BUT NOT GUNS.
AND THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY IN THE COUNTRY IT'S THE POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION HAS LONG MAINTAINED THAT ASSAULT WEAPONS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE HANDS OF ORDINARY CITIZENS.
AND THERE ARE STATISTICS AND MAYBE THE DEGREE WOMAN CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE THAN I CAN, BUT WHEN ASSAULT WEAPONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, VIOLENT CRIMES GO DOWN BY 66%.
AND SO THAT IS REALLY WHERE THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE NOT ON WHETHER WE HAVE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE.
>> PATRICE?
>> I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE IS TRYING TO NOT TAKE A KNEE-JERK REACTION WHICH IS VERY OFTEN WHAT HAPPENS IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
>> IS THAT WHY THEY KEEP OFFERING THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS?
>> THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, BONNIE.
>> BUT THERE'S BEEN A SOCIAL MEDIA MOVEMENT SAYING ENOUGH WITH YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, WE WANT ACTION AND WE WANT ANTIGUN LEGISLATION.
>> I CAN UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE HURT AND WANT SOMETHING TO BE DONE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG IN LOOKING AT NOT JUST GUNS BUT LOOKING AT THE FLAGS AND THE MARKERS AND THE THINGS THAT MADE THIS EVIL YOUNG MAN DO WHAT HE DID.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS.
>> WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?
START ARRESTING PEOPLE WHO LOOK DANGEROUS.
>> WHEN -- >> HE DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME.
>> NOTHING CAN BE DONE, YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU WILL ARREST.
>> NOT TO MENTION VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION.
>> AND FREE SPEECH.
>> AND FREE SPEECH.
NOT WITHnd STAKING THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF THE PRESIDENT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED WE DID NOT HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN THE CONGRESS.
I THINK THAT WAS DELIBERATE.
BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS KNEW THERE WOULD BE A HORRIFIC BACKLASH IF THEY DARED COME FORWARD WITH THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WHEN THEY WILL NOT PASS LEGISLATION WITH BACKGROUND CHECKS, WHEN THEY WON'T PASS LEGISLATION TO SAY THAT YOU CANNOT GET ON A PLANE IF YOU ARE ON THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T BE IN THIS COUNTRY.
SO FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE CONGRESS THEY HAD NOT ONE WORD TO SAY NOT EVEN A PRAYER BECAUSE THEY WERE SO AFRAID EVEN TO PRAY.
>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH CONGRESSMAN SCALISE WHO WAS THE VICTIM APPRECIATED THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND NEEDS THEM AND GETS UPSET WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE NOT WORKING.
>> THIS IS NOT THE BODY OF THE MINISTERS OF THE NATION IT IS OUR LAWMAKERS.
>> AND THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE 10-YEAR BAN FOR ASSAULT RIFLES VIOLENT CRIME DID NOT GO DOWN.
>> THAT IS NOT TRUE.
>> IT IS TRUE.
I WILL SEND YOU THE INFORMATION.
>> ALTERNATIVE FACTS.
>> IT IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE FACT.
I WILL SEND YOU THE INFORMATION.
SO THE POINT IS THAT GUNS ALONE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.
IT IS A PROBLEM OF THIS KID WAS SO DISTURBED TWO THINGS: ONE HIS NEIGHBORS SAID THEY MOVED WHEN THE POLICE STOPPED COMING TO THE HOUSE BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE 39 TIMES!
SHORT OF TAKING A BILLBOARD WHAT ELSE DID THE KID HAVE TO DO?
>> THE F.B.I.
JUST ADMITTED THAT IT DROPPED THE BALL -- >> SHORT OF TAKING A BILLBOARD OUT... >> WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH F.B.I.
AGENTS TO TRACK EVERY MENTALLY ILL PERSON IN THE COUNTRY.
>> AND THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO TAKE A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH AND PULLING TOGETHER PEOPLE AND OTHERS TO LOOK AT REAL SOLUTIONS PART OF IT WILL BE PROBABLY RECOMMENDING MORE PEOPLE BE HIRED IN THAT CAPACITY.
AND GETTING RETIRED MILITARY AND POLICE.
[ALL TALKING AT ONCE] >> WHY IS THIS A DEBATE ABOUT GUNS?
WHY IS IT NOT A DEBATE ABOUT WEAPONS SALES?
BECAUSE THE NRA WHICH USED TO BE ABOUT GUN SAFETY AND LOBBYING.
>> STILL ARE.
>> NOT -- PEOPLE WHO KNEW IT LONG AGO SAY IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION THAN 30 YEARS AGO.
AND WHAT ALL THEY ARE DOING NOW, THE REASON THEY OPPOSE YOU KNOW, EVEN THE BANNING EVEN THE SMALLEST THING A BUMP STOCK, COME ON!
WHO NEEDS TO BE SHOOTING KILLING 60 PEOPLE AT A TIME?
BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURERS CAN SELL.
AND THE NRA HAS BECOME NOTHING BUT AN AD AGENCY FOR GUN MANUFACTURERS.
>> WELL I WILL NOT DEFEND THE NRA WHAT I WILL DEFEND ARE REGULAR AMERICANS WHO WANT THEIR RIGHT TO OWN AN ARM AND DEFEND THEMSELVES.
THERE ARE LOTS OF NEIGHBORHOODSES WHERE YOU ARE CALL THE POLICE AND THEY ARE THERE IN TWO MINUTES.
AND LOTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS YOU CALL THE POLICE AND YOU ARE LUCKY IF THEY SHOW UP.
THERE IS, I THINK, A LOT OF AMERICANS THEY HEAR THIS OUTRAGE AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUN LAWS.
AND THEY WORRY WHAT ABOUT ME?
WHAT ABOUT MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
>> WHY CAN A 19 BUY AN ASSAULT WEAPON AS EASILY AS GOING AS BUYING A LOAF OF BREAD?
IF YOU WANT A GUN TO DEFEND YOURSELF I'M FINE.
GET A REGULAR GUN BUT AN ASSAULT WEAPON?
THINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED.
>> PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY/TO THE CONTRARY.
AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
