UK & World News
- 26 December 2012, 11:02
Piers Morgan Unrepentant As Petition Passes 65,000
Piers Morgan has renewed his call for a ban on assault rifles as the number of Americans signing a petition to get him out of the country rises.
More than 65,000 people have now signed the petition on the White House website, ensuring the Obama administration will respond.
But Mr Morgan, famous for his sharp tongue and straight talking interview style, has nudged back on Twitter, saying: "Merry Christmas! Even to those who want me deported."
He has also repeated his view that assault rifles should be banned in the US following the latest shooting in which two volunteer firefighters were shot dead in New York state.
The pair were killed, and two others injured, by a gunman who set fire to a car and a house and ambushed them when they arrived at the scene.
The CNN host and former Daily Mirror editor tweeted: "Americans murdered with assault weapons in movie theaters, temples, schools, shopping malls - now, as they put out fires. Where does it end?
"Come on America, ENOUGH: Ban assault weapons & high-capacity magazines, and enforce background checks on 100% of gun sales. Do it now."
Mr Morgan's outspoken views on gun control have sharply divided opinion in the States.
The petition was launched after he interviewed Gun Owners Of America executive director Larry Pratt last week in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.
Mr Pratt suggested some of the victims could have been saved if the teaching staff had been armed, and were therefore able to stop gunman Adam Lanza.
Mr Morgan, who repeatedly interrupted Mr Pratt and shouted over him when he was talking, appeared incredulous when he claimed more guns were the answer.
"You're an unbelievably stupid man, aren't you?" Mr Morgan asked him during the heated debate.
"You have absolutely no coherent argument. You don't actually give a damn about the gun murder rate in America."
Following the interview, a Texas journalist posted the petition to eject him on the White House website.
It alleges Mr Morgan "is engaged in a hostile attack against the US Constitution by targeting the Second Amendment".
what do you think?
shirley sutton
Do t like the guy but he's got a point - why do they need assault rifles
Byron Eckhardt
So they can shoot more people,faster.
PennyFlowerpot
what Byron said ...100% agree,they LIKE to shot stuff/animals/people
shaun spencer
Maybe us british ought to make a deal with the americans, maybe we ought to offer them ,that we will only take him back on the condition that they also return London Bridge.i wonder if they will "deal or no deal".
shaun spencer
Why windows! Though i think i know what your gonna say.
El Bubsio
So 59,000 people have signed a petition that basically opposes his view. Well, a report a few days ago said that 600,000 people had signed 2 petitions agreeing with some or all of what he says. I hope those numbers are indicative of the US population in general. I don't care if it's home defence, or defending against a grizzly bear, if you need 30+ rounds in a gun to do that, perhaps you shouldn't be handling a gun.
Tommy Palace
Well done Piers, But be careful.
david conway
Right or wrong. The yanks don't need this vile man telling them what to do. He only does things to sell himself or a rag.
John Dodsworth
Welcome home no GUNS here in ENGLAND
Gordon Wright
No guns here in England ??? Does the word "Hungerford" mean anything to you ???. If you want to to include the rest of the UK, you could also include "Dunblane". Not to mention Northern Ireland of course, where I'm sure not all of the weapons will have been "Decommisioned" as promised. Don't delude yourself my friend, there are plenty of guns in the UK too..........
Stephen Richards
WHat happened to free speech over there in the land of milk and honey?
krafty81
As long as you don't disagree
Jim Ford
Ridiculous saying that the teaching staff should be armed - the children should be too! ;^)
Mark Hussey
Some states have had police and metal dectors for years
wickhampatrick
Well when there is over 300million in the USA the petition is being signed by a minority. 60,000 is neither here nor there!
David Cooper
I think he has a point more innocent people murdered in a so called civilised country. The gun lobby are mental if they think this is acceptable.
johnny_1234
we don't want him back here!
Richard Gould
Larry Pratt's behaviour is indicative of most Americans and demonstartes why America should be banned from the UN until they can get their own house in order.
James R McCulloch
There is never a dull moment in America!!
Richard Gould
Mr Pratt has the right surname! His attitude is indicative of a lot of Americans and re-enforces that fact that America does not have a place in the diplomatic arena of the world if it is incapable of seeing that their second amendment is wrong and encourages violence which the US administration so vehemently asserts is wrong in other countries. The USA should not have any right to pass judgement on any other country as long as it takes this stance. They should be voted out of the UN until such time that they can demonstrate even a fraction of the intelligence required to make positive contributions to the world.
John Dodsworth
Welcome home you won't get shot at in UK yeh
Micky Lee
Lets start a petition on the Downing Street website to not let him back into the UK, the Yanks can keep him.
John Stedman
I love the US and I'm not too keen on Piers Morgan. But in this one I feel Piers is right; Mr Pratt needs to stand back and look at what he has said. Whatever the Second Amendment. But at the end of the day, it's not - thankfully - our problem.
DavidJohnSmith7
I'm sure the second amendment referred to the right to bear muzzle loading flintlock muskets and pistols; more of a hazard to the user than the the target. By no stretch of the imagination could assault weapons be legitimized morally or ethically by such legislation!
Margaret Carradus
1:48pm on 25/12/2012
first sensible thing Morgan has ever said!