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Piers Morgan Live
Olympic Security Concerns; Defying the Odds, Richard Sherman; Interview with Brian Boitano; Interview with Sen. Natnan Dahm
Aired January 27, 2014 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, ANDERSON COOPER 360 SHOW HOST: Piers Morgan Live starts now.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST: This is Piers Morgan Live. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.
Tonight, six days and counting for the big game, Bronchos versus Seahawks and everyone knows Richard Sherman for this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD SHERMAN, FOOTBALL CORNERBACK FOR THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'm going to shut it for you real quick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: But you may not know the amazing story of an American dream come true. Now, Richard Sherman defied all the odds growing up in crime Britton (ph) in Compton in South Central LA. His father was shot while sitting in his own front porch as a teenager, and was determined that his kids wouldn't go the same way. Richard fought his way to Stanford, got a university degree and will be in Sunday's Super Bowl.
It's an amazing story and who better to tell it than Richard's own family, his parents, Kevin and Beverly Sherman with his brother Branton. They will all join me for an exclusive interview.
Also, the Olympics are here. Look at the unprecedented security surrounded the torch as it made its way through Dagestan today. First, the safety and questions of discrimination fielding around the games in Sochi.
What would Brian Boitano do? Well, the gold medalist and US representative is here to tell us.
Plus, a law named after me involving guns. Pretty sure nobody in CNN has that.
Sanjay Gupta has a marijuana strand but that's it.
Senator Nathan Dahm is here to tell me that more guns equals less crime and why he believes the Piers Morgan Act as he's called it will be so effective. He's going to be in The Grill later tonight. I want to begin though with the Olympic security in question, are athletes in danger since winning the gold at 1998 Olympics? Brian Boitano became a popular television host and author, now a US representative in Sochi as well. He's written the book "What Would Brian Boitano Make?" He joins me now In the Chair.
Brian, welcome to you.
BRIAN BOITANO, AMERICAN FIGURE SKATER: Thank you.
MORGAN: Very controversial games.
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: A lot of talk about security and other issues. Well particular of relevance to you I think the issue of the fact that they seem to think in Sochi as they do throughout most of Russia, that homosexuality doesn't exist.
BOITANO: Right.
MORGAN: We saw the Mayor of Sochi he say, "No, there are no gays in Sochi." when in fact there were even gay night clubs.
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: What do you make of this? Because you were appointed by President Obama's administration to go and represent the country and a few days later, you came out, what do you make about this whole issue down there of the way they treat homosexuals?
BOITANO: Well, you know, when I competed at a very young age with Russians, it was illegal for them to be homosexual. So I was born and raised with these, you know, competitors that told me that those -- the restrictions in the country were like that. So I couldn't believe it then and I think that they just still resonate to that direction.
MORGAN: When you were asked to go and represent your country, by your President to do this, did you have any qualms at all about going there, knowing what the reception is likely to be?
BOITANO: I did. When the President asked me to be on the delegation, I didn't really realize that it was sending the message of diversity and tolerance. And when I read the press release, I realize that I had to make a statement myself. I had been always not in or out. I've just been because I've been out to my family and to my friends and everything like that.
But I knew that I had to make a statement and make it official to go to Sochi because I really wanted to stand strong with the rest of the delegation and make that statement of tolerance and diversity and say this is what we look like in America.
MORGAN: If you got the chance to talk directly to Vladimir Putin, and you might, we don't know yet. If you did, what would you say to him? BOITANO: I would probably say it's a privilege to be here as a guest in your country. I have many friends who I have met competing throughout the world in the Olympics, and I'm also honored to be here representing my country and my President's message.
MORGAN: There was a temptation I guess, but not just for you but a lot of the gay athletes who were competing on behalf of United States and indeed in many other countries.
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: Britain included, to make some kind of protest ...
BOITANO: Right.
MORGAN: ... statement out there.
BOITANO: Yes.
MORGAN: And do you think that's going to happen? Is it advisable to do that to provoke the beast if you like so publicly?
BOITANO: Well, first of all, I think that the athletes who go over there, they have a task at hand. They have to live out their dream number one and they have to focus on representing our country as well as they can for the Olympics. I mean anything that detracts from that, their focus, anything, I don't advise that. As an athlete, I would have never done that.
Also, demonstrations under the Olympic charter are, you know, they don't allow demonstrations. So they could be sent home, they could have their medals taken away. So I think that that's why this presidential delegation is important because we can speak volumes from being there and the athletes don't have to put their medals on the line or their reputation.
MORGAN: There's a very real risk of something happening in terms of a terror attack somewhere in Russia. Everyone's been talking about this. Even today, we saw the torch going through Dagestan and that of course was where we know the Boston marathon bombers spent time and so and so. The security aspect of this game is probably never been as high for any games.
You're going to be out there ...
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... are you worried about your security? Are you worried about the athlete security?
BOITANO: You know, I think everybody is worried about security but I do think that it's the first priority. And I think that the safest place will be the Olympic village. I think the athletes' safety should be the first priority so that they can focus on what they need to do. But, you know, there had been talk, you know, of cancelling it or something like that and I think that that would be very devastating to the athlete especially since the Olympics sort of represents like playing on the field of sports and putting your country's differences aside.
So I think that number one issue is going to be security and I think that athletes will be safe.
MORGAN: On a personal level, coming out at 50, I think it was when you did quite recently I mean how did that feel for you?
BOITANO: It was difficult. It was difficult because I've always been -- I realized I have a public side to my life but I've always been a private person. And I've always reserved that for family and friends and people who are close to me, never been in or out, I've always been proud, I've always been out to my family and friends.
And so I didn't really think I was in or out, I was just myself. So to make this statement to represent a country and the president, I thought it was just such a great platform to make such a difference on a large stage that I, you know, took responsibility for it and I stepped out.
MORGAN: You must have thought of that at the moment, I guess your entire life ...
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... and certainly you adult life, when you actually did it, was it a huge sense of relief? Where you very pleasantly surprised by the reaction? How would you describe it?
BOITANO: Well, I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction but I wasn't relieved, I wasn't relieved. I had -- I felt like I had, you know, had lived a great life and honest life, I just was this private guy inherently private from my parents and I've just grown up that way. And like I said reserved that side of my life for people who are important to me. But I never had a problem with it myself.
MORGAN: Do you mind that you're being seen I guess inevitably as a now famous gay American athlete going to Sochi ...
BOITANO: That's a good point.
MORGAN: ... rather than a great American athlete?
BOITANO: That's a good point because everybody wants to be known their accomplishments and being gay is one aspect of who I am, you know, I am son, I'm a brother, I'm a cook, I'm everything, I'm an athlete. So I want to be known as all those and not one of those things is more important than the other.
MORGAN: There's a moment in the Grammy's last night, I want to play. I'm sure you saw it. Let's watch this.
There's no clip. I'm sorry. The moment we're talking about ...
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... was the multiple wedding ...
BOITANO: I saw that.
MORGAN: ... of gay and straight couples ...
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... Madonna performing and so on. What did you think of that? I mean is it the appropriate place to make that kind of statement do you think?
BOITANO: You know, where is it appropriate? And where is it not appropriate? I think it flowed really well with the show and I applaud them. It's so nice when young people see such mega stars standing up for all the different people getting married and standing up for the message, it makes a difference to young people and the messages being delivered. And I think that that's important thing is for the young people to see that it's really OK who you are.
MORGAN: So what I liked about it was the fact they had gay and straight couples.
BOITANO: I like that too.
MORGAN: It wasn't just, you know, 16 gay couples.
BOITANO: Yeah, I agree.
MORGAN: It's was, look, it's just all the same.
BOITANO: Yeah.
MORGAN: You don't have to view any of these as any different to any other.
BOITANO: Absolutely and I agree with you. I like seeing everybody, it's -- were all just people and we're all different. And that's a message that not only should be sent to President Putin in Russia. It should be sent to everyone in America as well.
MORGAN: Now, we could have played endless clips of you performing obviously at the Olympics, you won gold, you are superstar but this is what you are really are best known for and I want to play this one, all right. I think you know what ...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would Brian Boitano do? If he was here right now. He'd make a plan and he'd follow through. That's what Brian Boitano do.
UNIDENITIFIED MALE: When Brian Boitano within the Olympics skating for the gold. He did two Salchows and a triple Lutz while wearing a blind fold.
UNIDENITIFIED MALE: When Brian Boitano was in the Alps fighting grizzly bears. He used his magical fire breath ...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: It doesn't get better than that, isn't it Brian?
BOITANO: It's pretty amazing and it sort of opened my whole demographic up to a lot younger generation.'
MORGAN: Right. Because now everybody else says what do Brian Boitano do? The way (ph) I ask you before every show.
BOITANO: And I get a lot of people tweeting me saying like, "Hey, I didn't know you're an ice skater. I saw you on TV." and I said, "What? How come you don't get that? I'm ice skating in the movie so, you know, I don't understand why they don't understand it.
MORGAN: Your new project is called the Boitano Project?
BOITANO: Yes.
MORGAN: It airs on HDTV. Let's watch a little clip from it.
BOITANO: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOITANO: And the third house belonged to my family, the Boitano's who went to America and I wanted to make that my villa.
So far, the renovation on the first floor is complete. The kitchen and adjacent sitting area, dining room, and living room are exactly what I imagined.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: That's kind of a makeover show, is it?
BOITANO: Yeah, it is but I found my great, great grandfather's house in a village where every Boitano came from and I bought it from 20 Boitano's and I renovated it so that I can have my family go there. So it's a village filled with Boitano's. Can we go find the village where you come from and renovate that and in the next ...
MORGAN: I actually come from little village called Newick in East Sussex in England.
BOITANO: That would be cool to do that.
MORGAN: There are 1,500 inhabitants and they were all a bit like me, annoying Brits. Brian, it's been a real pleasure to see you.
BOITANO: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
MORGAN: Thank you very much. Best of luck in Sochi.
BOITANO: Thank you.
MORGAN: So let's stick it to him.
Still ahead, Richard Sherman's parents coming up next.
Though, State Senator Nathan Dahm has a proposed bill that would no doubt lead to no guns on the street. He wants to explain why that will make Oklahoma a safer place. In fact, he's even named the bill after me. What a privilege and all of that is. He joins me next on The Grill.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF BILL MCMAHON: About 11:15 this morning. Our 911center received a number of calls for shots fired at the Columbia mall. We had officers quickly get into the area and we're able to identify three victims at an upper level store in the Columbia mall. One of those victims appears to be the shooter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: A Columbia mall in Maryland reopened today for the first time since a gunman walked with a shotgun. A shotgun killed two mall employees aged 21 and 25. And then several others (inaudible) himself just made this in a string of shootings and of course across the Unites States and Oklahoma.
And then Nathan Dahm proposed, get this, the Piers Morgan Constitutional Right to keep a bare arms without infringement acts. The bill would allow anyone to carry a firearm without a license. And Dahm joins me now on The Grill.
Welcome to you, Senator. Explain to me why you come up with this act? Why my name is involved and what you have to achieve?
SEN. NATHAN DAHM, STATE SENATOR, OKLAHOMA: Well, the act itself like you said it would actually just allow people to carry a firearm without a permit. There's 35 states that already allow that here in America. In fact five states are constitutional carry states that you don't have to have a permit to carry openly or concealed. And at Vermont, the ages actually at 16 in Vermont to be able to ...
MORGAN: Right. What's it got to do with me?
DAHM: ... secure that. Well, with this bill when I was going to be running the bill, I thought well a lot of times with different bills it's very ironic an a way names are come up with. We have in the patriot act one of the most unpatriotic act ever passed by Republicans. We have the patient protection in Affordable Care Act. It has been proven now to be unaffordable and with these security issues from the website it looks to be, you know, not protecting the patients at all. And I have seen a lot of times in my own state legislature people are signing name to a bill to ensure it's passed. It has the term child in it or anything like that. You don't have to vote against it because a lot of times people look at it and say, "This person -- that person vote against children." It doesn't matter what the content of the bill is. So I just thought what a better way to start a conversation or discussion especially with you on the second amendment than to name a bill after you.
MORGAN: And what is your point about the second amendment?
DAHM: It's a constitutional right that we have that is in shrine. It's a God given and constitutionally protected right.
MORGAN: Explain to me, Senator. Look, do you know what this is?
DAHM: Absolutely. I've seen those and actually a toy when I was growing up.
MORGAN: What is it?
DAHM: It's Kinder surprise egg.
MORGAN: Right. Would you describe it?
DAHM: Well, it depends. Is that the old style? Or one of the new style? The old style was -- it was a chocolate shell and inside it actually had a little toy for the child while they were growing up.
MORGAN: Right. Right. You realize they are illegal. Not just in Oklahoma but in the whole of America. We'll be breaking the law just by holding one. Do you know why they're illegal?
DAHM: Because the government has interfered and is trying to protect us from ourselves.
MORGAN: Right, because they are health hazard. Do hear the irony?
DAHM: Well, what is the irony?
MORGAN: Well, look, I'm not allowed to eat a chocolate egg in America, it's illegal.
DAHM: Yes.
MORGAN: And I can go and buy 2,360 different types of guns?
DAHM: The federal government has become very ...
MORGAN: Because of your constitutional rights to have guns. I can't eat this chocolate egg. Does that strike you as strange?
DAHM: It does indeed. The federal government has become very intrusive and they are operating outside of their constitutional authority in many areas ...
MORGAN: So you went battleheart (ph) with me to save the Kinder egg for the American people?
DAHM: I love the Kinder eggs. I've given those to my cousins and different people for years. Yes, it's a ...
MORGAN: Lets get serious about the guns, because I've had lots of arguments with people about the second amendment and about the constitutional rights to have guns.
What I want to talk to you about is where is the right of an American to not be shot? Where is the right of an American parent to not have to worry about their child going to school and being shot? There had been 36 separate school shootings now in America since Newtown and absolutely no politician is doing anything about it. You're one of the few to do anything and your solution to this is to have more guns on the streets not fewer guns.
DAHM: And so the question is, where is their right not to help someone ...
MORGAN: At what point is the right to life as a right to not have your child shot supersede your determination to have more guns on the streets of America.
DAHM: Well the right to life is enshrine in our family document, the Declaration of Independence. It says that we have the right the right to life liberty in the pursuit of happiness.
MORGAN: What do you think more lives will be saved by flooding the streets with more guns?
DAHM: Well, this won't flood the streets with more guns.
MORGANS: You would -- just to clarify, you want everyone in Oklahoma to have the right to just carry guns, anywhere they wish, right?
DAHM: Correct. I want them to have the right but I'm not going to force them to carry a gun. I'm not going to ...
MORGAN: That's very good of you.
DAHM: ... force you to purchase a gun.
MORGAN: But you would like ...
DAHM: It is a right that you would exercise.
MORGAN: ... but therefore, you would like more guns on the streets?
DAHM: I think that the more people that carry guns, yes. The less crime there is.
MORGAN: Do you really believe that, Senator?
DAHM: Absolutely.
MORGAN: You really believe that -- presumably of the ultimate, your utopia is that every American wanders around the streets of America armed and that makes it safer?
DAHM: No, because I'm not going to force anyone to violate what they don't want to do. So if they don't want to carry a gun, they don't have to. But I'm not going to take away other people's rights to carry a gun if they want to do so.
So it's about protecting people's rights. It's about protecting their right to keep in bare arms and that's the difference. It's a right, a God given constitutionally protected right to keep in bare arms.
MORGAN: OK. Let's take a break, let's come back and debate this a little more after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MORGAN: Back now is Senator Nathan Dahm from Oklahoma who's attempting to immortalize me with this proposed bill, the Piers Morgan Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms without Infringement. And to talk (ph) this back with me on the (inaudible). Let's just go to a few things. Would you support any of the key gun control proposed bill for President Obama to have (inaudible). Just go through them quickly.
Would you support an assault weapons back?
DAHM: No, I would not.
MORGAN: On my description.
DAHM: No, I would not.
MORGAN: Would you support a ban on high capacity magazines say over 10 bullets.
DAHM: No, I would not.
MORGAN: Would you support universal background checks?
DAHM: I would not support any of the -- the propositions that they have presented or that you have presented, but you are more than willing to present those solutions as a constitutional amendment just to propose them as a law or as an executive order will not work.
MORGAN: Right. 38 percent of the American people support background checks according to the last poll. Why would you not support that? What is your argument against knowing whether somebody about to buy gun is mentally insane and can be proven to be mentally insane or is a criminal or has a criminal record, why would you not want to know that?
DAHM: Because the constitution has currently stated that's currently written says, "The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
MORGAN: Even if you're mentally insane or criminal?
DAHM: If you want to amend and change the constitution, there's a way to do that and it's through the amendment process.
MORGAN: But you don't -- just to clarify. You don't want people to know if somebody buying a gun is mentally insane or criminal.
DAHM: There was at one point time, a majority people that felt that alcohol should be prohibited in America. And as a result to that, we got the 18th Amendment.
MORGAN: Well, let's talk about guns.
DAHM: And I'm talking about...
MORGAN: I just want to clarify and this is quite important because many, many pro-gun people always say to me, it's a big mental health issue. You know, what your opinion to be telling me is you don't even want to check if people are mentally insane and could be proven to be mentally insane before they purchase a gun.
DAHM: If you're talking about mental health in relation to guns, you're just addressing a symptom, not the problem. If you want us to talk about mental health then we can talk about mental health.
MORGAN: OK. But how do you -- how do you do -- have you been check if they're mentally insane?
DAHM: What we need to address the mental health first. There's a need to tackle about mental.
MORGAN: How do you tackle that if you don't even want to check if they're mentally insane?
DAHM: Well, if you want to talk about mental health issues, I mean, and if you think that the government is somehow going to protect American citizens against mental health, our government has dropped the ball even on our troops...
MORGAN: No. But no, no. Don't use troops...
DAHM: In years and years...
MORGAN: ... citizen.
DAHM: ... more troops have died by their own hands because of...
MORGAN: Senator, it's a very simple question, easy question.
DAHM:... in the past in war.
MORGAN: (Inaudible) confusing you. Let's try make it simpler. You don't want to have any background checks on guns or whatsoever, right?
DAHM: Correct.
MORGAN: Is your constitutional God-given right to not have any checks?
DAHM: We are innocent until proven guilty in America.
MORGAN: Yes. Well, you're very concerned about mental health being a problem and not the gun, right?
DAHM: Mental health is the root of the problem...
MORGAN: Right...
DAHM: ... as any man health related gun issues if your...
MORGAN: And despite in your belief that mental health is the key problem, not the gun, which I think is a preposterous disproportionate way looking at it. But despite that, taking you as face value, even though you think mental health is the key problem of gun violence in America, you still don't want to have any background check to see if somebody who is buying a gun may have a record of mental insanity. Now, explain to me why that in itself is not completely insane?
DAHM: First of all, that's not what I said Piers. I don't believe the mental health is the number one major issue with guns in America...
MORGAN: What is it?
DAHM: ... I was saying that...
MORGAN: What is?
DAHM: ... in regards to mental health...
MORGAN: What is the number one contributor factor of gun violence?
DAHM: I can answer that one...
MORGAN: Well, if not guns of mental health, what else can it possibly be?
DAHM: Now, if you want I can answer the previous question or this last three that you thrown out at me?
MORGAN: The floor is yours senator.
DAHM: Well, it's your show, I mean, I'm here as a guest. I'll be more happy to answer whatever you want.
MORGAN: Senator, the floor is yours. But, I would like you to answer this question. How do you deal with the problem of mental health if you don't even want to background check which might reveal somebody has a history of mental illness?
DAHM: And if we implement that mental health check or background check and as you wrote in your book, the Aurora shooter would have past through all those checks, then what? What's the next solution? If that was still wouldn't be able to stop it...
MORGAN: Right. DAHM: ... in this instance, so what's the next solution?
MORGAN: Right.
DAHM: Because we could potentially -- if we implemented those, whatever concerns you have, whatever solutions you have, we could still potentially have this problem, like the Aurora shooting.
MORGAN: If you say -- if the key issue is not mental health or guns in gun violence. What is it?
DAHM: What do you mean?
MORGAN: What else could it possibly be?
DAHM: Well, like I said, I mean, if you want things to be...
MORGAN: You said it wasn't guns and it wasn't mental health. What is the key contributing factor to gun violence and gun death in America if it's not guns or mental health issues?
DAHM: It is a sin nature in mankind.
MORGAN: A sin nature in mankind.
DAHM: It is an evilness that exists in some people that are willing to violate other people's rights, their right to life, for instance, as you suggested earlier. It is somebody that is willing to do harm to someone else.
MORGAN: Right. But the early on...
DAHM: Because they have evil in their heart.
MORGAN: Yes. I got it. So the only answer to gun violence in America as far as you can tell and you can deduce is to have more guns on the streets and more people publicly carrying guns.
DAHM: No, that's not the only answer, but that is one of the answers for sure. Yes.
MORGAN: Yes, how would that be an answer?
DAHM: Because then law abiding citizens, good guys would be able protect themselves from bad guys. There would be a lot more -- a lot -- fewer victims and more people that are willing to enable to actually protect themselves.
MORGAN: Do you realize that in every country, they're supporting tough gun control, whether it's Australia, or Japan, or Britain, or other countries, there's been a dramatic reduction in gun violence, gun death, gun death by suicide, murder, and so on. You realized that?
DAHM: Well, I realized that you have also mentioned in your book and then many writings that you want to ban assault weapons in America but not handguns, is that correct?
MORGAN: Well, I think assault weapons are good stuff. You don't even believe that right?
DAHM: But you do want to ban handguns as well?
MORGAN: I'm going to find a gun's full stop (ph).
DAHM: And shotguns?
MORGAN: Well, on this time, more people want guns for hunting. I would do that under licensing. We want to remove the licensing as bait as any gun ownership in Oklahoma, don't you? As part of the "Piers Morgan Act", you don't even want to have any licensing, you want no check at all do you senator? You just want to return basically to every Oklahoman walking around with a gun on the holster like the Wild West and I simply put it to you, it's like, deadly, and we put it you.
Let me play you a clip. This is from a man called David Wheeler. Somebody said about his son Ben, he was killed at the Sandy Hook massacre and what he felt should say to America, the Americans about guns as wish list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID WHEELER, SON BENJAMIN DIED AT SANDY HOOK: Liberty of any person to own a military style assault weapon and a high capacity magazine and keep them in their home is second to the right of my son to his life. Let's honor the founding documents and get out priorities straight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: It's done. Simple question. Do you agree with him that his son's right to his life should supersede the right of an American to own a military style assault weapon of high capacity magazine?
DAHM: I believe that his son has his right to life and it's very sad news (ph) that there was not somebody there to protect his son.
MORGAN: Is his son's right to life more important than an American's right to own a military style assault weapon and high capacity of magazine as he said?
DAHM: See, the problem...
MORGAN: Yes or no?
DAHM: The problem here Piers is that...
MORGAN: Would you agree with him or not?
DAHM: You don't understand what rights are, you, yourself said, just a moment ago, that you're fine with people having...
MORGAN: I'm confused about you're...
DAHM: ... having a shotgun for crime scene.
MORGAN: I'm confused about what you think your rights are. There's a Sandy Hook father who lost his young son, Ben. He was, I think, 6 years old. And he is simply putting the question out there for other Americans including you to determine what is more important, the right of his child to live or your right to have an assault rifle and a high capacity magazine. So, which is more important now, he says, his son's right to life is more important. Do you agree with him or do you not agree with him?
DAHM: I believe that both of them should and could co-exist.
MORGAN: Which is more -- this one has to come above the other.
DAHM: Well, no, they don't.
MORGAN: OK.
DAHM: It does not have to come above the other because we do have a right to life, liberty, and should have (ph) happiness. But we also do have a right to keep and bear arms. And yes, somebody should not take that right and violate somebody else's right and take a life and they should be punished accordingly if they do that. But you don't understand what a right is. And that's the problem here.
MORGAN: In other word, you get a Second Amendment?
DAHM: Yes.
MORGAN: Gun?
DAHM: A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
MORGAN: Where does the well-regulated militia part come into this?
DAHM: So, you would say that's it would be fine for militia members and maybe military police to own AK-47...
MORGAN: Yes.
DAHM: ... AR-15 and military...
MORGAN: Yes. I believe the police and military should be -- I believe that part of a well-regulated militia.
DAHM: OK.
MORGAN: What is well-regulated about Oklahomans all being armed in the streets, civilians, without even a license or a background check or anything else. What part of that constitutes for the founding fathers in your constitution describes as a well-regulated militia?
DAHM: Well -- just to clarify again, you are fine with militia members owning AR-15s.
MORGAN: No, I'm fine with the military or the police in any country having weapons.
DAHM: OK.
MORGAN: Absolutely fine. But my problem is that -- I said many times, is a British army colonel. He has fought in Iraq and Afghanistan with American servicemen, and that need to be told about guns or how they used or when they are important to be used.
DAHM: I just want to clarify.
MORGAN: But I simply want to clarify with you, what part of a well- regulated militia allows you to put this bill out using my name to get yourself some cheap (ph) publicity and sort of make a mockery of the whole thing, what part allows you to say that Oklahoman should all just be able to be armed to the (inaudible) in the streets with no licensing or background checks and that constitutes somehow a well- regulated militia as laid down by your founding fathers.
DAHM: First of all, I'm not here to get attention for myself. I'm here to get attention on the issue. But to answer your question, if I may, because you said that you're fine with military, with militia, with police having assault rifle.
MORGAN: Yeah.
DAHM: Title 44 of the Oklahoma statute defines militia. And it says that the militia is made up of three parts. The Oklahoma National Guard, the Oklahoma State Guard, and the unorganized militia which is every able bodied citizen between ages of 18 and 69. Therefore, under Oklahoma statute, in conformity with the United States constitution, every able bodied U.S. citizen in Oklahoma has the right, and the authority, and the constitutional authority, and the statutory authority to be a part of the militia and to keep and bear arms.
And according to what you say about militia members, they therefore have the right to have an assault weapon rifle.
MORGAN: Did you think that most Oklahomans agree with you?
DAHM: I believe so.
MORGAN: Yes.
DAHM: I mean, majority of them I've heard from actually...
MORGAN: They'd all be very comfortable, everyone having guns in the streets, no licensing, no background checks, no knowledge if any of those people are already mentally insane or criminals.
DAHM: I would not say a definition to everyone because that's an absolute and I don't say...
MORGAN: Almost the majority of Oklahomans. DAHM: Oklahoma is a very gun-friendly state.
MORGAN: Senator, good to talk to you.
Coming up. The country most infamous (ph) post game rant but that's not my real interpretation of Richard Sherman as you'll discover when I'm joining exclusively by Richard Sherman's family.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MORGAN: The Super Bowl is this Sunday, but rather, the country buzzing about the match of Denver Broncos and Seahawks, there's one player dominating all the headlines. Richard Sherman is our household name after this post game interview on Fox Sports.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD SHERMAN, SEAHAWKS CORNERBACK: Well, I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you'll going to get. Don't you ever talk about me.
ERIN ANDREWS, FOX SPORTS REPORTER: Who was talking about you?
SHERMAN: Crabtree. Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'm going to shut it for you real quick.
SHERMAN: Crabtree. Don't you open your mouth about the best? Stand up for you real quick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Some called him a thug, some called him much worst. And if you know the amazing story, it is rise to the top (ph). A story of a kid from a crime, Braden Compton in South Central, L.A. who rose to the apex of the sporting world.
Joining me now exclusively, to set the record straight about Richard's -- brother and business manager, Brandon Sherman. Brandon, welcome to you. I mean, you probably getting your parents on of what we called technical difficulties in the business. We will keep trying as you and I talk. And if we don't get them tonight, we'll get them on tomorrow night.
But actually, you're a perfect guy to talk to, because you grew up with Richard down there in South Central, L.A. I know the area well. It's an amazing place in many ways. Now, you know, Serena Williams came from there. Some of the biggest rap stars in the world come from there.
Your brother is down the Super Bowl, he's from there. What was it like growing up down there with your brother? And what kind of adversity do you think he has overcome to get where he has?
BRANDON SHERMAN, RICHAR SHERMAN'S BROTHER: Well, you know, it was tough. You know, it will be tough for, you know, just to average kid. But, you know, the way our parents raise us to, you know, believing God, to have confidence and faith, and what it is that we believe, you know, we were able to make it out. You know, just stand focused in sports and keeping a positive mind state in having goals at mind.
So, you know, to a lot of people, they will consider it tough -- very, very tough but, you know, we were able to stay focused and make it out.
MORGAN: It seemed to be a pivotal moment in your family's life. Considering (ph) your father was 18, he was on the porch down in the South Central, L.A. with a wrong type of gang as he put it himself and he was shot out. And he vowed after that incident that this would never happen to his children and he institute only (ph) your mother some rules, no gang involvement, no dressing in gang colors, no hanging on street corners or dodgy porches, no eating outside the kitchen, no poor grades, no tolerance to talk back, and you were bought from taking the bus or walking too far from home.
Your mom would chauffeur you to party, to wait outside, and yet all of these created what we now see, which is brilliant success story, I mean in your own rights' successful. Talk me through some of those rules and why you think perhaps, at the heart of all these is parental responsibility?
SHERMAN: Well, you know, now that I'm a parent, myself, I totally understand everything that our parent put us through, you know. I have a little girl. She's seven years old. And I try to implement all the things that they did when we were growing, you know. Growing up, we thought a lot of the rules that they gave us were tough because some of the things that we were able to do and weren't able to do, our peers did something totally different.
So growing up with those rules, it was kind of shaky to us when were children but now that we're all adults, we look back and we thank them. And we let them know that we're truly grateful, you know. They were just heavy on discipline, you know. Discipline was a major, major part of our household. And yes, now that I see -- now I see the relevance of what it does, you know, it kept us, you know, focused and on the right path.
And I recommend any parent out in America, even and especially in the inner city to, you know, discipline your children. Be their forum, support them, and let them know that you love and care about them and you'll raise some pretty successful children.
MORGAN: I heard that your mother, on one occasion, but I don't think this was directly applicable to you, actually marched on to a playing field where you're engaged in sporting activity of you'd had a bad report from school and gave you a good seeing to right there and then.
SHERMAN: Yes, that's totally true, you know, my mom is like, "You got to see Richard." You know, she's just as fiery, passionate woman, you know, and she doesn't play any games when it comes to, you know, respecting others and, you know, showing love.
And it was one of those occasions, you know, in high school, I was a pretty good football player, a jack, whatever you want to call it. In class, and I was just clowning around and the teacher told me he was going to call my mom. And he called her and, you know, my stomach hurt the rest of the school day because I knew what my mom would do to me, you know, whether it had been, when I got home or -- in this case it was at practice, you know. I was practicing and she literally pulled up on the football field and hopped out and whipped my butt right there. And, you know, I picked some scrutiny from my classmates and teammates, but at the end of the day it was a positive day. It turned out positive and I learned not to, you know, jack around in class anymore.
MORGAN: When you talk about your brother that the passion that he showed in that interview, many people took it as being trash talk but, you know, it wasn't too far away from what we used to see from one of his great heroes, Muhammad Ali, and others that I believe ...
SHERMAN: Right.
MORGAN: ... he is to model himself. But what was your impression when you heard him react like that?
SHERMAN: Well my impression was -- the first thing I said to my brother I said, "Bro I love you man. I love you for that, " you know, because I'm no Richard, he's an awesome person. A lot of people of Seattle and people of our hometown, the person we know, they know that he's a very good, caring, loving, gosh or eating cartoon (ph) and watching (inaudible), you know, and, you know, he's passionate and he wants to be the best at his craft.
He's kind of structures his game and his bravado behind, you know, the great players like Muhammad Ali, Deion Sanders, and, you know, a lot of the guys that are, you know, very, very confident.
So, yes, you know, it was just Richard being passionate about his craft and he feels like he's the best. He wants everyone to know that. And that date, he let the world know.
MORGAN: Well you should be very proud of him. I'll always look forward. I wish he would saw some of that passion in my football team, I can tell you, 'cause he showed all the kind of aggression and determination to win that I want to see in sportsman.
And Branton, it's great to talk to you. We will try and get your parents on, before close and play tonight (ph). If we don't, we'll have them on tomorrow night and I wish you all the very best to you and your family. Have a weekend.
SHERMAN: Thank you. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.
MORGAN: Good to talk to you.
Coming up, last night, Beatles reunion on the Grammy. I want that Beatles reunion. It wasn't really, was it? More on that, another Grammy moments after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MORGAN: Paul McCartney at last nights Grammy award. Everyone knows the biggest names in Rock and Roll. A former Rolling Stone editor, Ben Fong-Torres, as young music journalist spent, witness the birth of Beatlemania in the US. He was also (inaudible) get a final Beatles concert in San Francisco's Candlestick Park, as well, as being personally immortalized in the movie Almost Famous. Welcome to you. Ben, how are you?
BEN FONG-TORRES, FMR. EDITOR, ROLLING STONE: Good evening Piers. Good to be here.
MORGAN: What do you make of the -- of the much vaunted Beatles reunion? So I'm going to say the massive Beatles fan, I thought a bit let down. It was basically a Paul McCartney new record with Ringo banging on the drums.
TORRES: Well yes. That's what it was exactly. And no, it wasn't meant to be a Beatles reunion. They try to downplay it originally, of course, and keep it a secret. And even as they did, it was pretty clear, it was teaser for something bigger coming up probably on CBS. And so that's what it was, a tease, and it was by, no means, a reunion. Still it was kind of fun to see. We see a lot of Paul. He has maintained his busy schedule, really, doing concerts and they're making films and writing songs and doing albums. But it was kind of fun to see Ringo in the background there ...
MORGAN: You ...
TORRES: ...(inaudible) way, as you say.
MORGAN: Right. When you saw the Beatles ascend to their superstardom in America, it was quite extraordinary the speed they did. (Inaudible) -- going to the great graphic here.
January 18, 1964, I Want to Hold Your Hand debuts at number 45 on the US chart. February 7th of 1964, the Beatles arrived at JFK airport to 3,000 screaming fans. February 9th, '64, 73 million people watched them on Ed Sullivan with their debut. At April 4th, '64, so less than three months later, the Beatles have the top five positions on the US singles chart. I don't think there's ever been such an incredible fast speed domination of the American music chart in history, is it?
TORRES: I believe you're right about that, Piers. I don't go far, you know, not back to know what Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee did but in terms of dominating the charts the way they did and as fast as they did is amazing. And one reason was because they're American labeled.
Capitol Records actually declined to release or to use their license and release those first records so they land up on two smaller independent labels and by the time Capitol woke up to Beatlemanian, again, put out titles, there were titles coming out from Swan and Vee- Jay Records. And so that's why you had something you collect Beatle material and, of course, it took fans loving them and putting them all up on the charts like that but that was part of the reasons that happened that way.
MORGAN: Well, let's take and let us listen to the Beatles, the Fab Four in the Haydock.
And what's fantastic was because one of the reasons the Beatles split up in the end and stop performing live was they couldn't actually even feel themselves sing anymore. They couldn't hear anything. Let's just say, a cacophony noise, isn't it?
TORRES: Well, yes. I attended what turned out to be the last Beatles concert at Candlestick Park in late August of 1966. And I could hardly hear anything. It was mostly screaming.
I managed to be in the press box for the baseball games and then they were taking over second base and I could barely hear any music coming out of those little PA systems ahead for the ball part and Paul, later on, when I had a chance to interview him, said it was just a blur. You didn't really hear yourself at all. And, you know, their setlist, I have a copy of John Lennon's setlist, there are 11 songs averaging probably about two minutes per plus about 30 seconds for screens between and so they were done within half an hour and then blaze out of there. It was just a blur as Paul said.
MORGAN: Well, what seem secret to the Beatles' success, practice and the reason I say is as Malcolm Gladwell, in one of his books, outlined this theory that nobody ever becomes great to anything without 10,000 times of practice. All those months they spent in Hamburg, doing 10, 12 gigs a week, in the end, prepared them for when they got that big break to really beating incredibly good to musical band.
TORRES: Right. We're celebrating the 50th anniversary or Beatlemania but the fact was that they formed in the late '50s and were professional by 1960. As you say they worked hard day and night doing multiple sets in Germany as well as Liverpool, and then finally to London, and so they were well-practiced by that time.
But the reason they have made it in America, especially, was because they were a novelty. They were so different. And they were so good and they were so charming and they were so cute. And so you have this assemblage of all of these factors and America have not seen anything like this before partly because American radio always rejected British acts until then, you know, England had a major superstar with Cliff Richard and The Shadows and we hardly ever heard about them here in America and that's why Capital turned them down when they first had a chance to release their recordings. And so it was new for us, Americans, that we just undone to them.
MORGAN: I'm glad you started welcoming the British onto your screens, anyway.
I think it's your break. When we come back, let's talk about your great moment in movie which is when you were immortalizing Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous. You were the ruthless Rolling Stone editor.
TORRES: I was.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TORRES: This is Ben Fong-Torres. I'm the music editor at Rolling Stone magazine. We got a couple of copies of your stories from the San Diego's door. Is this is the same were in Miller?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes it is.
TORRES: Wisdom of God howling tags the spirit of rock and roll. This is good soul stuff men.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well thanks, thanks, thanks.
TORRES: Listen I think you should be ready for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Ben Fong-Torres immortalized there in Almost Famous maybe goes by time. Ben, one among the fleeted (ph) to be out their in lights in a hit movie, you must have loved it.
TORRES: I love it. Yes. It wasn't a big hit movie but it sure, was a good movie. Yes it a long ways. That was like 40 something years ago that I was doing that kind of stuff and discovering the kid named Cameron Crowe who made that movie.
MORGAN: YES.
TORRES: So that part of it is true, about the characterization of me is not quite there, you know, it didn't happened quite that way about the closest thing to my character that is in the movie is the loudness of my shirts. And that's about it but, you know, I met the guy at a Rolling Stone's concert at the forum. But that was forum. I knew he was a kid and then saw him again in daylight the next day.
And then we had a phone call and I signed him a short article about the wonderful county rock band Poco and he did a great job. Within a year, he had a cover story but it wasn't overnight.
MORGAN: Now Ben I want to just end with Justin Bieber, couldn't let you go without mentioning. And if you're still in Rolling Stone, how would you be covering him? Give me, in 20 seconds, your advice to Justin Bieber.
TORRES: Well, I just did a blog about him last year in Coelho (ph) where I write blog and said that it seem like trouble was lurking and I hope he would get straight. And that's the only advice that I have, you know, and who am I to say. But yes he is a smart kid to get to where he is. Let's get smart about who he is being impacted by and how he -- and self discipline. He's got to learn to practice that now as he becomes a young adult.
MORGAN: Very smart advice as always expected from you Ben Fong- Torres. It's a real pleasure to talk to you sir. Thank you very much.
TORRES: Same up Piers. Thank you. MORGAN: It's probably time for mine (ph) about special episode of the up coming CNN original series, The Sixties, The British Invasion. Premier's Thursday night at 9 Eastern right here on CNN. Couldn't have enough British Invasion as far as I'm concerned. That's all for us tonight. AC360 later starts right now.
COOPER: Good evening everyone. Tonight, my interview with State Senator Creigh Deeds of Virginia, whose son stabbed him multiple times and how he says the strategy could have been avoided.
Also tonight from here in Washington, what more can you say with...
