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Father of Alison Parker Speaks on Gun Control; What Can Be Done on Gun Control. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired August 28, 2015 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[14:30:00] ANDY PARKER, FATHER OF ALISON PARKER: And I met the people that she worked with and the people that really loved her and it was -- it was profoundly difficult for me. But I think that the grief and the outpouring of sympathy -- has not been only here but around the world -- has been incredible. I mean, incredible. You know, for Alison and for Adam.

Alison -- Alison was a force of nature. She was an absolute force of nature. And I think that her life is going to have meaning not just as a journalist but if we can effect meaningful changes in our gun laws here, this senseless murder will not go in vain. And I think you all know this has been my mission and I'm taking it up. And I was pleased that the governor of Virginia has stepped up and is right there with me. And I would encourage other politicians to be as courageous as he and so that's the plan. I'm -- I'm not going to let this drop. And as I've told many of you around the country and around the world, the people that I've spoken with, you know, each time you think there's a tipping point with Sandy Hook or Aurora and then nothing gets done.

And I know you guys have to do your jobs. Look, my daughter was a journalist and she would want me here telling the story. I'm doing this for her. But as journalists, I saw a piece that Dan Rather wrote, actually the day of the murder, and he said, "Our profession" -- meaning journalism -- "We're not doing our jobs staying on point with this and keeping this on the front burner, not the back burner. This stuff can't go away. You cannot let this die."

And I know you've got other news to report on, but this can't be the story for three days and then, oh, gee, let's see what Donald Trump has to say next week or what's Donald Trump doing? You guys -- she was one of you. She was one of you. She was in the fraternity. She was a journalist. And frankly, you guys should be concerned because now when we're out here like this, I mean, everybody is a target. Everybody is a target. So you've got to be with me on this and we've got to do whatever we can to hold these people's feet to the fire and not be afraid of the NRA fighting any kind of reasonable legislation tooth and nail. We're not trying to take people's guns away. All we want to do is keep crazy people from getting guns. And there's got to be a way to do it and I'm going to dig down in the weeds and start to learn the process. It's too raw for me yet but I guarantee you, somebody has the answer for this and somebody has a reasonable answer for this and I'm going to find it and I'm going to make it happen.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Andy, your daughter's killer passed a criminal background check and was able to legally buy his weapons. Maybe this is a deeper issue than --

(CROSSTALK)

PARKER: I think it is.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How do you know if somebody is mentally unstable?

PARKER: Well, that's what we've got to find out. If there are warning signs, you know, there's got to be a way. But, you know, we can solve that problem but we need to at least start by having background checks and let's close the loopholes on people being able to get guns at these gun shows. I mean, there are reasonable initiatives out there and reasonable proposals that have been made. You know, who needs -- you know, who -- the state legislature in Virginia passed a law that you can buy a machine gun. Who the hell needs a machine gun to go hunt. I don't get it.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What makes you think or how do you think this will change things after all of those other massacres and shootings.

PARKER: She's one of you guys. She's one of you guys and not that that makes you special, but, you know, you have a voice. And you need to use that voice and we need to keep the pressure on the politicians to not be afraid of the NRA. I mean, listen, the best thing that the NRA could do right now, most of their members support reasonable gun control. The membership does. But the politicians that give money from the NRA, they don't do anything. And it's time we hold these people's feet to the fire and shame them wherever we can. And I want to go to the Virginia legislature and I want them -- I want them to look me in the eye and tell me why can't we have a reasonable proposal, any reasonable background check, you know, the things that -- I want them to look me in the eye and tell me.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORT: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)

PARKER: I have not. But I plan to.

(CROSSTALK)

[14:40:47] UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What would they have been able to see in his background that would not have allowed him to get a gun? He was never charged anything and was not committed?

PARKER: I don't know the answer to that question other than he had a history of -- he was disturbed. You know, he had to be escorted out of this building when he was let go. There are warning signs that people can look at and say, wait a minute. There's a problem with these other shootings. With Sandy Hook, there are problems that you can look at. And there's no guarantee.

Look, it's -- wearing a seat belt in a -- you drive around in a car and we all need to be wearing seat belts but that's no guarantee that it's going to save us from an accident and getting killed. You know, but we've got to do something. It's a step. And that's really -- right now, that's all I'm advocating. Let's just -- let's enact reasonable gun control measures and do something reasonable and then, you know, we can tackle the mental health. And part of that is the mental health issue. We have to be able to -- you know, when there are warning signs and there has got to be a reasonable way for us to do this.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did your daughter ever express a concern over the state of gun laws? Not as a reporter but as your daughter?

PARKER: She -- you know, listen, I don't own a gun, we don't have a gun in our family. I'm probably going to have to get one. Sad to say, but, you know, I -- unfortunately, that's just the world we live in.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Why do you say you need to get a gun?

PARKER: When you're in the media, as you know, and when you're taking on an issue like this, there are a lot of people that take exception to what you're saying.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Have you already received threats?

PARKER: I have not, but I don't want to take any chances. She was always concerned only because, you know, she knew, like all of you know, when you're visible and when you're in the public eye, you could be conceivably be a target. But, you know, did she consciously dwell on that or was she always saying that, gee, I think my life is in danger? No. She didn't live like that. She lived with -- you know, her life was -- her life was full of joy and she always saw the best in people. And she touched people -- so many people and that's why they loved her. And she just -- this was -- something like this would never occur to her. I want to go to Iraq to cover the war on terror and to cover ISIL, that's not what she wanted to do. She was good at hard news and you can ask the news director down there, that's what she -- she enjoyed that. But she also loved what she was doing here. It was the complete -- it was totally different but something that she enjoyed doing and she never would have anticipated anything like this. So, no, I mean, that was never in the back of her mind.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Can you tell us about your visit to the station today, how it went and go through how difficult it was?

PARKER: I spoke with the governor and his wife and they were gracious to come here. And, again, I have a new found respect for him. He is -- he's a guy that -- he means what he says. He's not afraid to stand up and, you know, he's grown a pair. Actually, he already had a pair and I wish other politicians would do the same thing. I have not heard a word from the first -- the first official to call me was Terry McAuliffe. I have not heard a word from Senator Kaine or Senator Warner. I see the tweets and all of that stuff that say, gee, we're so sorry for the family and I understand that and appreciate that but I knew those two guys. They campaigned with me when I ran for the House of Delegates and it's very disappointing that these -- that Senator Kaine and Warner haven't at least given me and call, number one, and come out against this. And I think it's part of it is, you know, as politicians, we live in a very conservative state.

But again, it's time to do something. It's time to do something, folks. Stand up, take a stand, and do something.

[14:40:58] UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Would you have advocated for your daughter to have a firearm before this happened?

PARKER: No, not really, because, as I said, if she were -- and I'm going to use you guys as an example right here. You know, if you had an AK-47 strapped to your waist right now, do you think you'd see somebody coming from behind you to attack you? No. You wouldn't. There's no way you do that because you know why? You're focused on me, your job. Your photographers are focused on their jobs. They wouldn't have seen it coming and it wouldn't have made a difference.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And the station has suspended shots outside the building --

(CROSSTALK)

PARKER: Sure. Right. Exactly. Because you know why? There's going to be some crazy that is going to say, wow, I could do that. I could be on national television. This would be really cool. I'm going to do that. It's the copycat. It's copycatting. And as I say, you guys need to worry about that stuff and that's why you guys need to be with me and I challenge the president yesterday on -- I was interviewed by the BBC America and the journalist asked me, what the biggest -- the biggest concern that President Obama had, and he thought his biggest failure was that he was not able to enact gun laws. And the question was, well, do you think any president could do it? And I said, absolutely, because nobody thought he would pass health care reform. Nobody thought he could get a deal done with Iran. Nobody thought he'd open up the doors of Cuba. And I said, of course, he can. He's not up for re-election. And I looked in the camera and I said, Mr. President, it's time for you to take a stand and do this. Help me. I will help you do this.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Sir, this is a delicate question but can you say anything about Alison's arrangements at this point?

PARKER: Well, it's -- I appreciate your delicate -- we -- we're having a -- it's a celebration of life on Monday with family and friends and for obvious reasons, you know, we can't really disclose where this is going to be because, you know, unless it's part of the news organizations, we'd be glad to share that with you as long as you kept it private. But, you know, we would have all kinds of well wishers, I'm sure, and then we would also have people that probably didn't -- would not need to be there.

But then -- she -- Alison was always -- she loved the river and she, you know, was auto great athlete, as you all know. Anything she touched, she did it well. And she was a great paddler. We just got back from a great weekend near Bryson City and she loved it down there, and it was one of the places that she thought that she and Chris were going to get married. So at some point, we're going to go down there with her ashes and that's where she'd want to be, in the river.

Sorry. You all have any other questions?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)

[14:44:47] PARKER: I would express my appreciation. As you can imagine, I have not watched -- I have not turned the television on or my laptop. You know, my phone is exploding with messages and, you know, I'm trying to get around to reaching everyone and old friends but from what I've heard, just like you've said, the outpouring of affection is not just here, I'm getting messages worldwide. I mean, nationwide, worldwide.

This has struck such an emotional chord and I think that's why -- you know, it's different this time, folks. It's different this time. And you guys have got to help me make a difference and I think it's -- you know, I think people -- I would hope that people are not going to say, gosh -- become immune to it and say, this is another tragedy. What are we going to have for dinner tonight, honey? We can't let that happen and I think that's why you've seen the outpouring of affection for her here and across the world. I've heard from friends of mine in California that they are holding a candlelight vigil for her in Los Angeles. I mean, it's phenomenal. It's remarkable. But like I say, she was a force of nature and I -- you know, I -- and her soul is always going to be right here.

Thank you. Thank you.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: You have been listening to Andy Parker, who lost his daughter. Really, it sounds like the light of his life earlier this week when she was murdered on live TV by a mad man. And hearing from him -- listen, he's made himself available to speak to CNN and speaking to the members of the media, obviously, pleading not to let this go, this being this senseless violence.

He had said he visited the news room, which was profoundly difficult for him to see these people that Alison worked with and who Alison loved and who loved her very much. Also, again, reiterating the fact that he got a phone call, has been in close contact with the governor there in Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and how he says he essentially wants to become the John Walsh of gun reform, calling politicians cowards, saying that some kind of sensible legislation needs to happen. He also said he doesn't own a gun but now he says he will probably get one.

We have a lot to talk about on this issue.

Let's get a quick break in. We'll discuss what could change, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:52:02] PARKER: Alison -- Alison was a force of nature. She was an absolute force of nature. And I think that her life is going to have meaning not just as a journalist but if we can effect meaningful changes in our gun laws here, you know, this senseless act, this senseless murder will not go in vain. This is my mission and I'm taking it up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The father of slain journalist, 24-year-old Alison Parker, speaking in front of the TV station where she worked in Roanoke, Virginia, with powerful words. We've heard him earlier this week, and hearing him again. You know, he is in favor, he says, of sensible gun control legislation. He says he doesn't want to take people's guns away, just wants to encourage everyone to remember the tragic events of the week, and pushing to end gun violence in America.

To have a bigger discussion, I have our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, on the phone with me; also CNN legal analyst, Danny Cevallos here; and Polo Sandoval, not too far from that TV station there in Roanoke.

Jeffrey, let me bring you in here.

We heard from one of the reporters asking Mr. Parker the question, essentially, in this case, the gunman passed the background checks, bought these guns legally. Listen, we have seen this push in the wake of first graders being murdered in an elementary school and still the question remains, what can be done?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST (voice-over): Well, what could be done is a very different question than what could be done politically. What could be done politically today is nothing. Gun control is just not happening in the United States Congress. After 2012, there was a very strong push by the president to get a strong background check bill and it didn't even pass the Senate much less the Republican House.

BALDWIN: That's right.

TOOBIN: And after the 2014 elections, he's been much more conservative, much more probed on pro Second Amendment Congress than it used to be. So at least for the foreseeable future, notwithstanding all of these tragedies, the political prospects for gun control, I would say, are zero at the moment.

BALDWIN: President Obama, to my knowledge, has not spoken directly with Mr. and Mrs. Parker, but I can read you what he said in an interview just yesterday with regard to the tragedy in Roanoke. He said, what we know is the number of people who die from gun-related incidents around the country dwarfs any deaths that happen through terrorism.

Danny Cevallos, turning to you, the Supreme Court actually expanded the reach of the Second Amendment?

[14:54:57] DANNY CEVALLOS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Over the last few years, the Supreme Court, in a case called McDonald, and before that, in Heller, which is a very famous case, expanded the Second Amendment, which is an amendment that is not often dealt with by the Supreme Court. But now that 14th Amendment applies to the state when it comes to owning and keeping guns, keeping and bearing arms in your home for self-defense. And if there is this new-found right to keep and bear arms in your home for self-defense, then that means that eventually somebody without a record, somebody who is lawfully permitted to own a firearm, will get a firearm and they have the potential to just snap one day.

BALDWIN: Your heart goes out for all of these parents. I just spoke with the daughter of the principal from Sandy Hook yesterday who lost her mother. I spoke with the father of a young man who was shot and killed randomly in California. And it's just like -- you know, you feel the passion, and especially hearing from Mr. Parker, you know, saying, no more, this ends now. I can't even begin to crawl under their skin and feel what they are skinning.

Polo Sandoval, you are in Roanoke, and just hearing Mr. Parker at the very end talking about Alison's passion for white water kayaking and how -- plans to remember her at the river.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. And eventually take her to the river, and that's where she would really remain. And at this point, I think what we noticed here and what we felt was a father's pain, despite this revamped effort that we're now seeing to call for stricter gun laws. We heard from Mr. Parker and he did tell us that this was perhaps one of the most difficult days in the last 48 hours, and mainly because he was here, and he was able to have the opportunity to speak with the co-workers that his daughter spent so much time with. And what was interesting, though, is when he said that he knows that this struck an emotional chord, and he wants to use that to put out his daughter's message -- Brooke?

BALDWIN: Polo Sandoval, thank you so much. Much more on all of this in the next hour.

Polo, Jeff Toobin, Danny Cevallos, thank you.

Coming up in the next hour, we'll hear more about the murder's intentions, that he had a getaway plan.

Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

[14:59:58] BALDWIN: All right, hour two. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Breaking news out of New Hampshire, where this young prep school graduate just learned the verdict in this rape trial. 19-year-old Owen Labrie was accused of sexually assaulting an, at the time, a 15- year-old, this girl at St. Paul's School last year. After deliberating for seven and a half hours, jurors acquitted him on the most serious charges of felony rape, but did find him guilty on three counts of misdemeanor sexual assault and other charges.