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Lafayette Shooting Raises Questions of Gun Violence; Debate Over Gun Control. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired July 24, 2015 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: We are watching this breaking news. The shooter in the Louisiana movie theater. The shooter has now been identified a 59-year-old John Russell Houser. The police called him a drifter, they say they are originally from Alabama. They don't believe he was in the area long since July. They also say they believe he was intent on escaping after opening fire. Instead he took his own life after killing two young women in the theater.

This tragedy brings once again the issue of gun violence to the forefront. Again, I have to keep saying that. Let's bring in Michael Smerconish, the host, and a CNN commentator. We had other topics to talk to you about today. Also the things going on in the political world but this has to take a front seat.

I think everybody in Lafayette is thinking this could be and - Bobby Jindal, said, the governor, this could be anywhere USA. Is this going to change the conversation on gun violence in the United States?

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No, maybe for a day or so. It's - it's much like a presidential debate in that one side or the other will get a bump from the numbers and then it dissipates.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Why?

SMERCONISH: It dissipates because people are so firmly entrenched in this country either in the category of gun control or more rights for gun owners. Even in the aftermath of Newtown, nothing changed. In the aftermath of Newtown there was data according to Pugh research that suggested still those who wanted to protect gun rights in this country had an edge.

CUOMO: People believed it was a better answer to Newtown have more people with guns than it is to take guns away. What do you think of this first line of pushback? Respect the victims, Mr. Smerconish. There'll be time for this talk that you want to - I heard it but not right now. Do believe that - that is legitimate? Or do you believe it's a hedge because the one thing the victim and their families want most is -

PEREIRA: Is change.

CUOMO: - is change because they don't want to see anybody else suffer. SMERCONISH: I think it's a hedge. I heard it and I was sitting in

the green room and I watched it and I thought that was a pun. This is the appropriate time I think with full deference to the victims to have that kind of conversation. If we're not having it today, we'll be back to Trump by Sunday.

CUOMO: We're not going to have it done.

PEREIRA: You know, it's really interesting because we talked about these community, beautiful towns anywhere America that have seen this kind of violence marred. There otherwise sort of pristine communities. We have seen this time and time again. We saw Charleston recently and there was change. There was change about the confederate flag. Not about guns. There was change and rapid change, Michael on getting that flag removed from the state house.

SMERCONISH: Michaela, what - what occurs to me on a day like today is we're living this a lot of coverage and deserves a lot of coverage. I spent July 4th weekend in Chicago. That weekend 10 people died, more than 50 were injured, a 7-year-old boy lost his life. Day in and day out in this country I think the accurate data is that somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 people are shot, better than 90 of them will die. And we're so used to that...

PEREIRA: Fewer people die from terrorism in this country.

SMERCONISH: The president made that point.

PEREIRA: Yes. He made that point. Why is...

CUOMO: It's about the fear. And it's about the high value situation. Statistically...

PEREIRA: Your base of choices - your base of choice of decisions never get...

CUOMO: Statistically, these mass shootings are a fraction of a percentage of the overall gun violence in this country. A lot of people say if you care so much, why aren't you in Chicago dealing with those. That's about gun laws, it's about people getting guns illegally. Not about legal owners.

SMERCONISH: And if you - if you think an incident like this will cause the American people to say suddenly we finally need gun control, we have too many weapons and too lax of restrictions compared to other wealthy nations. Don't forget those who will call me on the radio in a half hour and will say what a shame that no one in that theater killed him.

[08:35:00] PEREIRA: OK. So then we go back to what we - Chris and I have been struggling with this moral question of what is this? Is it - we - we look at other nations. We see things happen. They have their set of violence. See things happen, but it isn't to the extent. We talk about this first world nation and this advanced society we have. Yet why is it that there is such angst here. That we feel the answer is to reach for a gun. And to stick it to the man, to stick it to a fellow man.

SMERCONISH: My answer would be that - they - they are not - I'll say it this way, burdened by language, the talks of a well-regarded militia. I mean, that's what sets us apart. There are too many weapons in society. I believe in the right of people who should have them to own a firearm. I'm one of them. But we become much, much too lax. There's not a review or vetting process.

CUOMO: But is the gun an excuse for the culture? And here's why I say that. I own a shotgun. There's no chance of me in my disposition and what I believe about violence that I'm going to get angry and say I'm going to use it.

Our culture of violence suffuses everything that happens. It's our movies, it's our games, it's our sports, it's what we value in people and stars and celebrities, our macho mentalities. That culture of violence has to be as big a part of the equation as the method that is used when someone uses.

SMERCONISH: I think it's a contributing factor, but I - I think that culture knows no borders in an Internet world. Everybody is watching the same movies today. Their kids are watching...

CUOMO: Then why is there more violence here? Not just gun violence. Violence - violence. Any metric you want to use?

SMERCONISH: Chris, I don't know that the data supports that. I think as compared to wealthy nations, I don't think that we're particularly violent. But I looked - I looked at data that was assembled Dr. David Hemmingway from Harvard on exactly that issue because I wanted to know when he disputes that. When you throw in third world nations, I think it skew it is and we look more violent.

PEREIRA: Michael, you're going to have a lot to talk about on your radio show today. Thank you for joining us. Thanks so much.

CUOMO: Always smart and helpful. To be sure, you have to watch "SMERCONISH" always and you got to hear him on the radio because that's how you get smarter about these issues. Especially talking about something that invades our culture like what we just saw on this movie theatre in Lafayette, Louisiana. We're just getting new details about who the gunman was, how many times he wanted to fire, what his real plan may have been. We're going to take you live to the scene for the latest. Stay with us.

[08:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: All right. To our breaking news, we know that police have now identified the shooter in the movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana last evening. There's a picture of the man on the screen. He has been identified as a drifter named John Russell Houser, 59 years old, originally from Alabama. Had reportedly only been in the Lafayette area since July.

They have understood that he was staying at a local motel. They have now processed the scene of that motel. They have found his vehicle as well, which he apparently positioned outside the theater. They believe he was intent on fleeing not only because of the position of the car but also they found in that hotel disguises such as wigs. He was prevented from doing that when police arrived on scene he took his own life.

We want to have someone join us on the phone now. He is congressman who represents the district that includes Lafayette, Charles Boustany joins us on the phone. And we also know congressman, Lafayette is your hometown. Your heart must be heavy today.

CHARLES BOUSTANY, CONGRESSMAN, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA (via phone): It is my hometown. And I personally - my wife and I, my kids we have all been to that movie theater many - many times. And it's a close knit community. And we're all grieving. This is a terrible - terrible tragedy. But the key now is to really put the pieces together. Our law enforcement has done a great job. Our first respond was the ambulance service did a wonderful job.

But we need to get the facts, we need to understand what exactly happened. The facts are starting to emerge about who this person was. He obviously was not from our community. He came from out of state. We don't know much about his criminal record, his mental health history, how he got the gun, what were his motives. These are the kinds of things we need to learn.

PEREIRA: Law enforcement is working very quickly and their response was immediate. They are saying that may have saved many more lives. As were the actions of two teachers were told who acted as heroes. One of them prevented the other one from being potentially fatally shot. They said, they were both injured and they were able to both sound alarm to get people out of the area.

So those kind of stories that will help obviously people believe that there's still good in the world in light of something like this. Obviously, the quest for answers is so vital and so important. Tell us about your hometown, tell us about the resilience of the people of Lafayette. It's going to take time to heal?

BOUSTANY: Lafayette has a reputation for being a city where people have a very positive outlook. It's a very open city, very diverse city. And it's a college town and we take a lot of pride in working hard, playing hard and also family. And this kind of situation is something we never expect to happen in our community. The fact is it has. And we're going to learn. We're going to understand. I think people will be forthcoming in trying to be as helpful as possible.

And the fact is let's get all the details that we can learn on the table and pull together. Right now my heart goes o out to the victims and families. We all know each other. My town has a lot of personal ties. It's very hard.

PEREIRA: It is very difficult and it's important as you say to focus on the victims in this situation. We know that two people have been released from the hospital. One remains in critical condition. Obviously, our hearts go to them and we're watching for updates on their conditions. We hope they continue to improve. [08:45:00] It's interesting that your governor just told said, Bobby

Jindal just told our Chris Cuomo just moments ago that the tough a part is now we have to explain to our children why bad things happen to good people. The question goes to why this happened and why this man was able to have a gun.

We don't know about the circumstances of why he was able to have a gun and how he got that gun if he had it legally. Do you think there is a conversation that needs to happen in our nation and perhaps even in your state and district about our gun laws?

BOUSTANY: It has been going on for quite some time. In Louisiana, we like to hunt and fish. We value those things. Those are things we do with our children. We teach our children responsible use of guns. Whether it's a duck blind or deer blind. The fact is we don't know how this guy got the gun. We have gun laws. And I think the key is to figure out how you keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

How do you keep these kinds of guns away from those with a serious mental health history. And I think the governor is correct in that we will have to have those conversations with our children, but that's something that's been going on for a long time. Fathers and mothers have always had to hold those kinds of conversations with their children because there's bad stuff in the world.

PEREIRA: There is but it seems as though that these kinds of stories of mass shootings, of people walking into a crowded area and opening fire are happening all too frequently. And I do recognize that guns are very much a part of our culture. And I come from a place where guns are a part of hunting and the way of life. So I fully understand that.

But do you think you'll be part of the conversation about how we can keep those guns out of the wrong hands?

BOUSTANY: Well, I already have been a part of that conversation. I do believe firmly in our Second Amendment rights, but at the same time, I do think much more needs to be done to strengthen our mental health system because there are deficiencies. I'm a physician. I understand this. The fact is that's something I'm interested in.

And then we do have gun laws. We need to make sure that those gun laws are being followed with regard to background checks, criminals and so forth. We don't know the facts in this case. The key is to get facts here and see what we can learn from them.

PEREIRA: Absolutely, I want to say thank you, Congressman. And we are - our hearts are with you. And our prayers with the victims on this terrible day. Thank you so much for joining us here on NEW DAY. We'll continue the conversation.

BOUSTANY: Thank you.

CUOMO: We always talk about guns in these situations, but it's only an extension of the hand and mind that are controlling it. That's what makes it a tough question. We'll bring in two republican consultants who represent different aspects of their party about what the candidates are saying that might make a difference in a situation like Lafayette the next time. Who has answers? Check it out for yourself.

[08:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Two killed, nine injured in a shooting in a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. The shooter then taking his own life. People say we'll learn, we'll get better. The community will come together, that's for sure. We have seen it during the moment of crisis. They will love each other a little bit more. People who escaped the situation may value their

lives a little more. But what will really change? What can you do to stop the next Lafayette, Louisiana?

Leaders. That's what falls on them who has the ideas. Let's talk to two people who are examining and even supporting men who would lead this country. We have Ana Navarro, CNN Political Contributor of course, and friend of Jeb Bush and Mr. Jeffrey Lord, writer for the American Spectator, it's good to have both here.

We need solutions. People want to go to the quick gun control fight, but that's not going anywhere. Legally or politically and as Jeb Bush, what would he do that would make it less likely for a Lafayette, Louisiana, to occur?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: I think what anybody needs to know, I think you know, first of all, let me just say that I almost don't want to talk politics today because it's so sad. I think it's a day we need to reflect and pray for the people of Lafayette. And I think that when we look at who we are going to support and vote for, one of the things we need to think about who is can be the consoler in chief. Who can be the uniter and person that can hug the country when tragedies like this happen because invariably they will happen for the next president whether it's natural disasters or manmade tragedies like last night's.

I ask people to reflect on who can provide that leadership. Now as far as Jeb, I think one of the things he brings to the table is the ability to find pragmatic solutions and work with both sides. As Smerconish told you a while ago, one of the big problems with this issue is that people are so deeply entrenched on one side or the other that they can't find common areas and common ground and common sense laws to agree on. Well we need somebody that can lead on that and find that common sense and that common ground.

CUOMO: OK. And I hear you about what matters most in taking care of victims whether it is good or bad, I have stood and more places in this country and around the world than most with people who have been hurt and lost loved ones in situations like this and I understand their pain and I understand what it's going to be like for them to bury a loved one.

However, I think it's a little bit of a hedge, and here's why I say that. Because Jeffrey, if you talk to people who have been a victim, they want for it to never happen again. Often politicians will look at this and want to hold a hand instead of hold themselves to account for doing it better. And what are the ideas out there that go beyond guns? Let's face it Jeffrey, a gun is subject to the hand and the mind that controls it. That takes you to a culture that embraces violence too much in America. How do you change that?

JEFFREY LORD, FORMER PENTAGON WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Chris, that is a great question. I think we have seen a whole string of events recently. When Donald Trump met with the families of the people who were murdered by illegal immigrants, one of the common themes that came from the victims, the family members was that nobody was paying attention. They didn't get the kind of attention we're seeing now about the shooting.

We have seen the planned parenthood video where they are pulling apart babies and selling the parts. And we see former governor O'Malley apologizing for saying all lives matter. I think what we need to have some discussion up here is that all live do matter, whether they are in a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, whether they are babies, whether they are victims of shootings by illegal immigrants and talk about the simple basic respect for human life. I think that's very, very important here as e we move forward.

[08:55:00] CUOMO: Ana, the respect for human life is couched and how we talk about it. Look how ugly politics is. Look what's making Donald Trump so popular right now. I thought that he's a mean guy. It's not that he is someone who is bad. He's tapping into rage, outrage, anger and people are rallying around him about it. Do you think that is just the way we are or can we be better?

NAVARRO: Look, I think we like the spectacle aspect of it, the reality show of it. There's a reason why all the cable networks were carrying Donald Trump's arrival in Laredo, Texas, yesterday on his jet like he was the pope coming to America for the first time. It's because he is ratings gold. He's entertaining. It's like watching a very wealthy archy bunker go off and rant and rave.

People find it funny when you see Donald Trump give speeches. You always hear people life because the things are outrageous you can't believe they are coming out of somebody's mouth. I think the part of it is that we are turning this presidential process into somewhat of a reality show. And let's face it some of these guys - a lot of these guys and ladies running are boring. Whereas you know, he is entertaining.

CUOMO: Right. But it's about what entertains you. It's a bigger conversation. We're making progress and asking the right questions. How do we respect life? How do we our best instead of our worse.

Jeffrey Lord, Ana Navarro, important thoughts to end on as we learn about yet another human tragedy. Thank you very much for that.

We'll take a break right now. When we come back, you get "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello.

There are new details coming out about the man who did this terrible crime in a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana and what it means for the victims going forward. Stay with us.

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