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Severe Storm Outbreak Threatens Nine Million; Obama Visits Malaysia Amid Search For Plane; Connecticut Teen Killed On Prom Day; What's Next In Search For MH370?; NRA Challenged By Bloomberg Campaign; Bush, Clinton Dynasties And The Presidency

Aired April 26, 2014 - 12:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the top stories we're following in the CNN NEWSROOM. A violent string of tornados and thunderstorms is moving right across the middle of the country right now. It comes on the heels of another storm that already caused damage and injuries. Millions are at risk this weekend.

And President Barack Obama visits a country tormented by a missing plane, but Russia is becoming a major distraction. What the president is saying about all of that.

Plus a touching and emotional tribute to a teenager stabbed to death in the middle of her high school. What might have motivated that brutal attack?

A potential outbreak of severe storms could become deadly this weekend. It is threatening at least 9 million people. Two tornadoes already ripped through parts of North Carolina and shredded homes according to our affiliate WTKR. One person was taken to the hospital with traumatic injury and at least four others were injured.

Folks who survived the storms say they heard a loud bang. Others had trouble reaching loved ones because of bad cell phone service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just heard it going over the house and I heard glass shattering and heard a loud bang.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything that's my sister, that's my family, I didn't know. I couldn't get a hold of anybody, didn't know if she was OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meteorologist, Karen Maginnis is in the CNN Severe Weather Center. So Karen, which areas of the country could be hit potentially next?

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, this is going to be about a three-day event. The first starts out right across the central plains. The setup is an area of low pressure moves out of the Central Rockies on the back side already some areas in Montana, three inches of snow. But out ahead of it, we've got this moisture coming up from the south. Temperatures have really warmed up very dramatically across the southeast, running a good five to ten degrees above where they should be this time of year.

So you get high temperatures, high dew points, you get some rotation or spin in the atmosphere, key ingredients for a severe weather setup, like we're looking at today. But probably more so going into Sunday and into Monday. You can see the big jump in the number of expected or average tornadoes from April and into May, really it is April through that June time period when we see frequent tornado reports.

Now, we have seen a fairly quiet system, but I think over the next 24, 48, 72 hours is going to be a very different story with millions of people from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, all the way down towards Dallas and into the Austin area, you're under a slight risk. But then going into Sunday, a moderate risk. We don't see this too often. It does happen, but moderate risk suggests we could see violent tornadoes, maybe some deadly tornadoes coming up.

That across the Tennessee Valley and into Ark-La-Tex region and still the same setup going into Monday when another moderate risk and this is two days out now, extends from Tennessee all the way down to Louisiana. We will have more.

WHITFIELD: All right, now it's definitely the time people need to get their tornado plans in place. Communicate it to everybody and have those weather radios if they can as well. Thanks so much, Karen Maginnis. Appreciate that.

All right, overseas, President Barack Obama is in the middle of his Asian tour, and today he is visiting Malaysia as that country is in the middle of a desperate search for missing Flight 370. Obama didn't mention the plane when he spoke at a special dinner today, but he did talk about it in an interview with the Malaysian newspaper earlier in the day.

Erin McPike is with us now from the White House. So Erin, what did he say?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, President Obama offered his condolences to Malaysia and made some important points about the help that the U.S. has provided in the search. I want to read part of those comments to you from "The Star." He said, "As a friend and partner of Malaysia, the United States was one of the first countries to join in the search for the missing plane. U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and personnel remain on the scene assisting in the search. Our FBI is working closely with Malaysia on the investigation into what caused the aircraft to disappear, and will continue to offer our support and assistance as the search and investigation continue."

Now that is, of course, very significant because we have been hearing from some officials overseas that the search could begin to wind down, but of course, President Obama has said now that the U.S. is committed to this effort. He also said that the cooperation and partnership between a number of countries has been very significant as this search has continued and he said that the U.S., Malaysia and other countries are beginning to reflect now on what they can do to prevent something like this from happening again and how they can improve aviation security -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And then, Erin, there's a situation of Ukraine bubbling up. How is the president keeping abreast of that or even addressing it?

MCPIKE: Well, Fred, he has certainly been threatening more sanctions. The rhetoric has been escalating incrementally over the last couple of months and that's been no different. We've been hearing from the State Department and from the White House that sanctions are having a very harsh impact on Russia's economy and they have been trying to get European leaders on board with additional sanctions. They have been working on that for the past month and it does appear that they have succeeded.

I want to read a recent statement from the G7 to you. Leaders say we have now agreed that we will move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia, given the urgency of securing the opportunity for successful and peaceful Democratic vote next month in Ukraine's presidential elections. We committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the cost of Russia's actions. Now we know that European leaders will be meeting on Monday. We could see new sanctions as early as Monday -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Erin McPike joining us from the White House.

All right, so let's talk more now about the tension between Russia and Ukraine and how that's ratcheting up. Ukraine's prime minister says Russian military aircraft violated their air space seven times last night. While in Rome, the prime minister responded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARSENIY YATSENUK, UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER: We urge Russia to pull back its security forces, not to provoke and not to support Russian terrorists, that are located and deployed in eastern and southern Ukraine. We urge Russia to leave us alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Let's go to the center of attention in Eastern Ukraine, CNN's Arwa Damon is in Donetsk. So Arwa, Russia has thousands of troops near the border. Now these air games in Ukrainian air space. Is Vladimir Putin going to listen to the plea to quote/unquote, "leave us alone?"

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That would be highly unlikely and extremely surprising at this stage. Russia is, though, denying it did violate Ukraine's air space, but as part of the claim and counterclaim verbal battle that's been going on over what's been transpiring in Ukraine pretty much since the onset, you have the Ukrainian government, United States, the European Union, all of whom put the onus on Russia to de-escalate the situation. They do believe that Russia is directly orchestrating what we have seen happening in Eastern Ukraine.

Russia, of course, denies all of those allegations. The Ukrainian government is saying it is in the second phase of the so-called anti- terrorism operation, though we haven't seen any sort of significant military movement by Ukrainian forces, and of course, those pro- Russian protesters remain heavily armed and deeply entrenched in their various positions throughout this part of the country -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Arwa Damon, keep us posted. Appreciate that.

All right, the mystery surrounding Flight 370 has reached a fevered pitch now, and so have the theories into what may have happened to the missing plane. We'll explore some of those next.

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WHITFIELD: Almost 51 days and still nothing. The mystery surrounding Flight 370 is frustrating for officials and agonizing for families of those on board. With so many questions and very few answers, conspiracy theories are growing rampant. Here is CNN's Randi Kaye.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Conspiracy theorists believe they know what happened, even where the missing plane is. One of the more outlandish ideas? Aliens stole Flight 370 and abducted everyone on board.

CASS SUNSTEIN, AUTHOR, "CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND OTHER DANGEROUS IDEAS": The notion that a particular tragedy or terrible thing that's happened is attributable to aliens seems preposterous.

KAYE: Cass Sunstein wrote a book why conspiracy theories persist. He says people are drawn to mystery and suspicion, especially when feelings of fear, anger and grief are involved, as is the case with the Malaysian airliner. On social media, conspiracy theories about the missing plane are still going viral. This tweet pretty much covers it from time travel to an invisible cloak for the airplane.

Others wonder was the plane hijacked to Afghanistan or did it land on the U.S. military base known as Diego Garcia, the island in the Indian Ocean has restricted security clearance, but that's only amped up conspiracy theorists, so much so the idea even found its way into the White House briefing room.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some news reports saying that the missing flight could have landed in the U.S. military base, Diego Garcia in the central of the Indian Ocean, do you rule in that or rule out that.

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I'll rule that one out.

KAYE: Another conspiracy, an outrageous insurance scam. The Malaysian police chief gave that theory legs. Listen. KHALID ABU BAKAR, MALAYSIA POLICE CHIEF: Could be somebody on the flight that bought huge sums of insurance who wants the family to gain from it or somebody who has owed somebody so much money.

KAYE: If not that, then perhaps some suggest North Korea took the airplane.

SUNSTEIN: The notion that North Korea would choose to exercise such authority and capacities as it has to hijack this plane, that seems in the realm of desperate speculation, too.

KAYE: Of course, not all theories are as implausible as some of those, others are more believable. Pilot suicide hasn't been ruled out, nor has rapid decompression, during which everyone on board passes out, allowing the airplane to fly for hours until it runs out of fuel. Another reasonable theory, fire from lithium batteries in the cargo hold brought the plane down, or a real hijacking that ended with the plane crashing into the sea.

SUNSTEIN: And so to exclude the ones that are wild and inconsistent with anything that happened in human history is probably a good start and to have technological explanations that fit with what sometimes happens or could happen, that's a little more solid.

KAYE: More solid, but still, no concrete explanation and no plane. Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Another mystery that happened in this country, a teenager stabbed to death in the stairway of her high school on prom day. Why? Students and police are all stunned.

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WHITFIELD: Investigators in Connecticut are trying to figure out the motive behind a deadly attack on a 16-year-old honor student. It happened in Milford, not far from Sandy Hook School massacre. This time, police say a classmate slashed Maren Sanchez to death in a stairwell. Family and friends say she was full of hopes and dreams. So what did happen? Here now is Nick Valencia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police say high school junior, Maren Sanchez, was attacked by a classmate. She was slashed in the neck, chest and face. They say the attack happened in the stairwell at her school around 7:00 in the morning. Staff members and first responders tried to save her life, but she was pronounced dead about an hour later at a local hospital. The school community is devastated.

DR. ELIZABETH FESER, MILFORD SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: Vibrant. Very, very involved in Jonathan Law High School and contributor, someone who was loved and respected by both her peers as well as her students. VALENCIA: Investigators recovered a knife at the scene. The 16-year- old male is being held at a local medical facility and a murder charge is pending. Police have not determined the motive. The police chief cautioned against any speculation including the idea that the boy was angry because Sanchez had refused his invitation to the prom.

CHIEF KEITH MELLO, MILFORD POLICE: We've heard that information. Whether or not that is rumor or fact, we don't know. So I think it is important that no one here speculate on the rumors.

VALENCIA: The victim's cousin read a statement from the family.

EDWARD KOVAC, MAREN SANCHEZ'S COUSIN: Maren should be celebrating at her prom with her friends and classmates. Instead, we are mourning her death and we are trying as a community to understand the senseless loss of life.

VALENCIA: The school's prom scheduled for last night was postponed. Family and friends held a vigil at a nearby church and hundreds of people gathered at a local beach to release balloons. Purple was Maren Sanchez's favorite color. Her classmates heart broken.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was very nice. She was gorgeous too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was amazing. She did everything right. Everybody loved her. She was always smiling.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Nick Valencia joining us live now. How unbelievably sad.

VALENCIA: So emotional.

WHITFIELD: There is a suspect, a young boy.

VALENCIA: Her classmate, 16 years old. He is under arrest, murder charge is pending, and expected to be arraigned Monday in New Haven, Connecticut, but getting back to the emotional scenes there, her classmates, Fred, gathering around at the beach, all dressed up in prom attire to memorialize her, remember her legacy, sending off one of her favorite colors was purple, sending off balloons.

Just so tragic, you know, and you think about the motive, that line that they're going down that she could have been possibly attacked because she said no to him after he asked her to prom. Of course that's just preliminary, but they believe that's what happened.

WHITFIELD: That's horrible. All right, thank you so much, Nick Valencia. Our hearts are going out to the family and friends of young Maren here.

All right, the black boxes aren't the only things that could help solve the mystery of Flight 370. Cell phones apparently could provide other clues, but can their data ever be retrieved? We'll find out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Flight 370's flight data and cockpit voice recorders may eventually solve this historic mystery once and for all, but they're not the only source of potentially vital situation. Chances are the 239 people on the flight had smart phones, and many of the words and pictures on the phones actually can be retrieved, even now. Here is CNN's Ted Rowlands.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, imagine how much information there could be on the passenger and crew cell phones from Flight 370 if found. There's a group of computer forensic experts here in Chicago that believe even if those phones are at the bottom of the Indian Ocean for months, they would be able to get the unsent texts, e-mails, even video and still photographs off those phones. Well, we put them to the test.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS (voice-over): Some of the final messages from passengers on Flight 370 could be with the missing plane at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, unsent texts, e-mails and photos to loved ones. But could they be retrieved if the plane is found?

CHAD GOUGH, 4DISCOVERY: Absolutely, it is a matter of finding the devices, determining what kind of damage was associated with them and handling them properly.

ROWLANDS: We decided to see if it is possible by putting this cell phone in saltwater.

(on camera): We turned off the transmission, tried to send e-mails and text. I will take video of the Chicago River and some stills. We'll see if those survive.

(voice-over): We took our phone to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium and met chemist, Allen Lapointe and fish biologist, George Parsons. Using water from the aquarium's ocean floor exhibit, they prepared this pressure chamber for our phone.

ALLEN LAPOINTE, SHEDD AQUARIUM: We have the salt compositions right. We have the temperature very cold, not as cold as it will be in the Indian Ocean but pretty close. And now we have a pressure chamber.

ROWLANDS: The plan is to leave our phone in water for a week and see if our test e-mail, text, video and photos can be retrieved.

LAPOINTE: It is 2:30, April 8th. We're going to place it into our chamber right now. This is going directly into saltwater that simulates the Indian Ocean.

ROWLANDS: Within seconds, saltwater fills the inside of the phone. Eight days later, two of our computer forensic experts come to the aquarium to remove the phone.

GOUGH: I can definitely see salt core ocean built up on the outside of the phone. It is whether or not it made its way all the way inside, built up on the electronics, whether it co corroded the memory chip.

ROWLANDS: Because oxygen will increase corrosion, our phone is kept in water.

GOUGH: We will get it in a solution where we can clean it up.

ROWLANDS: A few hours later at the 4Discovery lab.

GOUGH: Look how it ate the plastic.

ROWLANDS: To retrieve data, the phone is pulled apart. The board which includes the memory chip is bathed in an 80-degree ultrasonic cleaner several times. Any salt deposits are chipped away.

GOUGH: This is the most important part. This is where all of the data is held and stored, so this is actually looking pretty good. There we go.

ROWLANDS: The chip is then actually removed using heat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was in pretty good shape. So the next step quite honestly is possible it into an adapter like this.

ROWLANDS: Eventually, there it is, the e-mails I tried to send, the text message, even the photos, and a portion of video we recorded of the Chicago River. And while our experiment with the aquarium tank is not the same as the Indian Ocean, our experts believe they could also retrieve data from cell phones on Flight 370.

GOUGH: The chips are fairly well protected. We were able to get the data off, I think it would be possible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS: Bottom line, experts say it is all about these tiny chips, which are in each cell phone. They say the chips themselves are very well insulated. If you find the phone and the chip itself is not crushed, physically crushed, the experts say they're able to get the data off of it. They think even if the phones are at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, they'll be able to retrieve the data if they're handled properly during the recovery -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Ted, thanks so much. Of course, they have to find the phones and plane debris, period. Let's bring back our panel of experts to find out what's next in the search for Flight 370. CNN safety analyst, David Soucie and aviation experts, Peter Goelz and Michael Kay.

Michael, to you first. Fifty days later, still no signs at all of this aircraft. Are we at the point where the size and scope of the search needs to be re-evaluated? Are you even convinced that the concentrated efforts need to be still at sea?

MICHAEL KAY, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: I think, Fredricka, there's an iterative evaluation going on from day one. I think Angus Houston will be sequential planning. They'll be evaluating the intelligence, the data, the feedback, and he will be doing it 24/7 the fact that we're just reaching another critical phase of the investigation I think is part and parcel of the way this is playing out. There have been a number of those since the start.

The first one was how do we even begin to search an area above 2,500 radius from the South China Sea over 10 million square miles. Then we have the Inmarsat data. Then we were lucky enough to get those four pings. Then we started getting into the unprecedented act of searching for black boxes or the needle without going near the haystack, which never happened in aviation history.

So I think at every point there's constant evaluation and analysis going on by the JACC led by Air Chief Marshall Houston, and it is unprecedented. Tomorrow's evaluation might be different and I think that's what we've got to accept. This is a very unusual, unorthodox investigation.

WHITFIELD: And so Peter, I wonder in your view when reviewing this investigation, whether the Malaysian authorities or all of the nations involved here, what is going to be the most important thing in your view for them to revisit? Is it the Inmarsat data, the Malaysian military radar data to see the trajectory of the plane path, what's going to be most important and most critical to review one more time, even if it is with the fresh eyes you have been talking about for a couple weeks now?

PETER GOELZ, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Right. I think the two most important aspects are the radar data and Inmarsat data. That's how we got to find the four pings. Let's make sure that that's correct, and let's make sure we explore all four pings. I think they're in the right area. I think they've just got to keep searching and we've got to make sure we have the correct equipment. If the depth is too deep, then we've got to bring in some new equipment to make sure we get to the bottom.

WHITFIELD: And David, while this search is being re-evaluated, reassessed, whichever way you want to look at it, you've got family members who are saying we want some answers. One of the partners of the Americans that was on board is saying a number of people are going to be going to the Boeing shareholders meeting next week to try to put some pressure on Boeing because of the fiduciary interests in her view.

In your view while this investigation, the search for this plane, investigation is going on, how do you see this as being helpful for the family members? Can they even expect they'll get any information from Boeing?

DAVID SOUCIE, CNN SAFETY ANALYST: Well, I think it's good for the family members to continually try to reach for answers and strive for answers. It keeps the pressure on the team. On the other side of the coin, the pressure on the team is really not helping a whole lot. But when you talk about the Boeing shareholder meetings, I have been to those. They're very organized and very structured. There's no way they're going to allow any kind of disruption to that. If there is a disruption or if they're not on the agenda, I don't think they have a chance at all of getting in there, particularly during the investigation, which is highly regulated as to what information Boeing can share with anybody. Boeing has to report to the investigating authority, which is Malaysia, if they have any information about the airplane, where it went, how it was manufactured, that's only going to the investigative authority. It does not go out anywhere until after the final report has been issued which could be years down the road.

WHITFIELD: David, Peter, Michael, thank you so much. Gentlemen, appreciate that.

The National Rifle Association has a fight on its hands right now. An anti-gun lobby, backed by a billionaire, is raising the stakes at the group's annual convention, but the NRA is fighting back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The annual meeting of the National Rifle Association is under way. Members are already looking ahead to the 2016 presidential race and what they see as a potential threat to their gun rights. They also face a challenge right now. A new gun control campaign, bank rolled by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

CNN's Alexandra Field joins us now from New York. All right, looks like the NRA does have a big fight on its hands? He is pretty powerful in this area.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. We haven't seen him back down from a fight yet. It doesn't look like that will start now and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced an effort for gun control policies. You knew the gun rights advocates at the NRA would have something to say, but they waited for their annual weekend conference and now we are seeing the NRA Executive Vice President Wayne Lapierre going on the offensive in front of a big crowd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE LAPIERRE, NRA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: You know, Bloomberg about to spend $50 million to beat us in November. He said he would do everything he could with all of his 50 million, to confront and defeat the NRA. Well, here is our response.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Bloomberg says he has $15 million to attack my gun rights. Well, I have $25 to protect them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got $25.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've got $25, too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is one guy with millions. We're millions with our 25 bucks.

(END VIDEO CLIP) FIELD : All right, a slew of Republican speakers are also taking the stage this weekend in Indianapolis among them some potential Republican presidential hopefuls. Some of the speakers criticize the Obama administration's stand on gun policy. All of them trying to drum up support for Republicans before 2016.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: Our president should take comfort because in 32 months he can return home to live in the anti-gun utopia that is Chicago.

RICK SANTORUM (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are gun owners. All of us. We like to shoot. We like to hunt and very importantly, we like to protect ourselves, our families and our homes.

GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: The same liberal extremists want to take our guns are the same forces that want to take away our religious liberty or same forces don't think we are smart enough to pick our health care or which sodas we want to drink or food we want to eat.

(END VIDEO CLIP

FIELD: Every year it is a massive event for the NRA. The convention lasts through the weekend and expected to draw some 70,000 people. Tonight, Fred, we'll hear from Sarah Palin.

WHITFIELD: All right, Alexandra Field, thank you so much in New York with that.

Meantime, a new law in one state will let people carry guns into possibly churches and bars. It is stirring up a major controversy. Is the law a life saver or will it lead to deadly consequences? Our legal guys weigh in next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A new gun law in Georgia is generating a lot of attention and controversy around the country. Here is why. It allows people with concealed carry permits to take guns into some bars, churches, school zones, government buildings and parts of airports. It also prevents police who spot someone carrying a gun from asking for their permit, unless the person is committing a crime. Opponents around the U.S. call the law dangerous, but supporters, including Georgia Governor Nathan deal, say it will make its residents safer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL (R), GEORGIA: While we still guard against tyranny, America today cherishes this right so that people who follow the rules can protect themselves and their families from those who don't follow the rules.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Let's bring in our legal guys, Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland, good to see you, and Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor joining from Las Vegas. Good to see you as well.

I feel like it has been too long, you guys.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Way too long.

WHITFIELD: Well, finally we're together again. Avery, you first, does this law in your view have real staying power?

FRIEDMAN: Well, it may very well in terms of constitutional power, but you know what's odd about this thing, it is a fire storm in a number of respects, you laundry listed some implications of it. But you know what, since 2008, the Supreme Court talked about individual rights to own a gun. Individuals don't need the government of Georgia saying look, you have a right to bring a gun to the airport and you have a right to bring a gun to a bar. You have the right anyhow.

The weirdest thing about this law to me is that prosecutors are now barred from prosecuting people who claim I'm trying to employ self defense, even if I use an Uzi or AK-47, if it is self defense, those people can't be prosecuted. That is unbelievable and that's why many law enforcement people opposed the law that was signed this week.

WHITFIELD: So Richard, one area where the law seems to go beyond what other states have on their issue of stand your ground, the provision will waive criminal prosecution of felons that use illegal firearms in a crime or self defense. Doesn't this turn things upside down, particularly for those prosecuting crimes involving guns as Avery was mentioning, giving an example or two?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Doesn't it encourage these felons to obtain these guns in case they get in altercations where they feel they have to use them in self defense? It is a dicey situation in Georgia. It is why the Supreme Court hasn't come down and ruled on these issues that the state of Georgia and other states can enact these types of legislation. I mean, it is really -- you can now, if you are a licensed gun owner in Georgia, you can go to a federal building with a gun, go to church with a gun, you can go to governmental buildings. I mean, all over with handguns.

WHITFIELD: But there are some limits, right?

HERMAN: If they approve, if a bar approves, you can go in with a gun. I can see why it would be important to bring a concealed gun to a bar and start drinking with everybody. That's an important reason to have a gun there. But the governor of Georgia says only 5 percent of the population in the state of Georgia are licensed gun owners, so that's what the statute is effecting, and they're not the ones that cause the problems, it is those with mental health issues that cause the problems. That's the dichotomy here.

WHITFIELD: Avery, do you see other potential land mines, when people have concealed weapons, have their permit, they forget, go to the airport, and have an altercation with the TSA agent and you have another big problem going on? FRIEDMAN: There you go. That's the tip of the iceberg. Richard mentioned going into bars, going to the airport. Yes, Georgia says sure, come onto the airport. Good public policy, show up at the airport, at Hartsfield-Jackson, the busiest airport in the world, with a gun. That's good public policy. Holy smokes.

WHITFIELD: You might feel threatened.

FRIEDMAN: The implications are phenomenal.

HERMAN: It is worse than that, Fred. Even if you don't have a conceal carry license, not licensed in the state of Georgia and you get in an altercation and you happen to have a handgun and use that handgun to defend yourself, you cannot be prosecuted for the unlawful possession of a firearm. It is pretty unbelievable statute, I think.

WHITFIELD: Avery, Richard, thanks so much. Sorry, we only have time for this.

FRIEDMAN: That's OK. That's all right. We'll come back.

WHITFIELD: Incrementally, we're getting a chance to see each other more. That's good.

FRIEDMAN: We're going to stay on after hours with you, Fred.

HERMAN: There you go, that's right.

WHITFIELD: I like that. All right, Richard, Avery, good to see you guys.

All right, once political rivals, now family friends, but what will happen to the dynamics between the Bushs and Clintons if Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton both run for president? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This week, Jeb Bush said publicly that he is considering a run for president. Hillary Clinton has also hinted at the topic. It has been more than 20 years since the first presidential faceoff between the two families. Today, the former rivals are actually good friends. How will the dynamics of these dynasties play out if both Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush run for president? Here is our chief political analyst, Gloria Borger.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): While they're both publicly coy about it.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I am obviously thinking about all kinds of decisions.

JEB BUSH, FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: I am deferring the decision to the right time, which is later this year.

BORGER: As brother, Neil Bush, tells it, behind the scenes it is another story.

NEIL BUSH, BROTHER JEB BUSH: Mom and dad dancing. We get together as an entire family every Christmas, and of course everyone is kind of curious what Jeb is thinking, but no one wants to ask him. I don't know if he's got the burning desire to run. If he runs, he'll have that burning desire for sure.

BORGER: Over at the Clintons, it is the same subject. Paul Begala has been their close friend more than 20 years.

(on camera): So do you think Bill Clinton wants Hillary Clinton --

PAUL BEGALA, CLINTON FAMILY FRIEND: Absolutely.

BORGER: To run?

BEGALA: Yes, I do. I think many, most, all people who love her.

BORGER: Do you think he is actively talking her into run?

BEGALA: Believe me, I don't get in the middle of that dynamic.

BORGER: That's between husband and wife. It is more of a mother-son dynamic for the Bushs.

JEB BUSH: To campaign in the communities.

BARBARA BUSH: He is by far the best qualified man but no. There are other people out there that are very qualified and we've had enough Bushs.

NEIL BUSH: We are in the waiting room of the hotel, waiting to go to the Bush library event, and mom said that, we were all watching Jeb standing in the corner. Like what's your response to that? But it is not going to affect Jeb's decision. If you ask dad, if you ask dad the same question, should Jeb run, he would say yes.

BORGER: He would?

NEIL BUSH: Yes, he would say yes.

BORGER: Have you asked him?

NEIL BUSH: I've heard him answer that question.

BORGER (voice-over): After three decades of Bushs and Clintons.

ANNOUNCER: And Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

BORGER: With all that political baggage, the families could be at it again. But call them dynasties and you get push back from the patriarch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is not a dynasty, it is whether she should be eliminated because she happened to marry me a long time ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never thought we were entitled to something.

BORGER (on camera): You think about Jeb Bush running for the presidency. The question is this is another member of the Bush dynasty.

NEIL BUSH: Mom would kill you for using the dynasty word but go ahead.

BORGER: Go ahead, what's wrong with that dynasty word?

NEIL BUSH: I don't have any problem with it. But the fact that there happens to be name recognition or brand recognition for the Bush name and brand to me shouldn't be a handicap, so it is not like it is automatically a benefit to have a famous name, but it clearly gets Jeb off the starting blocks much quicker.

BORGER: Brand recognition works for Hillary Clinton, too and former George W. Bush speech writer, David Frum, complains it gives the families an unfair edge.

DAVID FRUM, FORMER BUSH SPEECHWRITER: The thing they bring to the table that nobody else has is this massive pre-existing ability to raise money.

BORGER: So the system is rigged.

FRUM: If we end up having a presidential race in which one dynasty plays off against another dynasty, you'll say is this America or last days of the roman republic?

BORGER (voice-over): The families are very different. The bushes have longevity, starting with Senator Prescott Bush in 1952 and sheer size. The Clintons came from nowhere, starting with a young, unknown Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton in 1978. It is a boutique operation. Together, the two families have produced three governors, three members of Congress, a multitude of rising stars, not to mention three presidents and two could be presidents.

DAVID MARANISS, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Just like Hollywood or anywhere else, there are certain names that stick and people remember.

MARY MATALIN, BUSH FAMILY FRIEND: It is not an ego thing, it is a limited number of people that have all of the requisite attributes.

BORGER: That's when Bill Clinton beat Bush 41. If the families face off again, there's a new wrinkle. They're actually good friends and the presidents co-humanitarians.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I love George Bush. I do.

BARBARA BUSH, FORMER FIRST LADY: I love Bill Clinton, maybe not his politics, but I love Bill Clinton.

HILLARY CLINTON: Barbara Bush even started referring to Bill as her adopted son, sometimes as her adopted son, sometimes as the adopted black sheep son. I don't know how Jeb and his siblings feel, but I know Bill loves it.

BORGER (on camera): How would that effect the relationship between the Bushs and Clintons if Hillary ran against Jeb?

NEIL BUSH: I don't think there's ever going to be animus, the friendship won't stop, there will be wall, and on the other side of the wall is politics and it will be a pretty bitter, tough campaign I think.

BORGER: With two candidates, each family always considered stars.

MARANISS: Jeb from his family, he was the chosen one, and similarly with Hillary, there was a feeling before she married even Bill Clinton, people in the early 70s were starting to think someday there will be a woman president, who might it be.

BILL CLINTON: I actually tried to talk Hillary into leaving me when we were in law school. This is the God's truth. I said you have more talent for public service than anybody in my generation that I met. You shouldn't waste it, I shouldn't stand in your way and you should do this. She said, Bill, I'll never run for office.

BORGER: But she did.

HILLARY CLINTON: I believe I will bring a lifetime of experience to this job.

BORGER: She lost. The long resume and the Clinton name could not beat change.

HILLARY CLINTON: It is a great privilege for me to be here with you.

BORGER: If a Clinton and a Bush run this time, that fatigue factor is center stage.

JEB BUSH: If I was to run, I'd have to, you know, overcome that, and so will Hillary, by the way.

NEIL BUSH: Back when I was a younger man, we were saying the same thing about Kennedys serving in different ways. So there's an ebb and flow. Who knows if high tide is set in for the Bush family, I don't think so. I think the tide is still rising.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BORGER: Both Bush and Clinton have said they're going to make a decision by the end of the year, Fred.