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Colorado Sheriff Supports Both Second Amendment And Red Flag Laws; New Water Restrictions Begin Today In California Amid Drought Crisis; Shanghai Loosens COVID Rules After Two-Month Lockdown; President Biden Speaks With Baby Formula Makers About Nationwide Shortage. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired June 01, 2022 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:31:52]

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. Staffers for a bipartisan group of senators will meet today to keep working on possible gun reform legislation. Yesterday, though, senators met to talk about everything from red flag laws to more universal background checks, some states taking action as well.

Nineteen states have passed so-called red flag laws which would remove guns from an individual who poses a danger to themselves or others when a judge approves a petition based on compelling evidence and it's a temporarily removal of the weapon.

Colorado's red flag law took effect at the beginning of 2020. Douglas County, Colorado, Sheriff Tony Spurlock was a leading advocate for that in his state and he joins me now.

Good morning, Sheriff.

SHERIFF TONY SPURLOCK, DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO: Good morning. How are you?

HARLOW: I'm well. Thanks so much for speaking with us. I mean, you're someone who has more than 40 years' experience in policing. You are Republican, you are a supporter of the Second Amendment, but you're united with one of your Democratic counterparts, a sheriff in another county to push for the passage of this law after you lost one of your own deputies, Zach Parrish, who was killed in the shootout on New Year's Eve in 2017 by someone who had a history with law enforcement and who you believe struggled with mental illness.

Do you think if Colorado's red flag law that you pushed so hard for had existed at the time, it could have prevented this?

SPURLOCK: I definitely believe that because we were very familiar with the individual who shot and killed Zach and wounded four other officers, and we just didn't have the tools available to us here in Colorado. If we had the red flag law in place then, we could have easily because we had the cooperation with his parents, his parents were trying to get help from him as well. So I believe it would have made a difference. HARLOW: There was some really important reporting done by 9News there,

and what they found is that 95 percent of the petitions from law enforcement to have the red flag law applied are approved by judges, but only 32 percent are approved when a family member files for them.

I wonder if you think this law is working as well as it could in your state, and if you have recommendations for changes or tweaks as other states consider these laws.

SPURLOCK: Well, I think it is working as it's written because it is preventing false reports being made and the abuse of the law. So I think that that portion is working. I think, also, I think the courts are very concerned about having an independent third party do these types of petitions, like law enforcement. And so I feel, at least in my jurisdiction and the judicial district here, that's kind of the way it plays out when they come to law enforcement and we petition the court, we have a higher likelihood of receiving that.

HARLOW: Yes. The Colorado attorney general came out with a report after one year of this law being in place and their conclusion was that this works. They said it is appropriately narrow as an intervention and an effective mechanism, for public and individual safety.

[10:35:03]

But here's some criticism about red flag laws, this comes from Texas Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw speaking to my colleague Dana Bash on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Would you support a red flag law in Texas?

REP. DAN CRENSHAW (R-TX): Well, no, and here's why, because we are essentially trying to do with the red flag law is enforce the law before the law has been broken. And that's a really difficult to do. It's difficult to assess whether somebody is a threat. Now, if there's such a threat that they're threatening somebody with a weapon already, well, then they've already broken the law, so why do you need this other law?

That's the question that I think critics rightfully ask about these things. And so it's really unclear how they're properly enforced, how due process is adhered to, and then ultimately, how they even solve the problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: You're seeing red flag laws solve the problem. What do you say to him?

SPURLOCK: Well, I would tell him this. That saving any life before it's lost is way more important, and he has it wrong. Just have to say that, because there is process to prevent a crime. We do that all the time, and in a red flag law, when there is an abundance of information and evidence that the individual is a clear danger to their family wherein the government can intervene and protect that person from themselves and protect people around them, that's what the red flag law is for.

And then there is the opportunity within 14 days here in Colorado to have a hearing if there is some circumstance that would change, and I could tell you, not only the murders at Zach Parish but we had a number of cases where parents, mothers, everyone knew that they were having mental health issues and they were a danger, went and bought a gun, shot and killed their children and then themselves.

So I disagree with the representative. I think the red flag law is there to help protect the community, help protect the family around the community, and then there is process. We don't just wait for a crime to occur and say, OK, well, now let's do something about it. There is an issue with the government of preventing crimes and I take issue with what he has to say.

HARLOW: Sheriff Tony Spurlock, thank you very much for sharing your experience with all of us, and obviously, for the service you give to the people of your county every day. Thanks very much.

SPURLOCK: I appreciate your time. Thank you very much.

HARLOW: Jim?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Agree. It's always good to hear from leaders of those police unions and divisions.

Millions in California are now under new order restrictions, as the drought situation there turns dire. The concerns heading into summer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:42:31]

HARLOW: Really unprecedented water restrictions begin today in California as the state faces what is a drought crisis.

SCIUTTO: Scientists reported earlier this year that the West's current mega drought as it's known is the worst in at least 1200 years. Critical reservoir reserves already at dangerous lows. Just look at what used to be reservoirs there, are expected to drop even further.

CNN's Stephanie Elam is following this for us in Los Angeles.

So, Stephanie, explain what some of these mandates include, how long are they supposed to last?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what, Jim and Poppy, I think I need to start off by pointing out just how dire the situation is. We keep hearing numbers when you look at California's reservoirs, the two largest ones, are already at critically low levels. We have a new report from the government with projections like Lake Mead, which is the country's largest reservoir, dropping to only being 90 percent full by December 2023.

This is bad and that 1200-year figure you're talking about, they are saying that that is being made worse, 72 percent worse, because of the human-induced climate crisis. That's where we stand, and that is why we've heard from California Governor Gavin Newsom saying we need to do more, we need to have more water restrictions, and today millions of people in California have new water restrictions. In fact, these sprinkler just came on and with the new restrictions here in Los Angeles, this sprinkler should not be on Wednesday for anybody.

But based on whether you have an even or odd number, this beautiful lawn here, across California, it's not just Los Angeles. You are going to see these new restrictions saying when you can water, how much water you can use, and on top of it, if you've got a leak or a flagrant abuse of water, which I was able to see earlier just walking around here, you can just see that some of these sprinklers are broken, these things need to be fixed.

And you're seeing it in the Bay Area and seeing it here. And one of the things I want to show you as you see some of these beautiful lawns here in Los Angeles is there are many municipalities that will pay you to pull up your grass and put other kinds of vegetation in. You're also seeing across the state in different regions where they are now starting to fine people, if they are overusing water.

We should not see water running down the street right now. We can't afford it or hosing down your driveway. All of that is not allowed right now in many parts of the state, and this is because we are in a place we have never been before when you look at the water reserves, and you look at the lack of precipitation.

[10:45:05]

The beginning of this year so far has been aridly dry and we are feeling the effects. This is nothing to sneeze at, and that's why these new changes are coming into place today -- Jim and Poppy.

HARLOW: Stephanie Elam, thank you for that update. Real changes coming there in California. We appreciate it.

Well, life is slowly returning, dare I say, to normal, in Shanghai after residents endured strict two-month lockdowns to try to curb rising COVID cases. Starting today, those living in neighborhoods deemed to have zero covid at the community level are allowed to leave their homes with some caveats.

SCIUTTO: I mean, the restrictions they were living under sometimes for longer periods of time, just incredible. CNN's Selina Wang shows us that not everyone in Shanghai is getting even any taste of freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sprinting with shopping bags, residents racing to get out. After more than two months of a brutal citywide lockdown, Shanghai is finally cracking open the seal. The city's main train station packed with people trying to escape but actually getting out of here is a treacherous journey. The city said it will fully resume transportation today, but earlier, people have been seen trekking miles across highways, dragging their luggage or strapping it to bikes.

Even journeys of dozens of miles or more, not swaying their determination. The train station parking lot has become a camp site, some leaving days earlier than their departure time, terrified they could be locked down again if they stay at home. The masses outside the train station, a stark contrast to the rest of Shanghai. Hundreds of thousands still remain locked in.

But even the lucky ones allowed out face a laundry list of restrictions. There are checkpoints everywhere.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is definitely not freedom.

WANG: This Shanghai resident and her son who wished to remain anonymous for fear of persecution for authorities were finally allowed out after more than 80 days. Her only solace is seeing her son outside and smiling for the first time in a long time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My child now has depression because of the lockdown. He started waking up at night and crying and shouting and saying there were people wearing masks in his bedroom and he stopped eating.

WANG: That harsh reality miles away from what the government wants to show. Watch this state TV reporter pull the microphone and camera away during a live interview when the resident starts to complain about the lockdown. She says, I've never lived through anything like this, being locked inside your home and not allowed to go out. What a big joke. Officials say the city will start returning to normal in June, but residents are doubtful.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Selina Wang reporting for us from Shanghai. Selina, thank you very much for that report.

Well, ahead, prompting big changes in ramping imports up for baby formula on shelves, a look at the latest donation coming in from abroad as President Biden gets an update on supply shortages from the manufacturers. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:52:59]

SCIUTTO: This afternoon, President Biden will meet virtually with manufacturers of formula on continuing efforts to speed up domestic production as the nationwide shortage continues. Retailers such as CVS tell CNN the situation is not improving yet. They are doing all they can, they say, to keep what formula they can find on their shelves.

HARLOW: Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is with us.

How far are we, Elizabeth, do you think, from parents really seeing sort of fully normal levels of stocked shelves?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Fully normal, Poppy, I think we're weeks and weeks away. I mean, this Sturgis plant is not going to be open until -- they're not going to start up again until maybe this coming, you know, this current week. But then it takes them weeks to get into full gear. I think this is going to be a while.

So let's take a look at what is happening on the foreign importation side here. So CNN has learned that Nestle sent 38,000 cans of infant formula, its Gerber Good Start, out to a major retailer last weekend. So just one retailer got all of those 38,000 cans. We do not know who that is. It's unclear if those cans have actually hit shelves because one thing I've learned about the formula distribution system, which I didn't know much about before, is that there's several different distribution sites and several different layers and levels. It's not as quick as you might think.

Now most of the Nestle formula did not actually go to stores. Instead, it went to hospitals, to women, infant and children programs, and to home healthcare companies. Now also, in Australia, a company called Bubs Australia is sending baby formula to the U.S. next week. Their CEO told me this morning that they are expecting to send 250,000 cans to the United States. That's way more than Nestle. And then in the coming weeks and months, it will be 1.25 million cans.

So again, that's much more than Nestle, hoping that that makes more of a dent. Right now, when we have sent CNN staff into stores to see how the shelves are looking, it's just not looking good anywhere -- Poppy, Jim.

HARLOW: Right.

[10:55:02]

SCIUTTO: Can't come quickly enough. I just talked to parents. Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much.

HARLOW: Thanks, Elizabeth, and thanks to all of you for joining us today. We'll see you right back here tomorrow morning. I'm Poppy Harlow.

SCIUTTO: And I'm Jim Sciutto. "AT THIS HOUR" with Kate Bolduan starts right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. Here's what we're watching AT THIS HOUR. Not cooperating.