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Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on the British Throne; Oregan Father Has Guns Destroyed After Uvalde School Shooting; NATO Secretary-General Visits White House as War in Ukraine Continues. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired June 02, 2022 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[14:33:46]
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: The United Kingdom is celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth. She's the oldest serving -- sorry -- longest serving British monarch.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Come on now. Come on.
(LAUGHTER)
CAMEROTA: She has 70 years on the throne.
She probably is the oldest.
BLACKWELL: Don't do her like that.
(LAUGHTER)
CAMEROTA: Here she was this morning on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
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BLACKWELL: As she was joined by senior working members of the royal family, inclusion Prince Charles, Princess Anne, the duke and duchess of Cambridge and their children.
Scores of people camped out last night to be so close to this moment.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really great to salute Her Majesty for her service. But also, the atmosphere, it brings together the nation together, doesn't it for our wonderful queen, who has done so much for us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wanted to be here and, as we said, soak up the atmosphere appeared just say we've been here because it's a once-in-a- lifetime thing. And we love the queen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So 70 years. I just wanted to see her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could have watched it on the television but the atmosphere is fantastic. So got to be here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: CNN royal correspondent, Max Foster, is outside Buckingham Palace. Also here is Ed Owens, a royal historian and the author of "The Family Firm, Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public."
[14:35:06]
Max, let me start with you.
There really is no U.S. comparable figure to the queen, this omnipresent figure for 70 years now.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, she's been around a very long time. So many of our lives are punctuated by moments where we associate with her, particularly across the commonwealth and the U.K.
But also I think there's also something that these are very divisive times. People have gone through a tough period. This is a figure who doesn't express any opinions. That's been part of her strategy, actually, over the decades.
So she is relevant to the most people as possible. She doesn't divide opinion. I think today was almost a rallying point, to sort of celebrate that point.
I will say, I've just had news from the palace. It's just come in. I wanted to bring it to you.
Despite the glory of today and her looking so well, I've just been told the queen did greatly enjoy today's birthday parade and fly-past but did bear some discomfort -- bear with me, I'm just seeing this myself -- taking into account the journey, activity required to participate in tomorrow's service.
This was a commemorations service at St. Paul's that she was due to attend with all of her family. It's going to be televised. She won't be going to that.
She's very reluctantly saying she's not going to attend but she is going to be involved in the beacon lighting tonight.
This is what we're seeing. I mean, she is well. We saw that today. Mentally she's well. But they're being very realistic about what she can achieve. And they're desperation not to over-exert her. And she doesn't want to over-exert herself.
So I don't think it's the end of the world, but there's going to be a lot of disappointment we won't see her tomorrow.
CAMEROTA: Yes, understood.
I mean, she's in her 90s. And she -- it's good to see her. Of course, you can't imagine these are very tiring.
And then, on the other end of the spectrum is her 4-year-old great- grandson, Prince Louis, who provided a little levity for the crowd. Maybe we have some video of him waving to the fly-over.
And then watch this.
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(LAUGHTER)
CAMEROTA: Those things get loud, Ed, OK? And Prince Louis showed us that.
So just tell us what today means.
ED OWENS, ROYAL HISTORIAN & AUTHOR: Well, as we just heard --
(CROSSTALK)
OWENS -- I think there's a really interesting story here about whether the queen is present or absent on these really important events as they unfold over the next couple days.
This is a significant moment. But as we've heard, she is frail. She is less physically able than she was even a year ago.
And that inevitably means that Prince Charles will be called on to stand in a bit like we saw today as trooping the color. He was the one that took the salute.
That was a role that would have traditionally been performed by the monarch. But instead, we see the heir to throne stepping in. And that's because these are physically demanding roles.
And gradually, we are essentially witnessing Elizabeth II retiring from public life and public view.
So I think we can anticipate a lot of joyous celebration the next couple of days. It remains to be seen whether Elizabeth II will be present and in person for those celebrations.
BLACKWELL: You can see those thousands of people certainly enjoyed seeing her and the working members of the family there on the balcony. These huge crowds. And we look forward to the next few days of celebrations.
Ed Owens, Max Foster, thank you.
[14:38:45]
CAMEROTA: OK, now to this. A group of trauma surgeons are calling gun violence in this country a public health crisis. Among those speaking out, one of the doctors who treated the Uvalde victims. Hear his plea, next.
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[14:43:39]
CAMEROTA: American surgeons, who see firsthand the damage that gun violence causes, are demanding urgent action.
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DR. RONALD STEWART, TRAUMA SURGEON, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, CAN ANTONIO: The high-capacity magazine, rifle such as the A.R.-15 causes extremely destructive tissue wounds.
These wounds are horribly lethal at close range. And sadly, most victims do not survive long enough to make it to a trauma center.
We know we can do it. And we must act.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: And many, many gun owners have had enough. Our next guest went viral this week after he posted this video on TikTok.
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BEN BEERS, FATHER & FORMER U.S. MARINE WHO GAVE UP HIS WEAPONS TO BE DESTROYED: Today, I'm turning in my weapons into the Hillsdale Police Department in Oregon, both my A.R.-15 and my .9-mill handgun. I no longer want them.
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CAMEROTA: With us now is father and former U.S. Marine, Ben Beers.
Ben, great to see you.
So tell us about this. Why did you want to turn in your handgun and your A.R.-15?
BEERS: Quite frankly, I'm sick of it. This devastation has happened for decades now. It's no longer a recreational hobby.
[14:44:51]
Every time I look at this A.R.-15, every time I look at this weapon, I'm reminded and haunted by the faces of evil, the innocent victims and, quite frankly, by the tool, the most primary effective tool used to commit these mass shootings.
CAMEROTA: And, Ben, how did it feel when you went to the police, your local police station and handed over your weapons?
BEERS: I felt like I was on the right path to doing something right. I acted very quickly. When I woke up -- it was obviously a rough night. It's been a rough week. I can't imagine what people were going through. I was in the parking lot for 20 or 20 minutes while they dispatched an
officer out to me. I could tell it was not a common practice for them to seize a weapon and destroy it.
It felt very awkward, to say the least. There was not much engagement with the police officer, just a property receipt.
(CROSSTALK)
BEERS: I was asked if I was wanting them to hold the weapons for a temporary period of time or have them destroyed. I think having them destroyed was the best decision.
Because I could sell them like I have in the past. But I believe that's one of the main roots of the problems is the money driving this industry.
CAMEROTA: As we mentioned, you're a former Marine. You are a responsible gun owner. How does you giving up your weapons make the country safer?
BEERS: I don't look at my weapons and think I'm patriotic for owning a firearm, let alone as A.R.-15. I think what's more patriotic is solving problems with this country we have seen time and time again.
Patriotic would be joining the military or serving in your community, helping people with mental health issues.
It's -- for me, it's not patriotic to own a firearm. And these mass shootings are happening in our schools with our children all over or country.
CAMEROTA: You have two little kids. Do you worry that, without your guns, you won't be able to protect them?
BEERS: No, I don't.
CAMEROTA: How did you make that mental shift?
BEERS: Because I'm seeing these mass -- I'm seeing shootings by A.R.- 15s in the masses of vulnerable children in our schools.
I'm not seeing crime reports showing break-ins with families being slaughtered for no apparent reason.
Home invasions or break-ins are usually for theft and when the homeowner is gone. I don't think someone is out to try to take my life.
CAMEROTA: You were saying you don't think the police see this very often, what you did, where you went in and surrendered your guns and didn't want anything in return.
In fact, the Hillsdale police spokesman said they had never seen this before.
BEERS: Right?
CAMEROTA: What kind of feedback -- I mean, we talked about the TikTok video that went viral. What kind of feedback are you getting?
BEERS: I'm getting -- at first, it was a lot of positive feedback, and it's good. At one point, I have to take a step back and stop replying to people because, of course, I'm getting negative feedback, a lot of harassment.
A lot of people saying I'm a coward, I'm a conscientious objector, not a true Marine, not a man. I won't argue with those people. It's not even logical.
But the majority of the feedback I've gotten has been nothing but positive from people all over the world, not just America.
CAMEROTA: Ben, ignore the haters. Ignore the negative comments. That's what you have to do in this era of social media.
And we thank you. We thank you for being brave enough to share your story here. And obviously, we thank you for your service. Thanks a lot for your time.
BEERS: Thank you so much for having me here. Bye.
[14:49:09]
BLACKWELL: Well, the president met with NATO secretary-general at the White House today, and now there's a new projected timeline of the war in Ukraine. Details ahead.
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BLACKWELL: Today, the White House announced a new round of sanctions on Russian officials and elites close to Vladimir Putin.
CAMEROTA: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 20 percent of his country is now under Russian control.
His wife, the first lady, told NBC News that giving up territory will not end this war.
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OLENA ZELENSKA, FIRST LADY OF UKRAINE: Our aggression will look stark in parts of our territory because they will not seize until they destroy us completely.
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CAMEROTA: And just -- oh, sorry.
BLACKWELL: That's alright.
CAMEROTA: That's you.
BLACKWELL: Thanks.
(LAUGHTER)
BLACKWELL: Today, NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg met with President Biden at the White House.
CNN's Alex Marquardt joins us now from the State Department.
So what came out of that meeting, Alex?
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Hey, guys. This meeting taking place on the eve of the 100th day of Russia's war in Ukraine. That is tomorrow.
There's a big NATO summit later this month that President Biden is attending. So, of course, that would have been discussed.
But at the top of the agenda is Ukraine. The secretary-general of NATO here for multiple days of meetings that will, of course, include discussions about Ukraine.
[14:55:04]
And Stoltenberg saying today that, when it comes to NATO, essentially Putin's plans backfired. That he went into Ukraine because he wanted less NATO. And now, essentially, he is getting more NATO.
That's a reference to Finland and Sweden likely joining this military alliance.
He also talked about these advanced long-range rockets systems that the U.S. and other countries are now sending into Ukraine.
He says those weapons will help strengthen Ukraine's position at the eventual negotiating table. When this war ends, he says, it will end through diplomacy.
But he did admit, in response to a question by our colleague, M.J. Lee, that this is a war that will likely grind on. Take a listen.
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JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: Wars are by nature unpredictable. And therefore, we just have to be prepared for the long haul.
Because what you see is that this war has now become a war of attrition, where the Ukrainians are paying a high price for defending their own country on the battlefield.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: Now in addition to Zelenskyy saying 20 percent of his country is now occupied by Russian forces, Alisyn and Victor, he also said today that there has been today what he called a consistent criminal policy of deporting Ukrainian people. And the Russians, themselves, have put numbers on that, saying 1.6 million Ukrainians have now crossed the border into Russia.
Zelenskyy says that was done forcibly. Of the 1.6 million, some 263,000 were children -- Alisyn and Victor?
BLACKWELL: Alex Marquardt for us there at the State Department. Thank you, Alex.
CAMEROTA: So President Biden makes a blunt admission on his initial response to the baby formula crisis. Details next.
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