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Hala Gorani Tonight
Obama Makes Case for Executive Action on Gun Control; Iran Versus Saudi Arabia; Germany Reacts to Allegations of Mass NYE Sexual Assaults; Dozens of Migrants Killed of Turkish Coast; Civilians in the Crossfire in Ramadi; Miss Universe Speaks Out; Las Vegas Hosts CES. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired January 05, 2016 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:13] HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: Tonight, the U.S. President gets personal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESIDENT: Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad.
GORANI: Speaking about massacre school children, he makes his case for executive action on gun control in America.
Then, Iranian's protest even as their neighbors turned their backs on them. We'll tell you the latest country siding with Saudi Arabia in the
diplomatic fact (ph).
And Germans today are outraged after reports of dozens of sexual assault on New Year's Eve in a single major city. We'll have that story.
And the real Ms. Universe joins me live to talk about this moment when she realized she and not Ms. Colombia had actually won the crown.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Hello, everyone, I'm Hala Gorani, we're live from CNN London, a well- rounded hour of news today. This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
The American President Barack Obama today said, America will no longer be held hostage by the gun lobby, defying the politically powerful gun lobby
and many in congress that has to be said. The president has announced a series of executive actions as their calls on gun control. This comes
three years after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A day Mr. Obama talked about during an emotional moment at the White House. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Thank you. Our unalienable right to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness, those rights were stripped from college kids in
Whitesburg in Santa Barbara, and from high schoolers at Columbine, and from first graders in Newtown, first graders. And from every family who never
imagined that their loved one will be taken from our lives by a bullet from a gun. Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, the president's actions include expanding background checks to include more types of gun sales, beeping up gun law enforcement,
training more ATF agents. Investing $0.5 billion in mental healthcare or access to mental healthcare and researching technology to make a gun safer.
But how much can the president do without Congress?
CNN Political Commentator Peter Beinart joins me now from New York.
Peter, first of all, explain to our international viewers why an executive action?
PETER BEINART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Because president can't get legislation from Congress even though a large majority of American, and
even a majority of members of Congress support the kind of gun restriction that he pushed through after the massacre in Sandy Hook. Because you
essentially need 60 votes out of 100 in the U.S. Senate to overcome what's known as the filibuster, he was not able to do that.
So, as on a number of other issues like immigration and climate change, the president having been stymie by Republicans in Congress has tried to
exercise what's called executive authority which are those more limited things that he can do without an act of Congress.
GORANI: What kind of impact will this have on gun control or gun control legislation in the United States?
BEIRANT: I think if Obama himself essentially acknowledges, the impact will be limited. It would take an act of Congress to really create a
series of infrastructure of protection that would really make it harder for people prone to violence to get guns.
But, there are certain valuable steps here in trying to strengthen a background check system that right now has a lot of holes in it. And also,
the research on gun violence which the gun lobby has essentially stymie is important, because it will dismantle some of their false arguments claiming
that in fact new laws would not be of any use.
GORANI: And, Peter, when Europeans watch on television often on CNN, you know, instances of mass shootings.
[15:05:00] We saw San Bernardino, we see it on college campuses, other places, they're bemused. They say, "Why is this even controversial", the
idea that someone should wait a day to buy an assault rifle. What it is about the United States that makes it so difficult to pass gun control
legislation?
BEINART: You know, to be honest, Hala, sometimes it is baffling to some of those of us in the United States as it is to people around the world. But,
first of all, we are a country with a hunting culture much more than most of Europe. But more deeply than that, United States, there is a level of
deep, deep suspicion, even paranoia of the federal government which is deep within the American psyche.
There are some positive elements to that too. It limits the state's ability to infringe upon people's basic rights. But this paranoia also
expresses itself in a kind of apocalyptic fear of what would happen if the government even did kind of basic safety precautions that in other
countries will be taken for granted. And we have to be honest about this. It has and it always had a strong racial component.
There is an element and you see it being fanned into a Republican Party of racialized fear, fear of immigrants, fear of African-Americans that had
been heightened with an African-American president that have made a certain segment of what America more and more attached to the idea of having their
guns. And this is part of the cultural -- the kind of cultural civil war that America has been fighting during the Obama years.
GORANI: All right. Looking (ph) at parties and issue as well, we'll be speaking to a Republican member of Congress in just a minute.
Peter Beinart, thanks very much, joining us from New York.
The Republican presidential candidates are coming out swinging, accusing the president -- we just said that it was a part of the issue. Well, as I
mentioned, the Republican candidates are accusing the president of undermining the Second Amendment of the constitution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R-FL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Gun violence is committed by criminals and criminals don't care with the laws, they violate it that's
why they're criminals. So he's obsessed with undermining the Second Amendment. He's obsessed with burdening law-abiding citizens. We're going
to follow law no matter what it is.
If he's serious about gun banning, he will be focused on violence, on what it is that's happening in our culture that's leading people to commit
violence and our laws that will do nothing to protect gun violence.
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R-TX) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can tell you right now, those executive orders are not worth the paper they are printed on because
when you lift up the pen, you die by the pen. And my pen has got an eraser.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, two Republican presidential candidates. Let's get the news from Congress.
I'm joined now from Capitol Hill by Mo Brooks, Representative from the southern state of Alabama, representing the 5th District there.
Congressman, thanks for being with us. Let me ask you why is a problem or your opinion not a good idea to extend background checks to say, gun shows
(ph) or people selling weapons online. What's the problem with that?
REP. MO BROOKS, (R) ALABAMA: Well, let's be clear in a general sense, what we're talking about here. I heard the previous speaker quite frankly,
Peter, I forget his last name, that nobody's talking about. We're not doing what we're doing because of gun lobbies. We're doing what we're
doing because we understand American history and we understand that the Second Amendment's function, primary function, is to make sure that the
citizen with these arms that we can defend all the other rights granted to us in the United States Constitution and in the Bill of Rights.
While hunting is a benefit of owning guns, that's not the primary purpose. While being able to protect yourselves from criminals is a benefit of gun
ownership. That's not the primary purpose. The primary purpose is to protect us from a dictatorial government.
And as a consequence, over two centuries now, we've never had a risk of a dictatorial government in the United States of America which sets us in
contrast to a lot of other countries which wear this arm and all of a sudden you have a dictatorial government with words that ensue. So that's
the overarching purpose of the Second Amendment.
GORANI: Right. But this, I mean, requiring people to, for instance, wait 24 hours or 48 hours before they can buy a semi-automatic assault rifle.
In what way does that threaten the Second Amendment or protect the citizens of the United States from a dictatorial government?
BROOKS: Everything that this administration does, related to the Second Amendment, is designed to undermine, incrementally, a step at a time. For
example, if you want to have a provision that allows doctors to now disclose whether someone is balanced or unbalanced, which is a judgment
issue.
If you open that door, then the next door that's going to be open as a requirement to doctors. Then under force, under threat of criminal
penalties or civil penalties, disclose that information to the federal government which undermines the privacy rights of patients by way of
example. And what does the patient do? What right does he then have to contest some kind of finding that bars that individual from exercising his
Second Amendment rights and which make him at risk of criminal conduct or terrorist conduct in the United States of America.
So what I'm looking at when I see what Barack Obama is doing is something that is wholly ineffective in achieving the goals, desires.
[15:10:00] For instance, Barack Obama talking about the existence around the country, not one thing that's in this proposal would have prevented any
of those things that the president wanted.
GORANI: Why would a background check ever threaten the Second Amendment? And why would it be an issue at all to require gun owners to wait 24 hours
before they sell an own rifle to buyer. That's where I don't understand your logic by talking about access to mental health care, president.
BROOKS: We are willing to consider various degrees of background checks to help ensure that people who are criminals or people who lack mental
competence are in fact not obtaining weapons and then using them randomly to kill others. That is something that I think most everybody is willing
to consider.
But you also have to understand the due process rights of those people that you're trying to borrow the Second Amendment rights, too. And that's
something that this president doesn't seem to care that much about.
GORANI: Right. In 2013, you voted against the expanding background checks to gun shows. So, you have a record of actually standing against that
particular proposal. Are you changing your mind on it now?
BROOKS: No. I had to look at that particular legislation. But I suspect this as often the case in the news media using around there broad brush.
If I had the bill in front of me and if you had told me before him, we're going to talk about legislation that was three years ago. I could have
reviewed it, look at the particulars and then I could've explain to you if they're particular provisions in it that cause me to have heart burn or
then I found problematic or troublesome.
So, in the future, if you're going to refer to votes at over two, three years ago, please let me know in advance and I'll be able to respond in a
better fashion.
GORANI: All right. That was your last vote on expanding background check. Do you agree that for instance, the Australian model would work for the
United States?
Now, Australia is a gun owning country. 3.5 million privately own guns. Lots of hunters, this is a population of 23 million. They had this parable
massacre in 1996, 35 people were killed by a crazy gun man.
They said, "Enough." We're going to require 28 days before someone can buy an assault rifle. Ever since mass shootings have gone down to almost zero.
Would you agree with the models such as the Australian model? Why or why not.
BROOKS: Again, if you had advice me in advance that you ordered me to understand Australian laws opposed to American law, then I could've
research that. But, you have none and as a consequence, I'm not a physician or I can give an educative evaluation about what Australia's gun
laws are.
I'm willing to consider lot of actions but I'm not willing to under mine the Second Amendment right that guarantees all other rights that we enjoy
in the United States of America.
And in addition because of that second amendment right and the training that we have in the United States of America, gun ownership and used, that
is enable our Arm Forces by way of example to more rapidly respond to emergency military situations by way of example that forbidding the United
Kingdom from having a different flag where the Union Jack in World War II that helped us very quickly to respond in Europe and in the Pacific.
So, all these things come together that emphasize the value of the Second Amendment.
GORANI: Right. OK. Well, that -- you talked about the legislation that's three years old, that was history that's 70 years old.
But one last question on polls because this is something I'm sure you're aware of. 87 percent, this is a 2012 poll, a gun owner say, they support
an expansion of background checks, among the NRA members, 74 percent.
So, as a congressman, are you really respecting the wishes of your constituents by not supporting an expansion of background checks to all
sales?
BROOKS: Well, first, I would cast suspicion on the polling. I've done a lot of polling over the years and I understand how the way in which the
question is raised and yelled the kind of result that you want.
The people in my Congressional District, they know my position on defending the Second Amendment, they've elected me now. I think the closest
reelection number was by 30 percent or so. I maybe off a little bit, but it's that number perhaps higher.
And they know where I am, so I am reflecting the wishes of the people in the state of Alabama, and the Tennessee Valley, and the Fifth Congressional
District. And I will continue to do so with respect to defending the rights of their arms, their own arms as protected by the Second Amendment.
Historically, that right to bear arms has done a whole lot more good for America in the world than damage.
GORANI: All right. Congressman Mo Brooks, thanks so much for joining us, live from Capitol Hill here on CNN, all right.
Let's turn our attention away from the United States and to the Middle East. Sectarian divisions are deepening Kuwait has now we called its
Ambassador to Iran and the wake of a dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Now, Sudan, Bahrain, the UAE are also supporting Riyadh. The tensions were spark by Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. Iran's
president is lashing out at Saudi Arabia.
[15:15:00] Hassan Rouhani says, "Riyadh cannot hide its foot, great crime by savoring diplomatic ties."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is reaching out to Iranian and Saudi Arabia leaders to try to get them to talk to each other.
Let's bring in Global Affairs Correspondent, Elise Labott at the State Department.
Elise, yesterday I spoke with John Kirby, the State Department Spokesperson. You, of course, confirm that Secretary Kerry spoke to both
his counter parts in Iran and Saudi Arabia. What wouldn't get in any of the detail of what was said?
Is Secretary Kerry getting anywhere in trying to get these two countries to talk directly once again?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: I don't think so, Hala. You can see by the fact that more countries are fought, more Sunni nations
following Saudi Arabia in sovereign ties that the sectarian kind of feud is only deepening here.
Secretary Kerry doesn't want to be a mediator but certainly trying to encourage these countries to talk to one another because as you know, so
many conflicts going on in the region right now.
Not only does the U.S. needs Saudi Arabia and Iran to be working together. But it certainly doesn't want this feud to spill over into Iraq where the
U.S. needs, you know, Prime Minister al-Abadi, who's very friendly to Iran to work with Sunni tribes in terms of holding Ramadi. He needs Saudi
Arabia and Iran to work together in Syria. He's hoping that this won't bleed over into Yemen.
So, certainly the U.S. very concerned not only that the sectarian rip is deepening but that it won't spill over and further the tensions in the
region.
GORANI: All right. Elise Labott, following down in Portland story from Washington, a lot more to come in this evening.
Shock and anger in Germany over a series of alleged sexual assaults, all happening on New Year's Eve in the one city, why the case is turning into a
controversy over the countries influx of refugees?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: German Chancellor, Angela Merkel says she's disgusted, "by dozens of alleged sexual assaults" targeting New Year's Eve revelers.
Rumors women in Cologne, say they were attacked by a large group of men who appeared to be they said of North African or Arab Origin.
CNN's Atika Shubert has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New Year's Eve at the Cathedral Square at Cologne, Germany has always been a rowdy party sit. A firework's free
for all, but police now report that dozens of women were sexually assaulted and rubbed in the chaos.
Police say, victims described the perpetrators as small gangs of "Arab or North African men".
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): The men surrounded us and started to grab our behinds and touched our crotches. They touched us
everywhere. I wanted to take my friend to leave, I turned around and in that moment, someone grabbed my back.
SHUBERT: Only identifying herself as Linda, this victim says, she was too scared to go out alone and still has nightmares.
[15:20:00] LINDA (through translation): I thought the whole time in the crowd, they could kill us or raped us and no one would even notice. Nobody
noticed and nobody helped us. I just wanted to get out.
SHUBERT: Other women agreed saying there was no one to help them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, (through translator): We run to the police but we saw the police were so understaffed, they couldn't take care of us and we as
women paid the price.
SHUBERT: By Tuesday morning, the headlines blared that it, "Sex mob of the Arab Men'' had attack local women and then nationally broadcast press
conference.
Germany's justice ministers said the scale and nature of the attacks may constitute a, "New Dimension of Organized Crime", but also cautioned
against jumping to conclusions.
HEIKO MAAS, GERMAN JUSTICE MINISTER: (through translator): During these investigations, it will become clear which circle or perpetrators is
involved making this an issue to oversee the patients and connecting it to the issue of refugees is nothing more than misuse of the debate.
Now, it is about determining the facts and joined the necessary conclusions.
SHUBERT: Police has so far recorded 90 criminal incidents. A quarter of which were sexual assault. One rape was reported.
At the time, there were roughly a thousand people in total at the square not all were perpetrators. Police say that many of the assaults were
likely distraction techniques. The real aim was pick pocketing, mostly mobile phones and tablets.
Police are still investigating combing through surveillance video of the area but the assault play straight, the public fears at the influx of
refugees would also bring a crime rates fueling right wing criticism of Germany's open door policy towards refugees.
Local residents gathered in angry protest at the side of the attacks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, (through translator): What happen here is terrible but the same time not everybody who was here in the square should be
incriminated. That's not acceptable either. The perpetrators must be court and brought to justice.
SHUBERT: Fear, anger and suspicion. The country is already straining under the influx of nearly a million refugees a tinder box. It won't take
much to catch fire.
Atika Shubert, CNN, Berlin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Coming up, a quick check of the market after yesterdays sharp drops plus secure a nervous flyer. We'll have some reassuring news. This
airline has been named the world's safest, we'll tell you who else made the list.
And later in the show, I'll speak to the real Ms. Universe about that dramatic mix up on stage involving the host and Ms. Colombia. Stay with us
for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Well, it's less than an hour now until the Dow closes and after yesterday it melt down, we're still not seeing any gains.
Ricahard Quest joins me again from New York, the host of "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS."
So, what's going on? I mean because yesterday was a bad day and today again, we're down. There's just no confident in this morning.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. Yesterday was a...
GORANI: It's super tad, tad market.
QUEST: Yeah. Oh come on, Hala. We're -- well, its 27 points.
[15:25:00] But I will grant you. I will grant you that today's trading is very much in the same vain and indicative of the unease that the markets
are feeling. This tells us up then down, then a long very down, then up, then down.
You get the idea and that's what it's been like through the course of the day. But in the absence of bad news, in the absence of a reason for
selling pressure to push further down, we're only as 37 points. Europe gauge (ph) knowledge to break the cycle which had been seen in China.
As s result, you see gains not very large gains. I will grant you, Ms. Gorani. I will grant you that but at least they're eking out these small
gains while they wait to see the future direction from Asia.
GORANI: All right. Well, that's something I got. Let's talk a little bit about airline safety. You know, I'm a bit of a nervous flyer for some
reason, it's developed with age, don't know why. But I like seeing list of airlines ranked by safety.
Now, the newest list that's come out is giving Qantas once again the top spot. What other airlines are on there?
QUEST: OK. This is the list of airlineratings.com. Since 2013, they have been grading more than 400 airlines and they do it by giving them various
stars, (inaudible) confirm with international regulations on the parts of the (inaudible) as safety program. What have the airline had a fatality in
the last 10 years. There's an entire range that lead you towards seven stars and these airlines, all got seven stars and it's a very broad range.
Interestingly, you've got obviously the U.S. (inaudible), American and United are in there. Lots of Asian coast, Singapore, is that Cathay, nut
Qantas, Qantas get it because in 95 or 96 years, they've never had fatality as a result of a crash.
And that's -- and what the organizers of the study say is, they haven't exemplary record. I have only one caution we note here. And it's this.
GORANI: OK.
QUEST: ... you have to think if you're not on this list, you're not a safe airline. You know, see Air France on this list. You know...
(Crosstalk)
QUEST: You know, see Delta on this list. And that's why you're talking about the airlines, the infinite (inaudible) top of the three here.
They're all of a matchness (ph). And what this survey does is really take the matchness (ph) and says, "Well, maybe out of the matchness (ph) some
more match than others".
GORANI: OK. Are there some airlines whose names, I don't even recognized, EVA Air for instance.
QUEST: Oh Taiwan.
GORANI: EVA Air.
QUEST: Yeah. Eva, Eva --
GORANI: Oh, Taiwan. OK. Got it.
QUEST: Yes. And --
GORANI: Yeah.
QUEST: And Virgin Australia which of course is part of the whole Virgin conglomerate, Virgin Atlantic which is the original.
Now interestingly, interestingly, Virgin Atlantic, 49 percent owned by Delta of the United States. But Delta doesn't up here.
What is fascinating on the seven star lists, you got Etihad of Abu Dhabi, Emirates of Dubai.
GORANI: Dubai.
QUEST: But not Qatar Airways of Doha in Qatar. That will obviously give them some consent. It's one of those surveys that comes out every year
that people look after thing, and traveling on a safe airline.
Be careful of those airlines and there at the bottom of the list that have no stars.
GORANI: All right. We'll take a look at the list and its entirety. Thank you, Richard, and we'll see you at the top of the hour of "QUEST MEANS
BUSINESS''. Appreciate it.
This is the WORLD RIGHT NOW. Still to come, we'll visit a gun show to see how people feel about the U.S. president gun control agenda.
[05:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. Here's a look at our top story this hour, U.S. president, Barack Obama, is defying the powerful gun law (inaudible) in
congress. Today, he announced the series of executive actions to control gun violence that don't require the approval of congress. One narrows the
so-called gun show loophole that expands backgrounds checks for gun buyers.
Iran president is lashing out at Saudi Arabia. Hassan Rouhani says Riad cannot hide its "great crime" of executing a Shiite cleric by severing ties
with Iran. And he defended those who have been protesting the execution.
In Afghanistan, U.S. defense official say one American soldier was killed and two were wounded when their medical helicopter was hit by mortar fire,
it happened Marjah in Helmand province.
The official say the chopper was on the ground and able to takeoff and that it was not shot down.
Now, to a disturbing story and a report which we must warn you it contains some graphic images. So please do look away, if you might be troubled by
this. Certainly, not for children either.
Dozens of migrants have been killed off the coast of Turkey as they tried to make the perilous journey across the sea to Greece.
Some reports say, and this number is staggering, at least 34 bodies were found at two sites along the Aegean Coast.
Lynda Kinkade has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's an old too familiar scene along Turkey's coast line, the bodies of migrants washing up along
the shore.
Here in the Aegean Coast, the rescuers removed the bodies of at least 24 migrants including three children after several boats capsized while trying
to reach the Greek island of Lesbos.
The International Organization for Migration says 2015 was the deadliest year on record for migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe by sea.
3,771 people lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean, nearly 500 more than last year.
Migration officials warn that poor weather conditions are not stopping the flow of migrants.
JOEL MILLMAN, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION: Migrants, refugees continue to enter Greece at the rate of over 2,500 a day from Turkey which
is very close to the average through December. So we see the migrants flows are continuing through the winter. And obviously, the fatalities are
continuing as well.
KINKADE: And the cycle continues. As many thousands make the dangerous journey, authorities risk their own lives trying to save them.
Turkey has increased its police presence on the shoreline and its coast guard waits at the ready.
The United Nations says more than 1 million migrants entered Europe last year by sea. As no ending side to the crisis as desperate migrants take
the ultimate risk in the hope of a better life.
Lynda Kinkade, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Let's return now to our top story, President Obama's new executive actions on gun control. Figures from the FBI show gun sales have been
going up almost every year for the past decade. In fact, they nearly doubled from 2007 to 2014. And last year, in 2015, they increased every
single month since June with December, the biggest month for sales. You see it there on the graph.
One of the president's executive orders would tighten the so-called gun show loophole by expanding background checks for buyers. That's not always
the case when you go to one of those gun shows that you are required to submit to a background check.
Gary Tuchman went to a popular gun show in Virginia to see what the impact of the new rules would be.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Organizers refer to it as miles of aisles. You can buy guns here from retail booths and from private dealers.
[05:35:07]
DARYLL FINE, GUN OWNER: I'm selling a Mossberg 12 gauge bolt action.
TUCHMAN: How much you're trying to sell it for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $200.
TUCHMAN: And this gun is what?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a Mossberg 16 gauge bolt action.
TUCHMAN: And how much you're going to sell it for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 150.
TUCHMAN: In business, what is called the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia is good. So good, the ATMs have run out of money.
There are first time buyers galore.
What's made you to decide to buy a gun?
UNIDENTIFIED GORANI: I think it's the possibility that are laws might change and we're not going to have that ability to protect ourselves.
TUCHMAN: President Obama take an executive action on guns has alarmed many of the people here. Annette Elliott, just the president and owner of the
company that puts on this show and about 85 others in the U.S. year.
GARY TUCHMAN: What do you think the president of the United States really wants to do when it comes to guns?
ANNETTE ELLIOTT, PRESIDENT, SHOWMASTERS GUN SHOWS: Well, I think the end game with a lot of Democrats is to confiscate them. I think that we're the
last .
TUCHMAN: Is that what you -- is that what you think?
ELLIOTT: We are afraid of that -- sure. I think .
TUCHMAN: Is that what you think the president wants to do, though?
ELLIOTT: Maybe. Yeah. Well, I think, maybe, he does.
TUCHMAN: Another reason to show it's jammed?
ELLIOTT: The ISIS threat has increased business, that it immediately increased business.
OWEN YUMANG, GUN BUYER: I used to be a zero gun, you know, guy. But nowadays, you don't even know who your opponents are. You got to be ready.
TUCHMAN: Opinions here are not black and white. There are people here who feel there should be an increase in firearms regulations.
But what is extremely prevalent as a deep distrust and suspicion of the motivations of the federal government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a Winchester 300 short .
TUCHMAN: How much do you want to sell it for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, I'm looking about six for it.
TUCHMAN: Six hundred.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
TUCHMAN: If you buy a gun from someone in the business of dealing in firearms, federal law requires background checks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is the state form. Four and ten it's yours, everything between these gray lines.
TUCHMAN: And that's what's happening here. The information is then fed into computers before customers are allowed to buy their guns. Police are
present to arrest people when the computer checks indicate criminal violations. But the private dealers are not legally required to conduct
background checks.
FINE: I would ask you for a Virginia driver's license. That way, I know you're from within the state.
TUCHMAN: What if I gave you a fake Virginia driver's license? You would never know?
FINE: I would have no idea.
TUCHMAN: Would you trust me? Do I have an honest face? Would you sell it to me?
FINE: I -- I'd trust you. You look like you have an honest face.
TUCHMAN: OK. But that being said, sometimes, if you don't think someone has an honest face; if you have a bad vibe, you don't sell it?
FINE: Correct.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got to -- you got to go with your gut instincts.
MILLARD STAHLE, GUN OWNER: This is a competition M1A. It's a civilian version of the M-14.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a SD40 VE Smith and Wesson 40 caliber. It's a lot like a glock.
TUCHMAN: Jerry Cochran is one of the retailers doing a booming business here.
JERRY COCHRAN, TRADER JERRY'S: We sell any kind of gun, any kind of legal gun you can buy.
TUCHMAN: He is also one of the minority of people here who think things should be more stringent.
COCHRAN: I'm for expanded background checks. I think that a gun -- if somebody is engaging in the business, they ought to do a background check.
I've done it for 35 years. I've never sold a gun without a background check.
TUCHMAN: Many here believe the government needs to be more concerned about mental illness than making it harder to buy a gun. But they are aware
things are about to change.
STAHLER: It's Obama, you know, he wants to do what he thinks is in the best interest of the country. I disagree strongly with him on this issue.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Chantilly, Virginia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And the gun show in Virginia.
And joining the CNN by the way for a special look at guns in America with U.S. president, Barack Obama, Anderson Cooper hosted an exclusive one hour
live town hall event at George Mason University in Virginia. See it Friday at 1:00 a.m. in London and it will re-air the next day on Friday as well.
British home secretary, Theresa May says officials are working to identify the mask militant with a British accent who appears in a new ISIS
propaganda video.
Here's a still image from that video.
During the parliamentary debate today, an opposition member of the parliament asked May about media reports naming the name as Britain's
Siddhartha Dhar. He is believed to have fled to Syria in 2014. He's a convert, by the way. He was born Hindu.
May would not confirm the man's identity citing the ongoing investigation and (inaudible) have not confirmed that it is that man either. So his name
has surfaced in various reports.
Now, despite the threats made in the ISIS video, there are signs that the root's grip is beginning loosen in parts of Iraq.
One place where ISIS had been battled back is the City of Ramadi. Iraqi troops, now, are pushing to eliminate the last remnants of the terrorist
group there. But as CNN's Nima Elbagir report, many Ramadi civilians are caught in the cross fire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi helicopters keep a watchful eye in the sky above, and all around what remains of Ramadi
after six months of ISIS rule.
[05:40:00] Driving through here, you just really get hit by the desolation, the devastation that was visited on this city. What the air strikes and
the ground offensives didn't destroy, ISIS rigged to blow.
Ramadi fell in May last year, and since then, the Iraqi counter terrorism services have battled to reclaim it, every inch and advance through the
unknown.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody here OK?
ELBAGIR: Yes, we're OK.
The only way we can safely walk is in his footsteps. Even though they've cleared this area, even though they've held it for the last few days, there
are still areas within this that are booby-trapped.
Ramadi was home to nearly a million people. Today, as troops continue their push, we're told possibly over 1,000 families remain, facing death
amidst the rubble.
As the battle for Ramadi has raged, it's been hard to get a sense of the toll on civilians. But in this video, filmed for CNN, you can see soldiers
race across a Sniper Alley to escort back a white flag-waving boy and his family. Those who can't walk are carried. All desperate to escape.
This man describes the horror his family faced.
"ISIS tried to take us away," he says. "Young, old, ill, they wanted to take us all."
In this clip, soldiers gather what remains of the dead. Some, like this woman, appear to have been shot, others, blown to pieces by IEDs.
Much of what was filmed is too graphic to show you, like the remains of a little boy carried to burial.
All over Ramadi, remnants of ISIS' rule still stand.
This is what would have been an ISIS suicide car bomb. You can see the keys actually still inside the ignition. They climbed in through the top.
There's a hole cut out of the roof. Around here, around the back, this is where they pack the explosives here in the bed of the pickup truck. Cars
like these are what have been coming towards the Iraqi forces every single day since liberation packed full of explosives ready to blow.
The head of Iran's counter terror force told us the liberation of Ramadi should be celebrated around the world, that this is just the first of the
victories to come.
Here in Ramadi, night falls. More rescued families escape. This little girl can't stop crying.
For her, for now, all that matters is she's safe.
Nima Elbagir, CNN, Ramadi.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So much suffering still. This is the WORLD RIGHT NOW. We'll be right back with more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:45:00]
GORANI: My next guest was inadvertently involved in one of the most awkward T.V. moment in recent memory.
It happened during the Miss Universe pageant and changes are, you have seen it. It was all over the internet.
Host, Steve Harvey had just announced Miss Colombia as the winner of Miss Universe when this happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE HARVEY, TV PERSONALITY: I have to apologize. The first runner up is Colombia. Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, was eventually crowned as Miss Universe on the same stage where Miss Colombia thought she
had won. And she joins me now live from New York.
Pia, thanks for being with us. I've got to ask you what went through your mind -- what went through your mind when Steve Harvey -- oh, you lost your
earpiece. Put it back in.
PIA ALONZO WURTZBACH, MISS UNIVERSE: Yeah, it's here.
GORANI: Where Pia goes, awkward T.V. moment follow. Here we go.
Pia, can you here me now?
WURTZBACH: Yes, I can.
GORANI: OK. Pia, let me ask you, what went through your mind when, initially, of course, Miss Colombia was crowned and then you heard the
host, Steve Harvey, say, "Sorry, there's been a mistake, it's actually Miss Philippines," what went through your mind at that moment?
WURTZBACH: Well, of course I was surprised about the whole thing. That's never happened in the Miss Universe before. But I understand it's live,
people make mistakes, it's live television and it just happened. But I'm very happy I won and I'm very excited to start my journey as Miss Universe.
GORANI: You know, we asked our Facebook followers for questions for you, Pia. And one of the most common ones was asked by -- there was a gentleman
Dukso Andrew (ph) he asks a question that many others asks as well, did it every cross your mind to share the crown with Miss Colombia because it had
initially been announced that she was the winner?
WURTZBACH: Well, I heard about the suggestion of Ms. Donald Trump, but I think that it would be very difficult for two ladies to share the crown.
But I trust and I have high hopes that this pageant will open a lot of opportunities, not just for me but also for Miss Colombia and the rest of
the candidates as well.
GORANI: Now, who -- if you look back at this, you're the winner now and you have an exciting year ahead of you and many causes, I know HIV
awareness is one of them, close to your heart. But if you had -- who do you blame for this? Because this was a big -- it was a big mistake.
WURTZBACH: I don't blame anybody for it. I know that mistakes like this happen especially on live television. I was an actress back in the
Philippines and I know how this all works. Sometimes you make mistakes and I actually respect Mr. Steve Harvey because he, right away, admitted that
he made a mistake, he apologized for it. I bumped into him backstage and he was gracious enough to say sorry and I accepted his apology and I think
that was very much of a gentleman for him to do.
GORANI: And what about Miss Colombia, were you able to speak to her backstage or since?
WURTZBACH: Backstage, I wasn't able to see her because everything was happening so fast. But during Christmas, which also happened to be her
birthday, I greeted her, I wished her Merry Christmas and I hope that she's OK. She replied back to me. So that's where we were able to kind of greet
each other during the holidays.
GORANI: And was she still -- well, was she still feeling angry, was still feeling angry at Steve Harvey at that stage?
[05:50:01]
WURTZBACH: I'm not sure. She hasn't mentioned anything to me. So I just said, "You know, I hope you're doing OK," and she replied back. So I
really do sincerely hope that she's OK now and that she realizes that she's -- she has a lot of potential and I think that she will go far.
GORANI: OK. Tell us about your year coming up. What's the plan of you, Pia.
WURTZBACH: Well, I'm very excited because the -- it's been 42 years since the Philippines won in Miss Universe and pageants are a big deal back home.
We really take it seriously, especially with Miss Universe. So while I have this crown, I'm -- I -- like I mentioned in the pageant, HIV and aids
awareness is one of the platforms. Also, I would, very close to my heart, I'd like to talk more about or do more about relief operations for places
that are hit by naturals disasters or calamities such as -- like the Philippines, it's happened -- it happened in the Philippines quite often,
unfortunately.
And also, another thing that I'd like to talk about more as I go through my year is cyber bullying.
GORANI: OK. Thank you very much, Miss Philippines, now Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtsbach, joining us .
WURTZBACH: Thank you.
GORANI: . from New York. Thanks very much.
And you can check out .
WURTZBACH: Thank you very much.
GORANI: . our Facebook page. You're waiting on this story. But of course, we post all the important stories as well that we've covered this
hour, facebook.com/halagoranicnn.
Coming up, we go live to Las Vegas where the latest electric cars are being rolled out at the consumer electronic show.
We'll tell you how the company behind this model plans to take on tests, all the newest gadgets as well.
Samuel Burke is there. He'll be joining us after this.
(Crosstalk)
GORANI: Just for this week, apparently, what happens in Vegas will not be staying in Vegas. At least a lot of consumer electronics makers are hoping
so. They're all showcasing their latest gadgets, high-tech gadgets.
In the middle of the action, we find CNN Samuel Burke.
Samuel, let's talk. First of all, we told our viewers about electric cars. Tell us about that.
SAMUEL BURKE, CNN TECH CORRESPONDENT: Yes, CES stands for Consumer Electronic Show. But I'm beginning to think that C might stand for China
or Cars because this big car company as well as the light of China back companies has taken over.
For about a year now, this company called Faraday has been generating big buys like the Tesla competitor in Silicon Valley, but they've been very
mysterious backs by a Chinese multibillionaire. But no one really knew what they were doing.
Last night, they finally had their big unveil for their concept car. It won't be on the road for a couple of more years they say, but they've
already been plucking a lot of talent from big places like BMW, Audi and most importantly from Tesla.
But Hala, I got to tell you, I was just home in Phoenix, I took a drive to San Diego, five hours only cost me $30. So it's hard to see how these
companies are going to be viable, these electric car companies. Right now, they do not generate profits, but I think a lot of people are hopeful for
what they could do for the environment.
You're probably driving a lot less now that you don't live in Atlanta and you're in London, but I assume you're still concerned about the
environment, Hala.
GORANI: Yeah, I'm driving -- actually, not at all. And I kind of miss it oddly. But anyway, that's another story altogether.
[05:55:03] But you know, I could be getting around, potentially, on a hover board in London. It's become quite the popular item. Are we seeing many
of those at the Consumer Electronic Show? Although, it might catch fire. I don't know.
BURKE: Oh, and you might be breaking the line in London. But yeah, everybody is still talking about those hover boards. A lot of companies --
I love to see what they're going to do with transportation.
I'm actually on a smart skateboard right now called ACTON.
Is it OK if I try it out?
Here's the co-founder of the company.
I have a remote control in my hand, Hala. You know, I just appendicitis. So I don't want to get too risky and end up back in the hospital. But
basically, what we've been hearing from a lot of these companies is that they've learned a lot of lessons.
Why do you think those hover boards were exploding?
Peter Treadway, co-founder of ACTON.
PETER TREADWAY, CO-FOUNDER OF ACTON: It's mostly because of low quality batteries and construction and just really not caring so much about how the
products are put together.
BURKE: So if I stay on this, it's not going to explode?
TREADWAY: Well, we use the highest quality batteries in these skateboards. And of course, we put a lot of time into research and development and we're
not knocking anybody off. So .
BURKE: Yeah.
TREADWAY: . its all ours.
BURKE: Hala, it will cost you 499 bucks for this skateboard. It could get you about five to six miles with or without your appendix, but be safe.
GORANI: All right. Well, you're a little bit lighter by a few grams. So it should be easier. Although, if you follow up with that one, I don't
think it has anything to do with (inaudible) catching fire.
BURKE: I'm learning .
GORANI: All right.
BURKE: . little by little, Hala.
GORANI: Samual Burke.
BURKE: Chow.
GORANI: You look very graceful doing it. Thanks. Chow. See you later.
OK.
BURKE: I'm OK. Don't worry.
GORANI: I hope he's insured.
OK. Mao Zedong is still a huge figure in China from one thing to a bigger (inaudible) right here.
As you can see here, this is a giant gold painted statue of the former leader. Chinese businessmen paid some $460,000 to put the 36-meter
likeness up in a rural area.
Ironically, it's a place that suffered from terrible famine during his rule in the late 1950's.
That's picture of the day for you. Although, I think Samuel gave us a run for our money on that one.
This has been the WORLD RIGHT NOW. I'm Hala Gorani. Thanks for watching.
My colleague, Richard Quest is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
