>> Renee: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT, MASS SHOOTINGS AND GUN LAWS.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO WEEKS SINCE A GUNMAN KILLED 21 PEOPLE AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN UVALDE, TEXAS.

19 OF THEM CHILDREN.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 30 OTHER MASS SHOOTINGS SINCE THEN ACCORDING TO THE GUN VIOLENCE ARCHIVE.

INCLUDING SHOOTINGS IN CHATTANOOGA AND PHILADELPHIA.

AS USUAL, THERE ARE DIVIDED OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT'S CAUSING THIS GUN VIOLENCE AND WHAT SHOULD BE DOWN TO STOP IT.

TO DISCUSS THIS WE'RE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY WHITNEY AUSTIN, A mass SHOOTING SURVIVOR AND GUN SAFETY ADVOCATE.

MARK BRYANT OF THE GUN VIOLENCE ARCH AND EDWYN NIGHBERT, FORMER PRESIDENT AND DIRECT LOOK AT THE OF THE 6th DISTRICT FEDERATION OF THE LEAGUE OF KENTUCKY SPORTSMEN.

AND JOINING US BY SKYPE DAVID BURNETT AN ATTORNEY and ICU NURSE AND SELF-DEFENSE ADVOCATE SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT O TWITTER AT KYTONIGHTKET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.ORG.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/KYT.

OR YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-494-7605 WELCOME TO ALL OUR GUESTS.

BOTH NEAR AND FAR.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

AGAIN, I LOOKED BACK AND MS. AUSTIN, WE DID THIS SHOW, THIS CONVERSATION ON APRIL THE 26th OF 2021 AFTER A SPATE OF MASS SHOOTINGS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE COME AROUND THIS DISCUSSION ANNUALLY.

TELL UGS WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE.

AS I MENTIONED, YOU ARE A MASS SHOOTING SURVIVOR, AND YOU ARE A GUN SAFETY ADVOCATE.

DO YOU WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PARTICULAR KET AUDIENCE, I'LL GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY AND TELL US WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.

>> SURE.

AIM SURVIVOR OF A MASS SHOOTINGS ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2018, I WAS SHOT 12 TIMES, AND MIRACULOUSLY, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I GOT HOME TO MY BABIES AND MY FAMILY, AND SO I WILL ALWAYS BE SERIOUSLY DRIVEN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS ISSUE.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO EXPERIENCE THIS.

AND SO AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS ISSUE, WE CAN DO A LOT.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE BECAUSE POLITICS GETS IN THE WAY OF US COMING TOGETHER AND SOLVING THIS ISSUE.

NOW, I WA TO START FIRST WITH JUST SAYING WE HAVE SURPASSED AT THIS POINT ALL OF THE OTHER LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH FOR OUR AMERICAN KIDS.

NOW WITH GUN VIOLENCE.

AND SO IF THAT CANNOT UNIFY US, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN.

AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POLICIES AND HERE IN KENTUCKY I CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR A BILL CALLED CRISIS AVERSION AND RIGHTS RETENTION, WHICH CAN HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE IN A CRISIS TEMPORARILY TRANSFERRING THEIR FIREARM AND GETTING THEM THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, SO THAT'S THE BILL THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IN THIS STATE.

>> AND WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THOSE DISCUSSIONS, TOO, ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

MR. NIGHBERT, I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

WHEN YOU READ THE HEADLINES LIKE I JUST ABOUT D. IN SUMMER RISING THE NUMBER OF FAST SHOOTINGS IN JUST THE LAST 30 DAYS, MASS SHOOTING, HOW DOES THAT STRIKE YOU, AND AS SOMEONE WHO IS A GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATE, WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOME ABILITY AND MOVEMENT TOWARD A COMPROMISE ON HELPING TO CURB THIS VIOLENCE?

>> WE HAD A WONDERFUL DISCUSSION BEFORE COMING IN HERE, AND WE ALL AGREE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND GETTING TO THE LEVEL WHERE THAT YOU CAN BE INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED IS VERY HIGH.

I THINK WE SAW IN A COUPLE OF THESE LAST MASS SHOOTERS THEY WERE VERY MENTALLY UNSTABLE, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REACH THAT THRESHOLD WHEN ANY ONE OF US CAN LOOK AT THEIR FACEBOOK POST AND KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING VERY WRONG THERE, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHERE COMPROMISE WILL BE MADE.

BUT TO HER POINT, AS LONG AS POLITICIANS ARE INVOLVED, IT'S A HARD WAY TO GO.

>> I DO WANT TO GET TO SOME OF THAT ABOUT RED FLAG LAWS, ET CETERA, MR. BRYANT, THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL OF YOU ARE RETURN GUESTS ON THIS PROGRAM, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU ARE KEEPING UP WITH ALL OF THIS.

IN FACT, THE GUN VIOLENCE ARCHIVE IS FREQUENTLY QUOTED AND SOURCED WHEN WE MENTION HOW MANY MASS SHOOTINGS HAVE HAPPENED THIS YEAR OR IN A PERIOD OF TIME.

GIVE US SOME MORE CONTEXT TO THAT.

IN DEFINING A MASS SHOOTING.

I ALWAYS ASK YOU THIS QUESTION BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY QUALIFIES AS A MASS SHOOTING.

>> THERE WAS NOT A DEFINITION FOR A MASS SHOOTING WHEN WE CAME UP, WHEN WE STARTED IN 2013.

THERE WAS A DEFINITION FOR MASS MURDER THAT THE FBI HAD, BUT THAT INCLUDES BOMBINGS AND STABBINGS AND POISONINGS AND EVERYTHING.

WE WENT OFF OF THAT AND LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE SHOT OR KILLED BECAUSE WHEN IT NEE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAS BEEN KILLED, SHE DOESN'T COUNT, AND THAT'S WRONG.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

THEIR FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

SO WE MADE SURE THAT WHEN WE MADE THE DEFINITION AND MADE IT VERY HARD, THAT IT WOULD FOUR OR MOUR PEOPLE SHOT OR KILLED, NOT INCLUDING THE SHOOTER.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT WAS SOME PEOPLE WANT TO WINDOW THAT NUMBER DOWN.

THEY DON'T WANT TO TALKING ABOUT GANGS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL SORTS OF OF OTHER THINGS THEY ONLY WANT A VERY SPECIFIC MEANING FOR THE WORD, FOR THE INCIDENTS, AND THAT'S IN A WAY TO MINIMIZE IT.

SO IF THEY CAN SAY THERE'S ONLY BEEN 15 MASS SHOOTINGS, THAT DOESN'T SOUND NEARLY AS BAD AS THERE'S BEEN 400 MASS SHOOTINGS.

SO -- BUT WE LOOK AT A IT AS A QUANTITY.

A MASS IS A MEASUREMENT OF QUANTITY ONLY.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE LOOK AT AND THAT'S HOW WE MAKE IT WORK.

>> MR. DAVID BURNETT WHO IS JOINING US BY SKYPE, THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING WITH US ONCE AGAIN.

TO BRING YOU INTO THIS CONVERSATION, I MENTIONED AT THE TOP THAT YOU ARE AN ICU NURSE AND SO I IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN YOUR SHARE OF VIOLENCE WITH GUN VIOLENCE AND THE THE TRAUMA THAT COMES WITH THAT.

BUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT GUN RIGHTS, AND THERE ANY ROOM TO COMPRONICE IN THIS CONVERSATION ON WHAT GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES WANT VERSUS WHAT GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES SAY THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED AND ARE ENTITLED TO?

>> SURE.

WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF A HOLISTIC CONVERSATION THAN JUST FOCUSING IN ON THE FIREARMS.

I THINK WE'RE A DRIVEN TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY TEMPTING TO SEARCH FOR SORT OF EMOTIONALLY SATISFYING IMPULSIVE SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN KIND OF LOOK FOR THE EMPIRICAL AND DID AND LOOK FOR A RATIONALE BASIS.

SO FOR MANY REASONS THERE WILL BE LAWS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT AND I'M SURE IT WILL BE AN EMOTIONALLY UNSATISFYING EXPERIENCE WHEN I SORT OF SHOOT THEM DOWN BY POINTING OUT THERE ARE MANY LAWS OF THIS KIND THE ON BOOKS.

BUT FOR EACH GUN CONTROL PROPOSAL, WE NEED TO ASK THREE BASIC QUESTIONS.

WE NEED TO ASK IF IT WILL ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

BACKGROUND CHECKS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE PROPOSED, BUT THE SHOOTER IN UVALDE PASSED A BACKGROUND CHECK WE SO WE NEED TO BE WARE OF A SOLUTION THAT WOULDN'T ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM.

THEN WE NEED TO ASK IF IT WOULD BENEFIT THE SITUATION AND CAUSE MORE GOOD THAN HARM.

FIREWORKS EMPIRICALLY ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES ARE USE IN SELF-DEFENSE FIVE TIMES AS OFTEN AS THEY ARE FOR HOMICIDE SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ANY LAW THAT RESTRICTS CIVILIAN OWNERSHIP OF FIREARMS WILL HAVE A COST.

IT WILL IMPACT PEOPLE IN THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

AND THEN WE NEED TO ASK ABOUT COMPLIANCE.

WE NEED TO ASK WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET CRIMINAL TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, BACKGROUND CHECK LOOPHOLE, GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE, PRIVATE SALES.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO -- IT'S NOT OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WE CAN GET CRIMINALS NOT TO BUY THEIR GUNS BEHIND A GAS STATION FOR CASH.

EMPIRICALLY WE KNOW FROM GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES THAT THIS IS HOW A LOT OF CRIMINALS GET THEIR GUNS.

IT'S NOT OBVIOUS TO ME FRANKLY THAT ANY SOLUTION GEARED AT THE LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN, WHICH IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS GOING TO COMPLY WITH THESE LAWS, IT'S NOTE OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WE CAN CATCH THE CONTACT LENSES, THE PSYCHOPATH WITNESS THE MURRAYUR MURDER JUSTLY INCLINED BY YOU GO PUTTING ANOTHER LAW ON THE BOOKS.

>> MR. BRYANT, I'LL GO TO YOU FIRST.

HE MENTIONED THESE THREE THINGS.

WILL IT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD?

AND WHAT ABOUT COMPLIANCE BECAUSE CRIMINALS DON'T TEND TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

PRETTY GOOD POINT THERE.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR EVER ARE YOU REBUT?

EVERY GUN SOLD IN UNITED STATES STARTS OUT AS A VERY LEGAL GUN.

THERE ARE NO ILLEGAL GUN SHOPS.

YOU DON'T HAVE ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO BUY GUNS AT A SHOP THAT DOESN'T OF FFLS AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHERS THAT GO TO THE GOOD GUY WITH THE GUN SHOP.

SO WHAT WE LOOK AT IS HOW DID THAT GUN THAT'S BEING SOLD BEHIND THE GAS STATION GET TO THAT POSITION.

WAS IT A GOOD GUY WITH A GUN OR A GOOD GUY WHO JUST WANTED TO SELL HIS GUN AND NEEDED CASH SO HE SOLD IT TO SOMEONE BEHIND THE GAS STATION OR IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT WITHOUT INVESTIGATE THEM?

VERY POSSIBLE.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT -- VETTING THEM?

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT GUN WAS STOLEN BY SOMEBODY BECAUSE A LEGAL GUN OWNER DID NOT HAVE THEIR GUNS PROPERLY STOWED THERE ALL SORTS OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE GET GUNS ILLEGALLY BUT THEY ALL STARTED OUT AS LEGAL GUNS.

AND WHAT DAVID IS SUGGESTING IS THAT, GOSH, IF WE DON'T HAVE A 100% SOLUTION WE SHOULDN'T EVEN TRY ANYTHING, BUT WE REALLY SHOULD TRY TO GET THESE STOLEN GUNS AND THESE GUNS THAT ARE BOUGHT BY LEGAL -- ARE SOLD BY LEGAL GUN OWNERS TO PEOPLE THAT CANNOT PASS BACKGROUND CHECKS, WE NEED TO GET THOSE SOLVED, AND NOBODY SEEMS TO -- ON THE GUN RIGHTS SIDE, THEY DON'T WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.

NOW, ONE OTHER THING TO MENTION, THAT HE MENTIONED WAS THAT GUNS ARE USED DEFENSIVELY FIVE TIMES MORE THAN IN HOMICIDES, AND THAT HAS BEEN DEGO BUDDING SO MANY TIMES.

IT'S NOT EVEN -- DEBUNKED SO MANY TIMES, IT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE A TALKING POINT ANYMORE.

THERE'S BEEN NO APPROVE WHATSOEVER THAT MANY DEFENSE GUN USES IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE LOOK AT THE ISSUES FROM JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR SHOOTINGS.

WE HAVE ARMED GUNMEN AT THE BUFFALO STORE.

HE'S DEAD.

WE HAD POLICE OFFICERS ALL OVER UVALDE.

THEY DID NOTHING.

WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GUNS AT A LOT OF THESE PLACES.

THE ONE IN OKLAHOMA JUST THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE NEXT FLOOR.

NOTHING.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS THE REALITY THAT THE GOOD GUY WITH A GUN IS A MYTH THAT HAS BEEN -- KEEPS BEING BROUGHT UP BECAUSE THE NRA USES IT AS A FUNDRAISING TOOL.

THEY WANT TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE THE GOOD GUYS, BUT SO FAR EVERY YEAR ABOUT 100,000 OF THOSE GOOD GUYS APPROVE THAT THEY ARE NOT.

>> DAVID BURNETT, I THINK YOU WANT TO JUMP IN HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THE SOLUTION IS TO ELIMINATE THE BLACK MARKET.

EXCELLENT SOLUTION.

IT WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

WE HAVE A BORDER WHOSE SECURITY IS A POINT OF SOME CONTENTION AT THIS POINT AND WE CONTINUE TO FIND VERY SOPHISTICATED TUNNELS AND MEANS SMUGGLING FIREARMS AS WELL AS DRUGS IN AND OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

LOVE TO CLEAN UP THE BLACK MARKET.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> I THINK -- >> LET ME FINISH.

LET ME MICHIGAN L. MY POINT REAL QUICK.

DEFENSIVE GUN USE NOT AT ALL A MYTH.

I HAVE PERSONALLY CATALOGUED ASSISTED IN OVER 4,000 DEFENSIVE USES OF FIREARMS AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU A LIST OF 12 WOULD-BE MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, INCLUDING ONE JUST THIS PAST OR TWO WEEKENDS AGO IN CHARLESTON WHERE SOMEBODY WITH A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT ON A FIREARM PRESENTED SOMEONE FIRING AN AR SUSTAIN 15 STYLE FIREARM INTO A CROWD CHILDREN.

THE WOMAN PULLED OUT HER FIREARM AND SHOT AND KILLED THAT PERSON.

THIS IS NOT A MATTER DEBATE.

THIS IS BEYOND CONTROVERSY.

DEFENSIVE GUN USE IS VERY FREQUENT.

EVEN HIGHER THAN GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES.

OUT OF DEFERENCE I USE THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES INSTEAD.

BUT IT'S A VERY REP CABBLE ESTIMATE OF DEFENSIVE GUN USE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> ?

ARE BRYANT.

>> PLEASE PROVIDE THE SOURCE OF THAT GOVERNMENT SURVEY OR THAT GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT THAT TELLS HOW MANY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST.

>> SO -- >> IT'S DIFFICULT TO CITE SOURCES A LIVE TV SET BUT IT'S THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND -- BUREAU OF FIREARMS CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES 1993 TO 2011 IS THE REPORT.

IT'S ON PAGE 12.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT THE U.S. HOUSE IS POISED TO CONSIDER HERE SOON.

WE TALKED LAST WEEK TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH.

HE REPRESENTS THE 3rd ORGANIZING CONGRESS A DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH IR CHAT BUDGET COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING FROM US WASHINGTON THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE DO WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT'S REALLY DOMINATING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, AND THAT'S HOW TO TACKLE GUN VIOLENCE, AND WE KNOW THAT A HOUSE COMMITTEE IS POISED TO TAKE UP SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION CONCERNING THIS.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE PROPOSING AND WHAT CHANCE IT MAY STAND IF IT PASSES THE HOUSE OF ALSO HAVING THAT SAME FATE IN THE SENATE?

>> WELL, THE HOUSE IS CONSIDERING A PACKAGE OF ABOUT EIGHT DIFFERENT PROPOSALS TO DEAL WITH GUN VIOLENCE.

SOME OF THEM INVOLVE EXPANDED BACKGROUND CHECKS, RED FLAG LAWS WHICH ENABLE PEOPLE TO TAKE GUNS AWAY FROM THOSE WHO POSE A THREAT TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS, MAGAZINE CAPACITY, EIGHT DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT WE THINK IN TOTAL CAN BEGIN TO APPROACH THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND CERTAINLY TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE OF YOUNG MEN AND MASS SHOOTINGS.

ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IS TO RAISE THE AGE TO 21 WHERE SOMEBODY CAN BUY A SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPON LIKE AN AR15.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S A FEDERAL LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T BUY A HANDGUN UNTIL YOU'RE 21, BUT THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO WEAPONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY FAR MORE LETHAL.

>> SO THIS IS A PACKAGE OF EIGHT BILLS, SIR.

DO YOU THINK PERHAPS IT WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO MAYBE CONSIDER THEM ONE AT A TIME?

WHAT'S THE STRATEGY IN HOPING TO ADVANCE THIS LEGISLATION?

AS ONE BIG OMNIBUS BILL OR SEVERAL PIECES OF INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATION?

>> I THINK WHAT THE STANLEY IS, IS TO SAY THAT -- STRATEGY IS, IS TO SAY THAT NO SINGLE PROPOSAL IS GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF GUN SAFETY, AND SO WE HAVE TO PASS A VARIETY OF THEM.

WE'LL DO IT.

WE'LL SEND THEM TO THE SENATE, AND OBVIOUSLY THE SENATE WILL PROBABLY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT APPROACH IS, BUT WE'LL GIVE THEM THE OPTION OF PICKING AND CHOOSING THOSE PROPOSALS THAT WE PASSED THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN PASS.

>> IT WILL NEED 60 VOTES IN THE SENATE TO PASS.

WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT HAPPENING?

>> WELL, FROM ALL I HEAR, THERE IS A SINCERE EFFORT GOING ON ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS TO TAKE SOME ACTION.

NOW, I THINK THE ODDS OF THE SENATE GETTING 60 VOTES TO PASS WHAT WE PASS IN THE HOUSE IS VIRTUALLY ZERO, BUT I THINK ONCE THE PUBLIC SEES THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND WE BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC OPINION IS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE OF VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE PROPOSING ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THAT MAY BE A FEW REPUBLICAN SENATORS WILL SEE THEIR WAY CLEAR TO TAKE A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO THIS HUGE NATIONAL ISSUE.

>> AND SO YOU BELIEVE AND OTHER HOUSE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT THIS PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS WOULD BE THE BEST PRESCRIPTION FOR CUSHING MASS BEGUN VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW -- CURBING MASS GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW BECAUSE CRITICS WOULD SAY THESE MEASURES IN WHOLE OR IN PART WON'T STOP THOSE WHO DON'T NEED TO HAVE GUNS FROM EXERCISING THESE TYPES OF HEINOUS ACTS.

>> WELL, WE UNDERSTAND.

AND COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE THAT NO PROPOSAL AT THE FEDERAL OR EVEN AT STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL IS GOING TO STOP EVERY VIOLENT CRIME USING A FIREARM.

WE KNOW THAT.

THE QUESTION IS DO WE SIT BACK AND SAY, OKAY WEEK WE'RE HELPLESS TO DO ANYTHING OR DO WE TAKE STEPS THAT WILL REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OR AT LEAST REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF THESE TRAGIC EVENTS?

WE KNOW WHEN THE BACKGROUND CHECK LAW WAS PASSED, THAT WE KEPT MORE THAN 3 MILLION PEOPLE OVER A SEVERAL-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME FROM PURCHASING GUNS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE THEM.

IF WE HAD A FEDERAL LAW THAT SAID THAT A 21 -- YOU HAD TO BE 21 TO BUY AN ACHR 15, THEN THIS -- AR-15, THEN THIS MAN IN UVALDE TEXAS WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE GUN.

WE FOUND OUT YESTERDAY, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE MAN WHO SHOT UP THE HOSPITAL IN TULSA BOUGHT THE GUN JUST HOURS BEFORE HE COMMITTED THE ATTACK IN THE HOSPITAL.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD HE WAS.

I THINK HE WA PROBABLY OLDER THAN 21.

BUT AGAIN THERE ARE STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO PUT A TIME LIMIT ON PURCHASES.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO A GUN SHOP AND BUY A GUN AND WALK OUT WITH IT A FEW MINUTES LATER BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S MOTIVATING THAT PERSON.

THERE OUGHT TO BE A WAITING PERIOD.

NOW, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE PROPOSING THAT, BUT THERE OUGHT TO BE A WAITING PERIOD ON ANY GUN PURCHASE SO THAT SOME KIND OF BACKGROUND CHECK COULD BE DONE ON EVERY PURCHASE.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IN MANY OF THESE INSTANCES IS THAT A DELAY IS HAS DEAL DEFUSED SOME OF THE SITUATIONS AND HAS CAUSED THE POTENTIAL SHOOTER TO THINK TWICE.

SO AGAIN, NOTHING'S GOING TO BE PERFECT, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT, AS MY FRIEND CHRIS MURPHY, SENATOR MURPHY FROM CONNECTICUT SAYS, WE CAN'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE HOUSE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE WORKING TOWARD IN THE SENATE.

>> MANY VIEWERS PROBABLY KNOW AND HAVE SEEN YOU BE INTERVIEWED BEFORE, THAT YOU PROUDLY WEAR THE "F" ON YOUR LAPEL THERE, AND THAT IS TO SIGNIFY THE RATING THAT YOU GET FROM THE NRA.

I'LL LET YOU EXPLAIN THAT, IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT THE LARGER QUESTION I'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU ANSWER IS WE KNOW THAT THE NRA A POWERFUL DEEP-POCKETED LOBBY THAT CAN BE VERY PERSUASIVE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY NEED TO DO?

WHERE DO THEY NEED TO BE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS TO COME TO A MEETING OF THE MINDS?

AND ARE THEY WILLING TO DO THAT?

>> WELL, THE NRA ISN'T BECAUSE THE NRA IS INTERESTED IN ONLY ONE THING, AND THAT'S SELLING MORE GUNS.

THIS IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION.

THEY TRY TO BILL THEMSELVES AS A FREEDOM ORGANIZATION OR SOMEBODY WHO IS STANDING UP FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

THEY ARE NO SUCH THING.

THEY ARE FUNDED BY GUNNAR MANUFACTURERS AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS SELL MORE GUNS.

NRA MEMBERS, WHEN POLLED ABOUT STEPS THAT WE MIGHT TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, GOUVERNEUR BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT BECAUSE MOST NRA MEMBERS ARE LAW-ABIDING STUN GUN OWNERS OF.

SO THE ORGANIZATION -- GUN OWNERS.

THE ORGANIZATION WHICH IS DOCUMENTED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS A VERY CORRUPT ORGANIZATION, AGAIN IS ABOUT A REPRESENTATIVE OF GUN MANUFACTURERS, AND THE FACT THAT, FOR INSTANCE, THERE WERE ABOUT 400,000 AR-15S IN CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTRY WHEN THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN ENDED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

NOW THERE ARE 20 MILLION IN CIRCULATION.

THAT'S ALL THE NRA WANTS, IS FOR ITS MEMBERS TO SELL MORE GUNS.

AND I HAVE TO SAY ONE THING, THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM MITCH McCONNELL AND MANY OTHERS ANYTHING WE DO HAS TO COMPLY WITH THE 2ND AMENDMENT.

ACCORDIG TOTE SUPREME COURT, A CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT IN THE DECISION WRITTEN BY JUSTICE SCALIA, THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHT CONFERRED BY THE 2ND AMENDMENT AND THAT IS THE RIGHT TO HAVE A GUN IN YOUR HOME FOR CITY OF SELF-DEFENSE.

ANY OTHER -- SELF-DEFENSE.

ANY OTHER REGULATION IS AT LEAST ARGUABLY CONSTITUTIONAL.

AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN THE HOUSE AND THAT THEY'RE DISCUSSING IN THE SENATE WOULD PASS MUSTER WITH JUSTICE SCALIA'S DECISION IN THE HELLER CASE.

>> WELL, CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ISSUE.

WE WILL BE FOLLOWING IT AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANKS, RENEE.

>> SO WE REACHED OUT TO THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY CONGRESSIONALLAL DELEGATION, AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO AN INTERVIEW BUT WE DID GET A STATEMENT FROM REPRESENTATIVE HALL ROGERS OF THE 5th CONGRESSIONALLAL OOH DISTRICT THAT SAYS IN PART, WEAKENING THE 6 AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS WOULD NOT GRAY AN END TO THE VIOLENT EVIL THAT PRIESTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS IS A MATTER OF HEART AND MIND OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DETERMINED TO CAUSE DESTRUCTION WITH ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

MR. NIGHBERT, I WANT TO GO TO YOU TO RESPOND TO WHAT YOU HEARD CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH SAY.

>> WELL, I STREE WITH HIS STANCE ON THE NRA AND ITS MEMBERS.

MY ORGANIZATION STOLEN FOLLOWER N RAFT NECESSITY PROVIDE INSURANCE FOR US AND MANY OTHER SHOOTING CLUBS.

GETTING INTO PERSONALLY, A WAITING PERIOD IS NOT A BAD IDEA.

AS I DISCUSSED WITH THESE TWO, MY SOCIAL SECURITY WAS STOLEN WHENEVER I WAS YOUNGER.

ANY WEAPON THAT I BUY, I WAIT.

AND THE LAST ONE I WAITED FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS BEFORE THEY RELEASED IT TO ME.

GOING BACK TO THE MENTAL STATE, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MINUTES OR MENTAL INCAPACITATES, WHICH AN -- MENTAL ILLNESS OR MENTAL INCAPACITIES WHICH AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF OUR SHOOTERS HAVE, SOME SORT OF MENTAL INCAPACITATE AND IT WAS THERE, YOU CAN SEE IT, IT, AND WE DID LOOKER FOR IT AFTER.

THOSE THAT DID SEE IT, IF THEY SOUNDED THE ALARM, THEY WERE IGNORED, AND THAT IS WHERE THE COMPROMISE IS GOING TO BE.

NO LAW THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM OF ANY OF THESE MASS SHOOTINGS.

>> THE ONES THAT WE HAVE HAD OF RECENT, YOU SAY THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

THIS COMMENT FROM ROSS BROWN OF CAN I KENTON COUNTY.

THE 2ND AMENDMENT REFERS TO A RIGHT TO KEEP ARMS, IN QUOTES.

IS THERE CASE LAW THAT HELPS TO INTERPRET WHAT TYPES WEAPONS ARE AND AREN'T CONSIDERED AN ARM?

THE ANSWER MAY GIVE INSIGHT INTO WHAT RESTRICTING LEGISLATION IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

MR. BRYANT, DO YOU CARE TO COMMENT ON THAT QUESTION?

>> FIRST OFF, THE FIRST PART OF THE 2ND AMENDMENT IS THAT A WELL REGULATED MILITIA BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF THE FREE STATE, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.

SO IT'S REALLY FUZZY JUST FROM THE GET-GO.

AS FAR AS WHAT WEAPONS ARE ALLOWED, WE CAN'T BUY A GRENADE LAUNCHER, THOUGH THINK.

YOU CAN'T -- I DON'T THINK.

YOU CAN'T BUY A F-16.

YOU CAN'T BUY ALL SORTS OF ARMS.

AND THE ONES THAT ARE FULLY AUTOMATIC YOU CAN BUY THEM BUT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH SECONDARY BACKGROUND CHECKS AND YOU HAVE TO PAY A EXTREMELY SMALL TAX ON THEM.

I THINK IT'S $200 OR $250, WHICH IS THE SAME AS IT WAS 50, 60 YEARS AGO.

IT'S POSSIBLY THE ONLY TAX IN AMERICA THAT HAS NOT GONE UP.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT THERE IS A NEED TO LOOK AT HOW FOLKS ARE ABLE TO -- I'M SORRY.

I LOST MY TRAIN FOR A SECOND.

>> WE'LL COME BACK.

>> COME BACK TO ME.

>> I WANT TO GO TO YOU, MS. AUSTIN, BECAUSE ALL TALKED IN THE GREEN ROOM AND MR. NIGHBERT SAYS THERE ARE SOME THINGS THERE IS SOME AGREEMENT ON, BUT I THINK THE NRA HEADS MAY FEEL A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR PROPOSAL, THIS CRISIS AVERSION AND RIGHTS RETENTION WHICH IS AN IDEA THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ON THE STATE LEVEL.

YOU PERHAPS WILL BE PUSHING THIS AGAIN IN THE 2023 SESSION.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS.

YOU KIND OF GAVE US THE NUT OF IT BUT HOW IN OPERATIONS WOULD IT WORK?

>> SO MANY OF THE PANELISTS HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO APPROVE THAT A SOLUTION IS EFFECTIVE, THAT IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THESE INCIDENTS OF MASS VIOLENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND SO RISK PROTECTION LAWS, WHICH OUR BILL CRISIS ASSERTION AND VITES RETENTION IS A VERSION OF, IT'S VERY CUSTOM, IT WAS MADE JUST FOR KENTUCKY, IS ROOTED IN MUCH EVIDENCE, THAT IT IS EFFECTIVE.

IN FACT, MANY OF THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT FOR EVERY TEN ORDERS, ONE LIFE IS SAVED AND PREVENTED FROM SUICIDE.

AND SO I'D ARGUE FIND BETTER EVIDENCE THAN THAT, RIGHT?

SO WHAT IS CRISIS AVERSION AND RIGHTS RETENTION?

IT IS SO TARGETED.

IT IS TARGETED AT HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOULD NOT TEMPORARILY HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR FIREARMS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AGAIN SOME OF THE OTHER PANELISTS HAVE SHARED WHETHER SOMEONE IS IN A MENTAL CRISIS MOMENT OR A CRISIS THAT IS NOT RELATED TO MENTAL ILLNESS AT ALL, WE HAVE NO LEGAL TOOL TO INTERVENE AND TEMPORARILY TRANSFER THAT FIREARM, SO THIS IS THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO THAT SITUATION.

LET'S PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE NECESSARY.

LET'S GO FIRST THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHO CAN ASSESS THE RISK.

LET'S THEN MOVE TO OUR COURT SYSTEM.

AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW DUE PROCESS.

BUT LET'S ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO APPROVE THAT THIS PERSON IS AN EMINENT LET THE TO IS OF OR OTHERS AND LET'S PROVIDE A TOOL.

THAT'S TEMPORARILY TRANSFER THAT FIREARM.

AND WHILE THAT TRANSFER HAS OCCURRED, LET'S GET THEM HELP BECAUSE THERE IS SOME REASON THE PERSON IS IN THIS CRISIS MOMENT, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH OR OTHERWISE, AND WE NEED TO HELP THEM IN THEIR TIME OF CRISIS AND LET'S GET THEM BACK TO A PLACE IN WHICH GUN OWNERSHIP IS SAFE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE WITH THEIR FIREARM OR THEY'RE NO HARMING OTHERS BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THESE MASS SHOOTERS ARE SUICIDAL, SO WE DO HAVE SOLUTIONS, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, THIS POINT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IF WE CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM AND WE SHOULD CONSIDER ALL THE SOLUTIONS, I AGREE, THERE ARE MANY SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH LEGISLATION, BUT WE DO ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS RESTRICTING ACCESS TO FIREARMS WITH HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS.

SOME OF THESE OTHER PANELISTS TAKE THAT OFF THE TABLE, AND THAT IS NOTNAIRE.

THEY NEED TO MEET ME AND I'LL MEET THEM.

>> MR. BURNETT, DO YOU ENTERTAIN THE NOTION THAT MS. AUSTIN IS PROPOSING PROPOSING OF CRISIS AVERSION AND RIGHTS RETENTION?

DOES THIS SOUND LOOK A PLAUSIBLE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD EMBRACE?

Y.

>> WHITNEY AND I DID NOT DISAGREE ON THIS AND SHE CORRECTED POINT OUTED DUE PROCESS IS A MAJOR PART OF THE CONSIDERATION AND I WANT TO DWELL TO THAT FORE JUST A MOMENT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE 5th AND 14th AMENDMENT DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

THOSE RIGHTS CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, A HEARING IN A COURT OF LAW.

I'M WARY OF A LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE SOMEONE COULD GO IN AND JUSTIFY THEIR ONGOING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S NO SENSIBLE PERSON, THERE'S NO GUN OWNER, THERE'S NO NRA MEMBER WHO COULD HOVER IN SPIRIT OVER THE UVALDE SHOOTER AS AND SAY THIS GUY NEEDS TO KEEP HIS GUNS.

WE NEED TO FIND SOME WAIVE INTERVENING EARLIER IN THE SITUATION BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT POINT, BEFORE WE -- BEFORE WE EVEN BEGIN LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING LAWS DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT I DON'T BLAME PEOPLE FOR BEING MAD ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE WERE MULTIPLE POINTS OF VALE FAILURE.

IN PARKLAND WE HAD POLICE OFFICERS WHO SAT OUT THERE FOR AN HOUR AND PREVENTED PARENTS FROM CLIMBING THE FENCE AND GOING AND GETTING THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

WE APPARENTLY HAD SOME SORT OF SECURITY FAME OUR USUAL WITH THE DOOR AT THE SCHOOL.

WE HAVE A MAJOR GAP IN TRAINING WITH THE TEACHERS AND EVEN THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WOULD BE RESPONDING.

AND WE HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES CLEARLY AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL BECAUSE THE PARENTS, THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, THE TEACHERS, EVEN THE NEIGHBORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DECIDE, AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE THIS GUY WAS DRYING AROUND WITH BAGS OF DEAD CATS AND FIRING BB RIFLE AT PEOPLE.

THESE ARE CONTACT LENS ACTS AND CLEARLY INDICATIVE OF A DISTURBED MIND, A MINE THAT IS BENT ON SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS.

SO I'M VERY WARY OF A SOLUTION THAT IS GOING TO COME INTO MY CLOSET, THAT GOING TO PREVENT ME FROM PROTECTING MY FAMILY OR YOU FROM PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT SECURITY OUR SCHOOLS AND FORTIFYING THEM WITH GIVING THEM THE SAME PROTECTION THAT JUDGES AND POLITICIANS GET BEFORE WE START LOOKING AT AGAIN COMING INTO MY CLOSET AND TAKING AWAY MY GUN AS SOME SORT OF COLLECT I THINK PUNISHMENT.

I'M NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

>> MR. NIGHBERT, DO YOU AGREE WITH MS. AUSTIN'S PROPOSITION?

>> AGAIN, I'M GOING TO PARROT THAT GENTLEMAN THERE P. >> DAVID BURNETT.

>> MR. BURNETT, YES.

I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH HER WITH THE PREMISE BUT IT HAS TO BE VERY CAREFULLY WRITTEN, AND I DON'T WANT IT TO SEND INTO MY CLOSET.

I'M A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN.

I HAVE EVERY RIGHT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S NOT A START.

LET'S SEE WHERE WE CAN GO WITH IT.

AND I DON'T THINK ANY -- LIKE MR. BURNETT SAID, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNER, NRA MEMBER THAT NOT BE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT HAS TO BE CRAFTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO END UP IN MY CLOSET, SO TO SPEAK.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU ARE OKAY WITH TEMPORARY -- WHAT WAS THE TERM YOU USED?

>> TEMPORARY TRANSFER OF A FIREARM IN A CRISIS MOMENT FOR DUE PROCESS.

>> BEFORE THEY HAVE PERMANENT INSTABILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT EVER TO BE A REPOTS A FIREARM?

>> THE THING ABOUT CRISIS RIGHTS AND RETENTION IS THAT IT ALLOWS FOR AN EXCEPTION SUCH AS THAT, SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE, AND WE CALL THAT PERSON A RESPONDENT, WHO AS THE ORDER IS COMING UP FOR EXPIRATION, IS CLEARLY NOT SAFE.

WE COULD ALL GET IF A ROOM TOGETHER AND AGREE THAT THIS PERSON ISN'T SAFE AND WE SHOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY RETURN THAT FIREARM, THEN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANOTHER HEARING TO BE REQUESTED AND THE ORDER TO BE EXTENDED.

SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

BUT IN REVERSE, THE OPPOSITE COULD HAPPEN.

THIS PERSON WAS IN CRISIS AND NOW THEY'RE BETTER, WHETHER IT'S THEY'VE BEEN MEETING WI A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST OR THEY HAVE BEEN -- SERVICES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THEM, THEY'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE.

THE RESPONDENT CAN ASK AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE ANOTHER HACKER BECAUSE I HAVE EVIDENCE THAT I'M BACK TO A SAFE PLACE AND I SHOULD BE REUNITED WITH MY FIREARM.

SO THERE ARE ON-RAMPS AND OFF-RAMPS.

IT IS VERY FLEXIBLE.

IT'S CUSTOM FOR THE STATE.

AND IT'S JUST REASONABLE.

WE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE THIS TARGETED, AND I THINK REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU SIT, GUN OWNER, NON-GUN OWNER, POLITICAL IDENTITY, THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS VERY NARROW, IT IS VERY TARGETED.

IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THAT IT'S REDUCED SUICIDE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE MORE THAN 19 STATES THAT HAVE RISK PROTECTION ORDERS, IT'S ALSO PROVEN THAT IT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING MASS VIOLENCE, AND SONESS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME.

I WANT A SOLUTION THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, AND WE CAN ALSO ALL AGREE THAT IT IS VERY RARE TO FIND A MASS SHOOTER WHO DIDN'T DRIP WARNING SIGNS ALONG THE WAY.

AND SO WE NEED TO RECOGNIZED THOSE WARNING SIGNS AS A SOCIETY, BUT WE ALSO NEED A LEGAL TOOL TO BE ABLE TO TEMPORARILY TRANSFER THAT HIGHLY LETHAL WEAPON.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH SOME OF THE PROPOSITIONS THAT IS BEFORE THE PROTECT AMERICA'S KIDS ACT, AND I MAY HAVE MISSTATED THE NAME OF THE BILL THAT IS BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE THAT WOULD BUMP UP THE AGE TO OWN A ASSAULT STYLE WEAPON FROM 18 TO 21 AND THE HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

DO YOU AGREE WITH ANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS IN THAT PACKAGE?

>> CERTAINLY SOME OF THEM.

THIS IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH IT NEE STRONG, MY RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, OUTSIDE OF LEGISLATION OR IN CUMULATIVE, AND SO AS AN ORGANIZATION WE FOCUS ONLY ON SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE THE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE, AND SO SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH SUGGESTED DO NOT HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, BANNING SEMI-AUTOMATIC I RIFLES DOES NOT HAVE THE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT YOU KNOW WHAT POLICY SOLUTIONS DO, OVERWHELMINGLY COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS HAVE SUPPORT FROM BOTH PARTIES, GUN OWNERS AND NON-GUN OWNERS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE SOLUTION THAT I'M CHAMPIONING, CRISIS AVERSION AND RIGHTS RETENTION, WHICH IS A FORM OF AN EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER HAS YES, SIR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.

>> SO THE IF IT HAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT, WHY HASN'T IT BECOME LAW YET IN KENTUCKY?

>> BECAUSE WE THE PEOPLE AREN'T IN CHARGE, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE, AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR eMAILS, YOUR CALLS AND YOUR LETTERS THAT YOU CAN A DIFFERENCE, AND YOU NEED TO RAISE YOUR VOICE.

IT CAN'T JUST BE ME AND OTHER ADVOCATES WHO HAVE GIVEN UP OUR DAY JOB TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS ISSUE.

>> DAVID BURNETT, I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT HERE.

>> YEAH.

SO THERE WAS A COUPLE OF FAIRLY BROAD POLICIES POLICIES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP THAT I WANT TO RETURN TO, NUMBER ONE BEING THE ASSAULT RIFLE BAN THAT WAS DISCUSSED AND THE OTHER BEING BANNING 21-YEAR-OLD OR ANYONE YOUNGER THAN 21 FROM OWNING A RIFLE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF STATISTICS AND FACTS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED HERE.

NUMBER ONE WAS AN ASSAULT RIFLE.

WE RAN INTO PROBLEM OF DEFINITION WHEN WE HAD WHAT WAS AN ASSAULT RIFLE THEN, QUOTE/UNQUOTE FOR TEN YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY.

BEST AVAILABLE EVIDENCE IT HAD NO DEBTED REMITTAL EFFECT ON DECREASING CRIME.

WISH THAT IT WOULD HAVE HAD WORKED IT.

REALLY DIDN'T WORK.

RIFLES ARE NOT REALLY THE PROBLEM.

I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE VERY EASY TO VILIFY AND A TO BE AFRAID OF FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T WORKED WITH THEM.

RIFLE CONSTITUTE 2 PERCENT OF CRIMINAL USE OF HOMICIDE USE IN THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR 1 JUST 2%.

FOR CONTRAST, HANDS AND FEET WERE USED FOR MURDER AND KNIVES WERE USED FOR MURDER AT GREATER RATES THAN, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, ASSAULT RIFLES.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF SHOOTERS DID NOT USE ASSAULT OF RIFLES.

IT'S ABOUT 25% THAT TO.

75% USE HANDGUNS OR SHOTGUNS.

SO THERE'S LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH SORT OF VILIFYING THE, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, ASSAULT RIFLE WHICH IS JUST A SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE AND MAKING THAT THE PROBLEM.

SO WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE 21-YEAR-OLD.

IN THE U.S.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ACCRUE AT THE AGE OF 18.

THE RIGHT TO VOTE 1 THE RIGHT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, THE RIGHT TO BE DRAFTED AND CARRY HEAVIER FIREARMS THAN AN AR15 OVERSEAS TO DEFEND FREEDOM.

WE CAN'T ISOLATE THOSE RIGHTS.

WE CAN'T CUT THEM OFF.

IF WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE AGE TO 21, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BUMPING ALL OF THE AGES FOR ALL THE RIGHTS AND THAT INCLUDES THE AGE OF CONSENT AND THE AGE DRIVING.

WE NEED TO BUMP THOSE UP TO 21 IF WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE AS A SOCIETY 21-YEAR-OLD CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH THIS, THEY CERTAINLY CAN'T BE TRUSTED FOR EXAMPLE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ELIMINATE SURGICALLY THE SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS AGAINST THEIR PARENTS' WILL.

BUT IT'S NOT ALSO -- IT'S ALSO NO OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WE KEHL CAN.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO CLAW BACK THE RIFLES OWNED BY 18, 19, 20-YEAR-OLD PEOPLE?

A LOT OF THEM ARE MILITARY VETERAN.

ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?

ARE WE GOING TO COLLECT THEM?

DO WE HAVE A LIST DOOR TO DOOR TO GO COLLECT THEM?

ARE WE GOING TO LOU THE NEW LAW TO GO INTO EFFECT AND IN THE MEANTIME WE JUST SIT BACK AS 18, 19 AND 20-YEAR-OLD ENGAGE IN THREES MASS SHOOTINGS?

AND IS THAT, AFTER WE'VE DEVOTED MASS AMOUNTS OF RESOURCES DEPRIVING 18 AND 19 AND 20-YEAR-OLDS OF THEIR ABILITY TO BEAR ARMS, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT SOME DISGRUNTLED 20-YEAR-OLD IS GOING TO STEAL HIS FIREARM OFF THE STREET LIKE MOST CRIMINALS DO.

IT IS A MASSIVE SOLUTION THAT I DO NOT THINK IS COMMON SENSE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION FROM JEFF MCKINNEY.

WHY DON'T WE JUST REGULATE SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS LIKE WE DOUGH FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS?

DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> OKAY.

SO LET'S GO BACK TO OUR TEST.

IS IT ACTUALLY GOING TO PREVENT THE CRIME.

SO ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE ALL SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES IN THE COUNTRY?

300MILLION OF THEM?

Y YO THINK THAT'S PRACTICAL FOR THE REASONS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

IS IT ACTUALLY GOING TO DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD?

PROBABLY.

THE MOST COMMON FORM OF FIREARM USED IN FIREARM SELF-DEFENSE, YOU TAKE ALL THOSE AWAY, WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE 12 MASS SHOOTINGS THAT WERE PREVENTED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OR THE, YOU KNOW, THE MOTHERS THAT ARE FIGHTING AGAINST ABUSIVE CORRECTIONS SPOUSES THAT MIGHT BE TRYING TO BREAK INTO THEIR APARTMENT.

YOU JUST HAVE TAKEN AWAY THEIR ONLY ABILITY THAT THEY'RE ATTACKER HAS ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE ADVANTAGE.

AND THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE CRIMINAL TO COMPLY?

WE ALREADY HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH DRUGS.

I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ON NEXT WEEKEND'S PROGRAM, AND THOSE DRUGS FLOW IN ACROSS THE BORDER QUITE FREELY, AND THE GUNS CAN DO THE EXACT SAME THING.

SOMEBODY IS JUST GOING THE GUY FIREARM OFF THE BLANKET MARKET.

MORE THAN HALF OF CRIMINALS GET THEIR FIREARM THAT WAY.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE KIND OF A JERKE ABOUT THIS BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A RATIONALE, REASONABLE APPROACH AND NOT JUST REACH FOR SOMETHING THAT'S EMOTIONALLY SATISFYING BUT THAT WON'T ACTUALLY SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.

>> MR. BRYANT, SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND NOT AN EMOTIONAL REACH.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DAVID ON HIS EXCELLENT USE OF NRA TALKING POINTS.

I NEVER HAVE SEEN ANYONE STRING ALL THOSE TOGETHER THAT WELL.

THREE THINGS.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BORDER.

MEXICO HAS BEEN COMPLAINING THAT GUNS ARE COMIC ACROSS THE BORDER FROM THE UNITED STATES TO MEXICO.

I'M NOT SURE THE BORDER IS AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

REGARDING ASSAULT RIFLES, AR-15s AND AK-47S THAT ARE SEMI-AUTOMATIC, YOUY AND KNOW AND I KNOW, YOU CAN PUT BUMP STOCKS ON AR FANCY, YOU CAN PUT DIGITAL TRIGGERS ON AR-15s.

THE FIRE RATE BETWEEN A FULLY AUTOMOTIVE M-4 AND AN AR-15 IS MINIMAL.

AND IT'S TO THE POINT THAT THEY'RE THEORETICAL LEVS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN SHOOT 600 OR 400 ROUNDS PER MINUTE WITHOUT KNELTING THE BARRELING ON THE RIFLES.

ONE OTHER THING THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IS MASS SHOOTINGS, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MASS SHOOTINGS, WE TALK ABOUT THESE LARGE PUBLIC SHOOTINGS BECAUSE THOSE GET THE NEWS, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE SHOOTINGS WERE MORE THAN FOUR PEOPLE ARE SHOT, THESE ARE ON THE STREETS, THESE ARE ON THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA THIS LAST WEEKEND, THE STREETS OF GNAT GO INTO A, AND THOSE GUNS -- CHATTANOOGA, THOSE GUNS, SOME ARE RIFLES, SOME ARE PISTOLS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO MASTER THE MASS SHOOTING ISSUE, AND THOUGH GUNS ARE MOSTLY STOLEN.

AND THAT TAKES US BACK TO PROPERLY STOWING GUNS.

AND THE ONE THING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ON THE GUN RIGHTS SIDE IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROPERLY SECURING YOUR WEAPONS TO WHERE THEY CAN'T BE STOLEN, TO WHERE THE THREE-YEAR-OLD OR THE TWO-YEAR-OLD CAN'T FIND DADDY'S GUN AND SHOOT THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S COOL TO PLAY WITH DADDY'S GUN.

SO WE DON'T SEE THE PROPER STOWAGE AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT.

>> LET ME JUST PUT A PIN IN RIGHT THERE JUST FOR A MOMENT BUS BECAUSE WYE DO WANT TO GO TOO THIS INTERVIEW THE WITH SEAN MORROW WHO IS THE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF THE LOUISVILLE DIVISION FOR THE ATF AND HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR FIGHTING VIOLIN CRIME AND ALSO REGULATION OF FIREARMS AND THIS GOES TO PART OF THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT STOLEN FIREARMS THAT WE'LL GET TO IN THIS SEGMENT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO TALK TO US A COUPLE OF THING WE WANT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND, AND IT'S ABOUT GUN OWNERSHIP IN KENTUCKY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE NUMBER OF GUNS THAT ARE BOUGHT BY FOLKS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 IN KENTUCKY?

>> WELL, THAT NUMBER IS DIFFICULT TO TELL.

FIRST OFF, THERE'S NO FEDERAL FIREARMS REGISTRY.

A FEDERAL FIREARMS ARE GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL LAW IN TERMS OF WHO THEY CAN SELL FIREARMS TO SO THE LAW REQUIRES THE LICENSEES TO ENSURE THEY'RE SELLING HANDGUNS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT BELOW THE AGE OF 21 AND LONG GUNS TO INDIVIDUALS NOT BELOW THE AGE 18.

IN TERMS OF PRIVATE SALES THERE'S NO WAY TO TRACK THAT AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO KEEP TABS ON THAT.

>> DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW OFTEN PRIVATE SALES ARE THE ROUTE BY WHICH GUNS ARE PURCHASED?

AND ESPECIALLY THAT END UP USED IN SERIOUS AND VIOLENT CRIME?

>> WELL, AGAIN AS A SAID THERE'S NO FEDERAL FIREARMS RECOMMENDING INDUSTRY SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW THAT.

THANK YOU IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THIS QUESTION INTO CONTEXT.

SO THE ESTIMATES, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ESTIMATES OUT THERE THAT SUGGEST THERE ARE OVER 400 MILLION FIREARMS IN CIRCULATION IN UNITED STATES.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT U.S. HAS A POPULATION OF JUST OVER 335 MILLION PEOPLE, CERTAINLY THAT'S A LOT OF GUNS.

WHERE THE ATF IS CONCERNED AND WHERE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CONCERNED FOR INDIVIDUALS POSSING THOSE FIREARMS UNLAWFULLY SPECIFICALLY WHEN THEY'RE USED IN VIOLENT CRIMES.

>> MANY PEOPLE ARE WONDERING AND CURIOUS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS THAT CAN FIRE MANY ROUNDS AND VERY RAPIDLY AND DO LOTS OF DAMAGE, AND, OF COURSE, YOU'VE EXPLAINED TO US THAT TRACKING THESE THINGS AND TRACING THESE THINGS CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY OF THOSE TYPES OF FIREARMS ARE PREVENTABLE AND ARE USED THIS THESE VIOLIN CRIMES LIKE THE MASS SHOOTINGS IN U VALDY, TEXAS AND BUFFALO, NEW YORK?

>> WELL, IF WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY IN KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY IS A STATE HAS A RICH HISTORY OF HUNTING AND SPORTS SHOOTING AND OUTDOORSMEN, SO ISTANBUL GENERALLY SPEAKING THERE ARE A LOT OF FIREARMS HERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA JUST OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, THERE WERE ABOUT 3.5 MILLION BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT WERE CONDUCTED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE LOOKING TO PURCHASE FIREARMS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

THERE ARE ON ABOUT 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY SO THAT'S A LARGE NUMBER OF GUNS.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT IN CONTEXT UNDERSTAND AND THAT THIS IS A STATE THAT IS ENJOYS OUTDOOR AND SPORT AND GAME.

IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF NUMEROUS AND THE TYPE OF GUNS THAT WE SEE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY ARE HANDGUNS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA FROM THE ATF NATIONAL TRACING CENTER, IT SHOWS THAT 85% FIREARMS THAT ARE TRACED, THAT ARE PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS ARE IN FACT HANDGUNS.

A SMALL PERCENTAGE ARE SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES.

WE JUST GENERALLY DON'T SEE THOSE TRENDS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

IN TERMS OF THE MASS SHOOTINGS, THE THINGS THAT WE SEE IN THE NATIONAL HEADLINES, OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE TRAGIC REMINDERS ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN FIREARMS ARE IN THE WRONG HANDS, UNFORTUNATELY HERE IN KENTUCKY WE HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE TRENDS.

THEY'RE RELATIVELY RARE, FORTUNATELY.

>> LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER DID A STORY RECENTLY IN WHICH YOU WERE QUOTED TALKING ABOUT GUN THEFT AND HOW OFTEN THESE WEAPONS ARE LANDING UP, PERHAPS THEY'RE PURCHASED IN KENTUCKY AND THEY DO END UP IN OTHER STATES WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS MIGHT BE OCCURRING.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROPENSITY AND THE PREVENTION OF GUN THEFT TO BE USED IN TERMS OF EXECUTING OUT THESE MASS SHOOTINGS AND OTHER VIOLIN CRIMES INVOLVING GUN VIOLENCE?

-- >> WELL, FIRE THEFT IS A MAJOR CONCERN OF ATF AND IT'S A MAJOR CONCERN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ALL ACROSS KENTUCKY.

THERE ARE A FEW WAYS THAT FIREARMS END UP AS CRIME GUNS.

ONE IS STRAW PURCHASING.

THAT'S WHEN SOMEBODY PURSE A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO HIDE THE EVENTUAL POSSESSOR.

ALSO UNLICENSE DEALING IS AN ISSUE THAT WE SEE OFTEN WHEN WE INVESTIGATE AFTF WITH OUR STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS.

BUT THAT THIRD PART, THEFT OF FIREARMS IS A MAJOR ISSUE HERE, NOT JUST HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT WE KNOW IN SOME CITIES, FOR INSTANCE, IN LOUISVILLE, UP TO A QUARTER OF THE FIREARMS POLICE OFFICERS ENCOUNTER ON THE STREETS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED STOLEN.

IN KENTUCKY THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT FIREARMS A DAY THAT ARE REPORTED AND SOLD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE FIREARMS.

KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE MANDATORY REPORTING IF YOUR GUN IS TAKEN SO WE KNOW THERE IS BEGUN THEFTS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT.

>> WHAT ABOUT PERMITLESS CONCEAL CARRY?

KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THOSE STATES AND THIS IS A BROADER CONVERSATION OR A QUESTION ABOUT THE ACHF'S POSITION ON THESE TYPES OF BEGUN LAWS.

DOES THE ATF HAVE A POSITION ON THOSE TYPES OF OPEN CARRY PERMITLESS CARRY TYPES OF LAWS THAT ARE IN KENTUCKY AND OTHER STATES?

>> AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, OUR JOB TO ENFORCE FEDERAL FIREARMS LAWS.

WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH KENTUCKY STATE POLICE AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.

OUR JOB TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS.

WHAT WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS UNLAWFUL POSSESSION AND, MORE SPECIFICALLY, WHEN FIREARMS ARE POSSESSED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO USE THEM TO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIME, AND THAT'S WHERE WE FOCUS OUR RESOURCES.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE VIEWERS WHO ARE WATCHING WHO HAVE WATCHED THE BUFFALO TRAGEDY AS WELL AS THE UVALDE TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TRAGEDY IN AS MANY WEEKS WAS A TWO WEEKS SPAN AND WHO ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A PRELUDE TO MORE AND OFTEN ASK THE QUESTION WHEN WILL IT STOP AND WHEN WILL SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY AS A SPECIAL AGENT FOR THE ATF THAT COULD BE EITHER REASSURING TO THAT QUESTIONER?

>> WELL, NOT ONLY AM A SPECIAL AGENT OF THE AF TF IN KENTUCKY BUT I AM A DAD P I HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL SON WHO GOES TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, AND THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T NEED ANOTHER TRAGIC REMINDER IN TERMS OF THESE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.

THEY'RE HORRIFIC EVENTS.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKS HARD TO TRY TO PREVENT.

IT'S REALLY BEEN TRAGIC WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE UNITED STATES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WHAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT IS THE AMOUNT OF SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES THAT OCCUR ON A DAILY BASIS THAT ARE HAVE I INCIDENTS THAT MAY NOT CAPTURE THE NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN 2020 AND 2021 WE'VE SEEN ROARED NUMBERS OF NON-FATAL AND FATAL SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ALSO IN KENTUCKY.

WE'VE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE NATIONAL TRENDS.

BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS FOCUSED ON INTERDICTING FIREARMS AND MAKING SURE WE CAN IDENTIFY SOURCES CRIME GUNS AND GET THEM OUT OF THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THEY USE THEM TO COMMIT SOME TYPE OF OFFENSE.

BUT WHAT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW IS LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DEDICATED AND WORKING TOGETHER ALL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, SEAN MORROW WHO IS THE ATF SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE IN THE LOUISVILLE FIELD DIVISION.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> DAVID BURNETT, I WANT TO GO TO YOU VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON WHAT YOU HEARD THE ATF AGENT SAY THERE, AND AS WELL AS WE OFTEN COUCH THESE CONVERSATIONS IN TERMS OF MASS SHOOTINGS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GRABS THE HEADLINES BUT WE KNOW THAT IN CITIES LIKE LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE GUN VIOLENCE IS AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE THAT MAY NOT MEET THE MAGNITUDE OF MASS SHOOTING BUT CERTAINLY LIVES ARE LOST NONETHELESS SO JUST AS VALUABLE.

>> SURE.

I CAN'T RESIST THE URGE TO POINT ON IT THAT FIREARMS ARE USED MORE OFTEN TO PROTECT LIFE THAN THEY ARE CRIMINALLY TO TAKE IT.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS A GOOD POINT HE MADE ABOUT BACKGROUND CHECKS.

IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT BACKGROUND CHECKS AND VIOLATIONS OF LYING ON THOSE FORMS ARE VERY RARELY PROSECUTED, SO ABOUT EVERY YEAR 30,000 VIOLATIONS, LYING ON BACKGROUND CHECK FORM TO BUY A FIREARM, ARE REFERRED FOR PROSECUTION AND EVERY YEAR ABOUT TEN OF THEM ARE TAKEN FOR PROSECUTION.

IT'S NOT AS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN ADD TO.

WE CAN'T EVEN ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S ALSO WORTH POINTING OUT A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT MR. BRYANT MENTION RECENTLY ABOUT BUMP STOCKS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP BANNED THOSE SEVERAL YEARS AGO SO NOT REALLY RELEVANT.

STORAGE.

MANDATORY STORAGE, REQUIRING SOMEBODY TO KEEP THEIR FIREARM LOCKED UP, ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP YOUR GUNS AWAY FROM KIDS, NOT A GREAT IDEA TO REQUIRE SOMEBODY TO KEEP IT IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN'T ACCESS IF THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND ALSOIT FAILS THAT FIRST PRONG OF THE THREE-PRONG TEST WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD HAVE STOPPED, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS MASS SHOOTING THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW IN UVALDE.

>> MR. NIGHBERT IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT BACK IN REFERENCE TO THE SPECIAL AGENT THERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF SHOOTINGS EVERY DAY IN LEXINGTON, MORE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN AS OF LATE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS TO BACK THIS UP, BUT I DO KNOW, AS I SAID BEFORE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE MASS SHOOTERS WE HAVE COME FROM A MIDDLE TO LOW CLASS INCOME.

THEY COME FROM TO A FATHERLESS BACKGROUND.

AND THEY HAVE EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY OR MENTAL INSTABILITY.

MY INTUITION TELL ME THAT IF WE INVESTIGATE AND WERE TO DO A STUDY ON THE PERPETRATORS OF THESE INDIVIDUAL SHOOTERS, THE THAT THERE WOULD BE A COMMONALITY THERE, THAT ALONG THOSE LINES AS WELL.

>> AND SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO, THEN, ONCE YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THOSE SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF A BROKEN HOME?

THAT'S A GOT TO HAVE TO FIX THERE BEYOND JUST AN EIGHT POINT GUN -- >> SURE.

RIGHT NOW I KNOW THAT BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS LEXINGTON ARE LOOKING FOR MALE MENTORS.

I'VE SIGNED UP.

ANYTHING ANY VOLUNTEER THAT CAN BE DONE LIKE THAT.

ALSO, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK TIE STRONGER FAMILY UNIT, AND I KNOW THAT I HAD FOUR OR FIVE DADS GROWING UP BECAUSE OUR FAMILY UNITS WERE ALL REALLY, REALLY CLOSE, AND I WAS JUST AS APT TO GET MY REAR END BLISTERED BY MY BUDDY'S DAD AS HE WAS TO GET BY MY DAD, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT DISCIPLINE.

>> MS. AUSTIN.

>> SOCIETAL FACTORS IMPORTANT TO LOOK INTO, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND MORE PEOPLE SHOULD DO THAT, BUT IT DOES NOT GIVE YOU LEEWAY TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T ALSO RESTRICT ACCESS TO HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO TO THE POINT THAT DAVID MADE REGARDING SAFE STORAGE LAWS, THERE IS A STUDY THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE RAND INSTITUTE, IT'S IMPORTANTLY ALL COME TOGETHER ON A SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH, AND RAND PUTS A LOT OF RIGOR INTO THEIR RESEARCH, AND THEY CAME OUT WITH ONLY A FEW POLICIES THAT THEY SAID WITH CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE WOULD REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.

YOU KNOW WHAT ONE OF THOSE WAS?

SAFE STORAGE LAWS.

SO WHETHER IT'S SAFELY STORING OUR FIREARMS TO PROTECT OUR KIDS, TO ENSURE THAT WOULD-BE MASS SHOOTERS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FIREARMS OR THE GREATEST RISK, THAT SUICIDE COULD HAPPEN WITHIN YOUR HOME, WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THAT, BOTH FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT AND FROM AN INDIVIDUAL STANDPOINT.

AND YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR HOME AND ALSO SAFELY STORE, SO I IMPLORE PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THAT IS GUN OWNERS.

WHAT CAN I DO INDIVIDUALLY TO ENSURE THAT MY FIREARM IS NOT USED FOR HARM.

>> MR. BURNETT, IT SEEMS LIKE HE WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN HERE.

SEEMS LOOK A COMMON-SENSE BEHAVIORAL JUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FIREARM ISN'T ACCESSIBLE TO EITHER YOUNG HANDS OR THOSE THAT ARE CRIMINAL IN NATURE.

>> SURE, BUT AGAIN THERE'S STILL A CONTINUES UM BETWEEN REQUIRING ME TO KEEP IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT I CAN'T PROTECT MYSELF SO WE NEED TO FIND THE BALANCE.

I'M GLAD WHITNEY BROUGHT UP RAND INSTITUTE BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXAMINED MOST OF THESE POLICY DISCUSSES THAT WE HAVE HAD TONIGHT.

THEIR CONCLUSIONS ON MOST OF THEM ARE INCON CLUES IS HAVE YOU THAT RED FLAG DID LAWS WOULD FIX THAT.

SHE'S RIGHT IN REGARD TO GUN VIOLENCE BUT ONLY IN REGARD TO SUICIDE IS WHAT THEY FOUND.

IMPORTANT TO PREVENT BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWINGS WE'RE GOING FOR NOW.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT THREE-PART THAT I SAID BEFORE WILL IT ACTUALLY PREVENT FUTURE SHOOTINGS, BECAUSE CAST MORE HARM THAN GOOD AND HOW DO WE GET THE CRIMINAL TO COMPLY.

THE SPEAKER WILL BE HANDING DOWN A CASE VERY SOON THAT I THINK WILL FUNDAMENTALLY REVISE CARRYING AND THIS MIGHT BE WORTH HAVING A CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE ABOUT THAT.

>> I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE TO YOU RESEARCH THE DATA ON MASS SHOOTINGS ARE.

THEY ARE OVERWHELMINGLY SUICIDAL.

>> AND IN KENTUCKY, WORTH POINTING OUT, IN KENTUCKY IF YOU ARE INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED TO A MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION, YOU AUTOMATICALLY LOSE YOUR CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT ON ANY FIRE.

>> WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH PERHAPS A POPULATION THAT IS NOT AS MEETING THAT THRESHOLD AND WE'RE ALSO NOT DRAWING A PARALLEL THAT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO BE VIOLENT CRIMINALS, EITHER.

I'LL GIVER YOU 45 SECOND FOR A FINAL WORD.

>> MY PRIMARY CONCERN AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IS A LOT OF THE GUN RIGHTS FOLKS ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE.

OTHERS DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO STRONGLY AVOID HAVING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SOLUTION.

AND THAT'S BOTHERSOME BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYBODY HAS TO HELP THIS.

MOST GUN OWNERS ARE NOT GUN RIGHTS FOLKS.

MOST GUN OWNERS ARE JUST GUN OWNERS.

AND YOU'VE ALSO GOT GUN OWNERS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT WANT TO SEE CHANGE.

AND THAT ALL HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

BUT TO INSTILL FEAR, UNCERTAINTY AND DREAD THAT, OH, MY GOD, I CAN'T GET MY GUNS OR I'M INTO THE SURE WHAT'S IN YOUR CLOSET BUT YOU BOTH MENTIONED THE HOST CLOSET THING AND THAT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE NOBODY'S COMING TO GET YOUR GUNS.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST NRA FUNDRAISING FAR AS SINCE BIDEN'S GOING TO GET OUR GUNS, OBAMA'S GOING TO GET OUR GUNS, HILLARY'S GOING TO GET OUR GUNS, BIDEN'S GOING TO GET OUR GUNS.

NOBODY'S COMING FOR YOUR GUNS.

THE QUIT PANICKING.

>> WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

CERTAINLY IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE'LL RESUME SOME OTHER TIME.

I DO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND THANK YOU, MR. BURNETT, FOR JOINING US WHEREVER YOU ARE, AN AIRPORT LOBBY THERE BY SKYPE.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD CONVERSATION.

I THAN TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN JOIN US EVERY WEEK NIGHT A 6:30 EVEN/5:30 CENTER FOR KENTUCKY EDITION WHERE WE BREAK DOWN THE DAY A NEWS AND GIVE YOU DEEP ANALYSIS OF WHAT GOES AFFECTING YOUR WORLD AND, OF COURSE, BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF WORKING.

JOURNALISTS WILL DISCUSS THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" FROM IT A JT EASTERN/7 CENTRAL.