Fox News host Bill O’Reilly on Tuesday night dinged the National Rifle Association for its statement opposing President Obama’s new executive orders regarding background checks, arguing that the government should conduct background checks on everyone who purchases guns.
“The NRA and gun owners should be reasonable. The FBI should background check anyone buying a firearm in America. That just makes sense,” O’Reilly said on his show. “If you are paranoid and believe the government is stockpiling information so they can come to your house and take your guns, that’s your problem, your problem. But the government has an obligation to enhance public safety.”
Though O’Reilly expressed support for background checks, he argued that expanding background checks won’t keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists. The Fox host said that those individuals will simple buy firearms on the black market and “no registration law will prevent that.” O’Reilly instead advocated for lengthier prison sentences for those convicted of using a gun in a crime.
Obama’s order will require more individuals that sell guns online to conduct background checks on those who purchase the guns.
Watch the clip via Fox News:
H/t Media Matters
A lot of realignment going on…when is the next election ?
I do not watch O’Reilly’s show. So it is only every few months that I read a news article like this–newsworthy because it is only every few months that he says something I agree with. I made a good decision, not to watch his show.
I almost fell out of my chair.
C’mon BillO, how many times do we need to go over this? Background checks (or any gun safety measure) only make sense when the GOP proposes them. They are government tyranny when a Democrat proposes them.
Oh dear…I predict an influx of BilloMakingSense injuries in ERs.