Actor Matthew McConaughey wrote an op-ed on Monday in the Austin American-Statesman advocating for a variety of gun control policies.
McConaughey, who was born in Uvalde, Texas, and currently lives in Austin, argued that there is a balance between protecting 2A rights and keeping guns out of the hands of individuals who are a threat to themselves and others.
“I believe that responsible, law-abiding Americans have a Second Amendment right, enshrined by our founders, to bear arms,” wrote McConaughey.
Matthew McConaughey on what gun control he wants:
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) June 7, 2022
“We need background checks, we need to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 to 21, we need a waiting period for those rifles, and red flag laws.” pic.twitter.com/oZKj9bRrOD
“I also believe we have a cultural obligation to take steps toward slowing down the senseless killing of our children. The debate about gun control has delivered nothing but status quo. It’s time we talk about gun responsibility,” he continued.
Here is what the Oscar-winning actor proposed:
- 1) All gun purchases should require a background check. Eighty-eight percent of Americans support this, including a lot of responsible gun owning Texans. … I’ve met them. Roof, who killed nine people in a black church in South Carolina in 2015, got his pistol without a completed background check due to a legal technicality. The system failed. Gun control activists call this a loophole. I call it incompetence.
- 2) Unless you are in the military, you should be 21 years old to purchase an assault rifle. I’m not talking about 12-gauge shotguns or lever-action hunting rifles. I’m talking about the weapon of choice for mass murderers, AR-15s. The killer in my hometown of Uvalde purchased two AR-15s for his eighteenth birthday, just days before he killed 19 students and two teachers. He obeyed the law. Had the law been different, perhaps I wouldn’t be writing this today.
- 3) Red Flag Laws should be the law of the land. These measures, which are already in effect in 19 states and Washington, D.C., empower loved ones or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily prevent individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or accessing firearms. These laws must respect due process, judicial review, and hold account individuals who may abuse such laws.
- 4) We need to institute a national waiting period for assault rifles. Individuals often purchase weapons in a fit of rage, harming themselves or others. Studies show that mandatory waiting periods reduced homicides by 17 percent. Gun suicides account for the majority of U.S. gun deaths. A waiting period to purchase an assault rifle is an acceptable sacrifice for responsible gun owners when it can prevent a mass shooting crime of passion or suicide.
McConaughey also said that he supported gun safety training, safe storage proposals, and bolstering school safety. But he said that we cannot solely rely on government and that companies, private organizations, and responsible gun owners have to step up because they all have a “big role to play.”
“I want to be clear. I am not under the illusion that these policies will solve all of our problems, but if responsible solutions can stop some of these tragedies from striking another community without destroying the Second Amendment, they’re worth it,” wrote McConaughey.
McConaughey is a gun owner. So, it’s rather surprising in his piece that he only spoke about gun control and didn’t talk about the potential for armed citizen responders to make a difference, especially when law enforcement is delayed or fails to intercede in a timely manner.
SEE ALSO: Good Gal with Gun Stops Active Shooter: Fatally Shoots Convicted Felon with AR
As GunsAmerica previously reported, there were 61 active shooter incidents last year according to the FBI’s report, “Active Shooter Incidents in the United States in 2021.” Armed citizens fatally shot four of those perpetrators in the act, saving countless lives.
In fact, last month, authorities hailed the actions of a lawful female gun owner who gunned down an active shooter in Charleston, West Virginia as he started to open fire on a crowded birthday party. As a result of her brave and decisive actions, no innocent lives were taken.
Unlike the gun control McConaughey’s proposing, we know without a doubt that responsibly armed Americans stop some of these killers each year. The question is, why aren’t we as a society doing our level best to encourage more patriots to become capably armed responders?
One needs to look no further than Israel to see how a well-armed society deals with the constant threat of violence.
SEE ALSO: Brazilian President Green Lights Gun Ownership So Citizens May ‘Have Peace Inside Their Homes’
In the wake of a March 2022 terrorist attack in Tel Aviv that left five dead, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called on the nation’s gun owners.
“After a period of quiet, there is a violent eruption by those who want to destroy us, those who want to hurt us at any price,” Bennett said. “What is expected of you, Israeli citizens? Vigilance and responsibility. Whoever has a gun licence, this is the time to carry a gun.”
“We are also currently evaluating a larger framework to involve civilian volunteers who want to help and be of assistance,” he added.
It’s a lesson as old as time but the optimal way to achieve peace is to prepare for war. Why aren’t we developing the same mindset here? Why aren’t we declaring war on active shooters?
McConoughey, like all of us, is entitled to his own opinions. But, why some Hollywood celebrity thinks his opinion should carry any more weight than yours or mine is just a sign of their bloated ego & privilege.
Frankly, I personally don’t give a flying f-ck what he, or any other celebrity thinks. Period.
Part 2
I apologize for all the F comments.
I’m a proud Texas native of 58 years and currently an East Tx redneck of 7.
Everyone with a lick of common sense knows that anytime something happens involving a shooting our Liberals jump on the bandwagon with gun shit. Age and mag capacity will not solve a damn thing. Where I live folks including teachers carry ! Our schools have signs stating in a political sort of way that we will shoot your ass ! Hollywood promotes gun whatever and guess what ? Hollywood is primarily the real reason why our kids are all screwed up, along with the video game industry and don’t forget, (Parenting)
Once again, (Parenting ! )
Does anyone really give a rats ass about what a fucking celebrity thinks ?
F hollywood, F Liberals and and superially F our government!
Just sayin 🇺🇸🤠
He needs to footnote the studies he claims support his ideas. Oh, wait, they aren’t his ideas, but rather those of the democratic socialist party who have been touting them at every crisis . Crime prevention is not the goal, they like crime, they run on it every election. It’s for gun control so they can get in and stay in.
Matthew is just trying to capitalize on it to boost his career, since he sucks as an actor. Most people don’t like Lincolns.
What a load of BS! I won’t spend any time or money watching this guy!
As a Texan, I always wanted to like little Mathew even though I knew He leaned left. But now , alright alright alright.Mathew is either so deluded That she does not know that we already have background checks or He is toting the Communist Party line.
I am supposed to care what his opinion is , why again ?
Hard pass on this pothead’s gun control push. If he wants to “take one for the team” himself then he can give up his private security and stop the demand for drugs coming across our southern border by stop doing illegal drugs.
I love the parroting of leftist percentages that support red flag and back ground checks. Especially when we already have back ground checks. The new is firearm owner registration. This hollywood dolt is just another twit. Want to stop killing children there libtard, Quit aborting them. After all you lefties have killed more than sixty million in this country now.
You can shove your gun control.\
Like me he is a native Texan, but of the Hollywood to Austin ‘Putz’ variety! He certainly doesn’t know the difference between his a..hole and a hole in the ground. And I don’t know what’s worse actors who really believe the tripe they always pedal or the “useful idiots” who blindly believe them!
Another hollywoody with a dumbass opinion. Super rich and uncaring with slight guilt over being wealthy and privileged. Taking constitutional rights from lawful gunowners should assuage his guilty conscience.
Old Matt still wanting his 15 minutes fame!
Who cares what a dope smoker thinks?
Probably had a buzz on while giving his comments.
Go back to your bongo drums.
McConaughey is just an actor (a prop) he demonstrates emotion for a living. He presented no practical ideas, such as hardening schools and actually protecting children which supposedly has been the topic of discussion. The left screams about saving children but backs killing them by the millions! They don’t care about the average citizen. The latest example is not enforcing the laws on the books for protecting The Supreme Court justices. If a conservative Justice is assassinated the left will be more than happy to nominate a progressive to take their place. The left refused protection for the Capitol for Jan. 6, then created the story that it was an insurrection. The signs are everywhere, they want complete power and they will do whatever it takes to get it.
Bingo!
1) “Universal background checks”
So that the government will ALWAYS be in complete control of the process, how it is applied, speed of process and even whether they chose to perform it or not altogether.
2) Determining “weapons of choice” *WOC*
ASTOUNDINGLY flawed logic. If you eliminate the WOC… they simply lift and shift fire to another. Then THAT WOC is added to the list. Eventually we WILL be talking about: “12-gauge shotguns or lever-action hunting rifles.”
3) “Red Flag Laws”
Once the law of the land, are merely a set of rules – locked in jello – to be arbitrarily expanded and subjectively applied.
4) “We need to institute a national waiting period for assault rifles.”
First, the definition of “Assault Rifles”, then, what keeps everything else from being added to it? Furthermore, I’d like to see the statistics on how many firearms utilized by these creeps were bought within the proposed waiting period of time.
Todd.
What a joke! Matt you are a Fool, no a stupid fool is more accurate. Hollywood who cares what anyone from fairyland has to say. What does he know. More disgusting s*** from a liberal.
Ad hominin attacks on the actor are your right of free speech, but I prefer to attack the legitimacy of his arguments. Overall, MM supports any measure that reduces the rights of all Americans because of a few bad actors. And why not? None of his proposals will affect him in any way, shape, or form. Additionally, he favors more laws that penalize people who have an illness – mental illness – and then expects people suffering these diseases and disorders to freely, willfully run out and get help when they know it will cost them their constitutional guaranteed rights under red flag laws. Does anyone see the idiocy of this logic besides me? Mental health care has a big stigma as it is, MM solutions heap more penalties upon those suffering, expecting their cooperation in the diminishment of their rights, all for a process in red flags that have failed to demonstrate any positive results and only proven to be erroneous when it has been applied.
Well alright alright , alright , I like him as a person but I disagree with him on this. Stick to acting Matthew .
What part of the Second Amendment do you not understand Matthew? Shall not be infringed?
You somehow think that laws will suddenly turn criminals into obedient honest law abiding citizens?
You’re going to magically legislate someone’s behavior?
You are a liberal tool and a fool too. Criminals will find a way to kill no matter what laws you pass.
Democrats don’t want to harden schools or make them more secure. Why would they! This is just another way they want to convince people to give up their rights and freedoms. Where was the press or the White house when kids get shot in Chicago or other major Democrat controlled cities? That doesn’t fit into their narrative.
When a serious incident takes place why do all the HIPPIE so called movie actors come out and bang their fist on a podium trying to act tough when in real life could not buy a motorcycle jacket for a piss ant when it comes to being tough. Actors, thats all they know what to do is act. I am also from south of Uvalde, Texas but I cover the ground I walk on. No acting. All of them need a shave and a haircut!
McConaughey is entitled to his own opinions, of course. But, why should some Hollywood celeb have a bigger soapbox than any of us? And, why should anyone care what He thinks? I don’t.
WHO? does this guy think he is he is just a POS actor
That actor can Fk off. More laws won’t stop criminals. They scream think about the kids yet want abortions to kill babies like they’re driving through a fast food joint. It’s all about Confiscation and control of citizens.
If these law were being in effect 6 months ago, probably some of these horrible incidents wouldn’t have the same outcome.
Regardless of what MM thinks and you think.
Close range wound with 5.56 and high cap mag makes a difference.
Just another entertainer who thinks what he says matters. Want to curb mass shootings? Get rid of the liberals. Clinton, Obama, and Biden, 3 liberal presidents each have the distinction of school shootings along with over 10 ten mass shootings each. Biden already has over 30. In comparison only 2 under Trump, Biden has doubled the number of mass shootings even if you add together every mass shooting under a republican president dating back to Ford in the 70s.
The second amendment and ar’s aren’t the problem liberal administrations and their agendas are.
McConaughey is a typical Hollywood actor who response with his emotions and not with clear concise thought!
He does not care about Solutions he only cares about how people feel and how people see him he is a fraud!
What a shame.
I was so hoping this Texan was not going to steer left. He does speak well, with passion and motivation. Unfortunately, he missed the fundamental point: “give and inch and they take a mile”. None of Bill of Rights need amendments..it’s already been done. Once you crack the door, it leaves all Amendments open to manipulate.
I’d rather if he had taken a stronger stand for dealing with the REAL issues: Mental health, Crime & Punishment, accountability.
Talk about hipocracy- we have POLITICIANS telling us we have accountability problems.. while we have national secrets being stored on private servers and sold off, a mystery laptop with corroborating evidence of a corruption at the WH level…the list goes on.
Unfortunately he lost my support with this latest brief. At lease we know where he stands.
Thank you Guns America for keeping us posted.
Teach your children true history, train, be vigilant, stand fast Countrymen.
Once again, an otherwise fine actor has beclowned himself on the national stage, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of gun owners and reducing the number of people who will pay to see his latest film. I doubt Matthew has any more expertise in this field than the average person who got their Red Ryder for their 8th birthday. Nevertheless, the Democrats are famous for their stage productions starring and endless parade of victims and celebrities. Vermin all.
Twit needs a haircut. A couple inches below the chin oughta do it!
I know what I will say will draw backlash from people for being out of bounds and violent but here goes. Perhaps locking the doors of schools, A simple “enclosure” where people wanting to enter a building can be seen and questioned via video camera, Area where searches can be conducted both of students and visitors if “security” deems it appropriate, Pass-thru metal detectors like we have in court houses and airports. Refusing to feed, house, and support people who are convicted of killing others. Punishing those that commit these acts rather than the 99.9% of gun owners that obey the laws. Require people given the responsibility of security in a school to have some security training, Require POLICE to enter the schools and attempt to end the shooting by whatever steps are needed instead of waiting outside. I’m sorry if I have upset you with my violent and radical ideas.
Very well stated Roger.
Unfortunately, Congress and the WH have “better” places to dump or lose billions of tax dollars than in schools that do need better security design. Simple logic and morals are elusive in Washington.
Red flag laws are the bane of our constitutional rights in this country.
The list of amendments these laws violate are long. Waiting periods tend to be abused by local authorities. And if you’re going to make anyone wait until they’re 21 to buy any kind of rifle, AR-15 or otherwise, I propose people wait until they’re 21 to vote. There’s a lot of things that you can’t do until you’re 21 due to maturity or lack thereof. Voting should be at the top of that list.
So.. at 18 years old, you can be summoned to die for your country (interests in Washington), but shouldn’t be able to protect self, family, home, others??
Am I the only one who understands: All the laws in the world WILL NOT stop a criminal from getting a gun.
Voting should not be allowed unless you’ve taken a legitimate American History course, and know that not everyone pictured on US paper money was a President (!) .. how about passing a Watters’ World street interview for starters?
Who is he to tell us what to do?
He is just another democrat communist libturd with a Texas accent. He is just one person with an opinion and he has only one vote. Fuck em all but six and we can use them as pallbearers.
“Mud” doesn’t speak for me. Neither he nor any other mortal will take away what I’ve toiled for, or remove the rights granted by my Creator, without a serious fight.
There ARE hills worth dying on. It’s time for real Patriots to stand on their convictions. Kneel before Christ, stand against tyrants.
BRAVO!
“There ARE hills worth dying on. It’s time for real Patriots to stand on their convictions. Kneel before Christ, stand against tyrants.”
Never heard of him. why is his opinion mean more than anyone else?
I believe he’s full of S**t , My opinion…
You have a right to your opinion and he has a right to his. And I respect his right to be wrong. 🙂
Matthew said, “I also believe we have a cultural obligation to take steps toward slowing down the senseless killing of our children. The debate about gun control has delivered nothing but status quo. It’s time we talk about gun responsibility,”
So what is he doing about this. Is he going to ask that any film that shows improper use of a firearm be pulled from the silver screen? All DVDs that have improper use of a firearm burned? Will he donate all funds he has made off of the improper use of firearms in the movies he was personally in?
We have over 500 million legal firearms in this country. And mass murders with a firearm account for a fraction of 1% of the total population. We do not have a firearm problem. We have a mental instability issue with people who have been pushed beyond their mental capacity. This is all being done on purpose.
Stop blaming an inanimate object and start blaming the person doing the evil. It is as simple as that. The reason people like Matthew blame the firearm is because they have no sense of responsibility. They want to blame everything but the one who has actually done the crime.
With gun control comes tyranny. That is why our founders put the 2nd Amendment in the Bill of Rights. “Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not.” It is that simple.
Hey Matthew…stick to playing the bongos…you’re already on record for wanting to do away with the second amendment. Fricken leftist kook!
Doesn’t know the definition of an actual military “assault rifle”……says NOTHING about handguns, which are still the weapon-of-choice for “mass murderers” and violent criminals…..SMDH
You know what would work better? Put the violent criminals in jail and keep them there.
Alright, alright, alriiiight 😉