In an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, former president Bill Clinton discussed a number of cultural topics including racism and the NRA’s pro-gun agenda.
When asked if they country was more racist now than in the past Clinton said, “I actually think we’re less racist, less sexist, less homophobic than we used to be.”
“I think our big problem today is we don’t want to be around anybody who disagrees with us,” he continued. “And I think that in some ways can be the worst silo of all to be held up in.”
Clinton addressed a number of high-profile cases such as the recent fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen that was killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Feb. 2012.
Clinton said the National Rifle Association’s pro-gun narrative, (The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun) has encouraged violence in the public square.
“I think we have enhanced the risks by changing the environment, basically, because it seems we bought the NRA’s theory that we would all be safer if everybody in this audience had a gun that was a concealed weapon,” the former president said.
“Then if one of them felt threatened by another, they could stand up right here and stand their ground,” he continued. “And we could watch the whole saga unfold. That is what happens.”
Of course, Clinton is wrong. The NRA’s pro-concealed carry agenda has not led to a material increase in crime. Over the past two decades concealed carry rights have greatly been expanded to the point where over 40 states have permissive shall-issue concealed carry laws and no state outright prohibits the practice. Illinois was the lone hold out until it was forced by a federal judge in 2013 to overturn it’s ban; Washington, D.C. is now undergoing a similar transition from complete ban to a may-issue standard. Meanwhile, over that same period of time property crime, violent crime and the homicide rate have all declined.
Bottom line, Clinton is sorely mistaken about the NRA. But that’s nothing new.
EDIT: Hey everyone! I mis-quoted the NRA’s narrative in the initial article which was causing you all some confusion. I apologize. I’ve now corrected it to reflect what NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said in the past.
2 terms 8 years Clinton ruined the country, and he did it by changing all the Federal housing Laws. Landlords forced to rent to those without means, and subsidising programs.
Brought those from the inner citys into the suburban communities and school systems. Yeah he had plenty a deals in place to get that 98% of the Black Vote. Whats scary now is if his wife runs for Prez she will get that same vote plus all the Homos same sex and women.
He is just a freedom robbing liberal, his agenda will not allow him to say otherwise. He would rather have innocent people put at risk than hurt a thug because the thugs are part of his and the socialist democrat base. They only care about thugs, not the law abiding. The thug will carry out murder no matter what laws are passed, they want to take away the law abidings ability to stop it.
This starts out as a real good news and background piece, and then, with “Of course, Clinton is wrong”, it goes straight into the toilet. It is not the writers job to tell me how to think. Maybe you are used to screeching in the Right-Wingnut Echo Chamber. Such is the tactics of polemic and propaganda, not information.
This is a guy who has spent his entire adult life chasing various college degrees , holding various elected political offices . Never serving in the military because of his deep contempt for our uniformed arm forces . Never a job in the private sector , where he would have been fired for his inappropriate relations with a 20 yr old naive intern. The founders never intended that we have career politicians that have now morphed into this professional ruling class. A second revolution may be the only way out of this mess that these inept boobs have created .
First . why we should even listed to the ex president the dishonored office and lied to everyone? And why this moron dont even know how to read the statistics on how crime goes down whenever a state adopts CCW laws? The worst thing is the thousands of morons that follow this kind of creep. He should have been impeached ,but still our media gives coverage and space to the person that started the fall of this country. If a president dont respect his own people , no one else have to. Same for Obama who just upped Clinton’s faults to new levels.
Point of fact, he WAS impeached.
Billy, dont you know that this country is founded on the basis of the People decide what the laws are. The problem is politicans do what they want, nand do not represent the majority. I respect Thomas Jefferson due to the fact he passed bills he disagreed with because the people supported them. So Bill, rememnber what you did to akl those Democrats that voted oin anti-gun laws, you got them fired>
It’s not a theory Mr. President, it’s the law of the land that you swore to uphold, twice. Short memory?
Like Herpes, we’re stuck with them. There is no cure for libtards but we can hope for it to be discovered really soon.
Like Herpes, we’re stuck with them. There is no cure for libtards but we can hope for it to be discovered really soon.
Libatards…? No cure…? Absolutely …! Libatards … ARE… Mentality Ill…!!! Hmmm…? Bill… may need Meds…?
The clintons, the gift that keeps on giving
“I think our big problem today is we don’t want to be around anybody who disagrees with us,”
I don’t have a problem talking to someone who disagrees with me on how to solve problems, but our current divisions go much farther than that. I swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and I have no use for someone who thinks that makes me a domestic terrorist.
Yes “we bought the NRA’s theory ” and the “we” also had to swallow your allowing of repeal of the Glass Steagall act which will be one of the final nails in the coffin of the American middle class.
What would we expect. He has ALWAYS been clueless. This coming from the same man that swallowed his words after talking a bunch of politicians into passing gun legislation, and later having to stand in front of them and say “OOPS, So sorry, guess we can tell that was a dumb move, most of those people were voted out.” They don’t care what the people want, they only care what they want to push on the people.
The NRA has never advocated that everyone have a gun, and anyone saying they have is lying. We all know that Bill is capable of turning stories around. Felons and mentally ill should not qualify for guns, but who is willing to let government employees determine who is “mentally ill?” I have been a member of the NRA for the last 54 years and have never noticed Bill Clinton being particularly fond of the U.S. Constitution
The NRA has never advocated that everyone have a gun, and anyone saying they have is lying. We all know that Bill is capable of turning stories around. Felons and mentally ill should not qualify for guns, but who is willing to let government employees determine who is “mentally ill?” I have been a member of the NRA for the last 54 years and have never noticed Bill Clinton being particularly fond of the U.S. Constitution
90% of y’all are NRA apologists who want to kill the messenger, thereby proving one of Clinton’s points. Only 10% address the issues and are willing to see the ugly truth about some of what he says.
Come on liberal press haven’t we heard enough from this left wing garbage of a family. Between anything he has to say and his so-called wife running an election I am sick of hearing about these people in the news. How about some new liberals that can be better than what you cram up our rear ends the last time. Oh, who really gives a flying …. about their offspring calving another version of billary!
A dirt bag who did not respect his own marriage even being in the highest position given to a public servant wants to enlighten us up about change and gun control. He disrespected this country in the worst way and still got away with staying as president. That is just how stupid this nation is. He should have been impeached and ashamed like any other country would have done. The messages here coming from a president were several, like: marriage is not important, cheating is ok as long as you are in power, you can always twist the meaning of a word to fit your agenda, etc. Thru all this time, democrats have been testing the moral and integrity of this country to see how far they can keep pulling the elastic band and for them it have worked. They will continue until they are completely sure that they can ammend the Constitution to their own private interests and submit the whole country. We as a People might need to wake up and start a new revolution before it is too late. Remember to vote republican all the way in the coming elections, and not because of ideology because I know even some republicans dont like some of their representatives, but to take from power this twisted bunch of democrats and give a clear message we still have a voice.
Bill Clinton will die, be buried and STILL spout off…He is addicted to ….Himself….And don’t get me started on the communist bit..he is supposedly married…
Everyone should read “Gun Control in the Third Reich” by Halbrook.
These liberal politicians actually believe they are smarter than everybody else and should reign over them, that they know better what’s best for the people. I find it incredulous.
This personality type is the majority in our government and education. They are the ‘should’ people.
Why would any respectable citizen believe anything that this scum has to offer ? Total Democrat in the lowest form. Bill Clinton go away and take your wife with you.
Why would any respectable citizen believe anything that this scum has to offeBilr? Total Democrat in the lowest form. Bill Clinton go away.
Find a blue dress to stain.
Clinton,
Please go back to Monica and your cigars and leave us alone !!
Clinton,
Please go back to Monica and your cigars and leave us alone !!
The Clintons just need to go to the old, used up retirement home for politicians. Clintons have nothing useful to contribute to society. The Clintons just need to go away and keep their mouths shut.
He could always team up with Mr. Peanut and build FREE houses for the Career Gimme crowd, and let those awful, dangerous, mentally disturbed VETERANS live under bridges and in sewers like frigging Trolls.
My wife got hurt in Afghan, 12 yrs into her 20, and was homeless and lived in her ratted out SUV for two years before I met her. She was denied various assistance because she had “TOO MUCH INCOME”. She moved to a new city to be closer to a VA hospital, and her new rep and his wife took her into their home and helped her get back on her feet. Yes, I know that I tend to get off subject and go off on a tangent. There’s just so many things about the Dems. that disgust me. As a child in the 70’s, I was blessed to grow up in Charleston, SC and be surrounded by Vets and active duty personnel, and Law Enforcement officers who were all Vets. It’s a crying shame to see this Incredible country turned into the very thing that they served and fought to prevent.
And now our Country is being destroyed from within by the Hippie Dipshit protestors from the 60’s.
In 1945,Soviet Russia started planting many seeds/operatives for the long range goal of what’s finally bearing fruit. They greatly stepped up their efforts before the Cuban missile crisis, and financially backed groups such as The Black Panthers, The Weathermen, and every other Radical groups that would create ANY form of fear or disorder, and now those “College Kids” are teaching in our universities and ruining/running our government.
Remember the time Bill spent in Russia in 64 ? with a KGB Officer as his HOST? The same guy who stayed at the Governors mansion for 3 months after he “RETIRED”. NO ONE “RETIRES” from the KGB, CIA, FBI, ,etc.. Perhaps he was visiting with his real father. (My speculation only)
if it wasn’t for guys like me and fellow vets you wouldn’t be free to express yourself. I’ve seen the opposite of freedom, you haven’t but with time and a little encouragement you will
Clinton is just being his usual obtuse self. However, S. H. Blannelberry alluded to a general relaxation of many state gun laws.
He mentioned those states that have adopted the “May Issue” gun permits. Let’s clear up the difference between “May Issue” and “Shall Issue” gun permits and licenses.
“Shall Issue” gun regulations describes a process where the state examines the history of the permit requester to ascertain that that person is a competent, law-abiding citizen or not. Once a person is found to be an upstanding citizen, the authorities are required to issue the gun permit or license. This process might take up to a year but the outcome is certain.
“May Issue” gun regulations describe an authoritarian minded state or city that really doesn’t trust anyone but those people who have political connections to carry handguns. New York City is an example of such an abuser of the people’s Second Amendment right to bear arms. New York City has five classifications of pistol licenses, and not one of them recognizes the reason to carry for the purpose of self-defense. Security employment, job requirements to carry large amounts of money, employment as a body guard, etc, etc are permissible reasons to request a gun permit in New York City. Yup, money is precious, your life, not so much in that city.
Washington, D.C. has decided to emulate New York City’s handgun regulations. That is to say, both cities now deny the average citizen their Second Amendment right to bear arms. The Supreme Court of the United States only delayed considering the right to keep and bear arms by ruling on the “keep arms” and allowing the “bear arms” to continue to be regulated by the various government levels.
We assume that the Justices are not complete dullards but they didn’t cover themselves with glory in fully defending the Second Amendment rights of the people. As a matter of interest, there is an eight lane highway leading to that Supreme Court right now. That highway is crowded with cases contesting the right of the state and local governments to abuse the Second Amendment rights of the people to bear arms.
I don’t mean to tell the Justices how to do their jobs but really! The one-sentence Second Amendment doesn’t say “….shall not be infringed, except for the whims of the authorities.” You want to grab people like Bill Clinton and shake them, demanding that they defend the disarming of the citizen who lost his or her life in a dimly lit garage because the robber decided to leave no living witness behind.
There are two kinds of anti-gun people, those who live in a fantasy world where criminals obey laws and those who want to rule the people in a tyrannical fashion. These people are the enemies of liberty.
The last paragraph is a great statement! Can I use it as a quote? Sounds like something the founding fathers would have said.
Quoting from the article, “I think we have enhanced the risks by changing the environment, basically, because it seems we bought the NRA’s theory that we would all be safer if everybody in this audience had a gun that was a concealed weapon,” the former president said.”
I find this interesting coming from a man that was SURROUNDED by many men CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS!!! I suppose he didn’t feel safer in their presence. If that is the case, shouldn’t we just do away with the Secret Service agents who carry concealed weapons? I certainly won’t want the President of the United States to feel uncomfortable!
The people that believe Bill’s quoted statement are dumb as sheep!
bill clinton is an idiot
In my humble opinion, Bill Clinton is not an idiot. I don’t like the man. I didn’t vote for him. And I think he is an elitist, immoral jerk; but he is incredibly cunning and intelligent. That is what makes him (and his kind) so very dangerous! Never underestimate the enemy.
Draft dodging Ivy League trailer trash.
Did you guys quote Clinton right?
Clinton said the National Rifle Association’s pro-gun narrative, “the only thing that stops a good guy with a gun is a bad guy with a gun,” has encouraged violence in the public square.
Or was that a typo, because the saying goes, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
NRA quote attributed to Clinton is not correctly stated. NRA says the only way to stop a BAD GUY with a gun is a GOOD GUY with a gun. Not as quoted in the article. Read it again just to be sure.
Nelson
LOL…I think the quote in this context is correct. I assumed that law abiding citizens, “good guy” is stopped by a government agency, the “bad guy with a gun” is foreboding.
“the only thing that stops a good guy with a gun is a bad guy with a gun”, some editor sure botched this quote!!!!!!!
I noticed that too.
Will he and his wife ever get out of our lives
Clinton,
Please go back to Monica and your cigars and leave us alone !!
Clinton,
Please go back to Monica and your cigars and leave us alone !!
BINGO and their off-spring too!!!!!!!
Did anyone listen to what he said? We need to start hearing what others are saying and understand we live in a divided world and soon or later we will need to compromise or go to war with each other. He is not an idiot. If you hate him because of Monica. Look back, would you like have everyone know about every bj you got?
We live in a divided country because we are so lied to by the mainstream media on both sides. Our education system is a joke, kids are not taught critical thinks skills, instead are programmed with passive thoughts that evolves as they become adults. Therefor they only believe everything they hear (sheep being herded) rather than form there own non-biased main stream media research and form their own conclusions.
I think Bill should go “JERK HIMSELF OFF A SODA!
Why we still have to listen to this freaking mummy speaking nonsense??? Come to the front with facts and statistics , not the verb-o-rrea that you use with your flock. It is proven that a law abiding citizen that is armed save lives. And in Ferguson , it was a POLICE officer doing his job, not a civilian, and he was attacked by a 300 pounds “gentle thug” before discharging. We have to encourage every one that have a CCW and have used his gun to defend themselves to make a report, even if shots were not fired, so we have more statistics in black and white of how guns many times prevent even the start of a conflict. The thing is that most people feel relieved and they just dont report them. We need to shut up the fantasyland left with the real facts.
Amen, brother.
Clinton is an idiot!