The newly elected Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, appeared on Sean Hannity’s prime-time Fox News show last night for an exclusive one-on-one interview.
They covered a variety of topics, including the recent tragic mass shooting in Maine, which claimed the lives of at least 18 people.
The tragedy has once more sparked the national discussion on gun control, with the left swiftly turning it into a political issue. However, Speaker Johnson emphasized that “the problem is the human heart, not guns,” and he said that this is not the moment for legislation aimed at limiting Second Amendment rights.
When Hannity brought up the topic of gun control, questioning the left’s immediate push for additional gun laws in the aftermath of the mass shooting, Johnson responded with unwavering determination.
“At the end of the day, the problem is the human heart. It’s not guns. It’s not the weapons,” he said. “We have to protect the right of the citizens to protect themselves. And that’s the Second Amendment, and that’s why our party stands so strongly for that.”
Johnson’s remarks echo a sentiment that conservatives have held for a long time: that disarming law-abiding citizens is not the answer to America’s gun violence issues. The Second Amendment is a constitutionally protected right.
The Speaker was also clear that now, as the nation is in the midst of mourning, is not the right time to be talking about legislative action.
“We’re in the middle of that crisis right now,” Johnson said. “I just want you to know, and I want the American people to know, that all the members of the House here are deeply concerned about the families involved and everyone. And we pray for the law enforcement officers that are doing that hard job tonight that most people do not have the bravery to do.”
When Hannity pressed Johnson about any particular gun laws he might contemplate, Johnson underscored the importance of addressing the root causes, like mental health, instead of fixating on the instruments employed in these crimes.
“I mean, there’ll be lots of discussions, as there are after these heartbreaking tragedies,” Johnson noted. “In Europe and in other places, they use vehicles to mow down crowds at parades where they’ve done that here in the United States. It’s not the weapon. It’s the underlying problem.”
Johnson called for society and government to seriously address the mental health crisis, which he sees as a significant contributing factor to these sorts of violent incidents.
“I believe we have to address the root problems of these things, and mental health, obviously, as in this case is a big issue, and we’ve got to seriously address that as a society and as a government. And there are lots of measures pending on that as well,” he stated..
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