Raskin Suggests Shooting Could Spark Gun Control Unity
On CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) reflected on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, suggesting it might lead to a unified call for universal background checks on gun ownership.
Raskin shared his experience of the event, mentioning, “I was only there for a second. I hadn’t even made it to table 36, where the NBC crew was. People at the Boston Globe saw me and stood up to greet me, and just then Kerry Kennedy arrived. We were chatting, feeling like we were back in law school.”
He continued, “Then, out of nowhere, there was this loud bang—a crash. Plates, silverware, everything went flying. People were yelling to get down! Someone pushed me from behind, and I fell on top of Kelly and a few others. It was chaotic, and I couldn’t help but think about Kelly’s situation. We were down there because of gun violence, the assassination, and the loss of her uncle. We huddled on the floor for a couple of minutes until it was declared safe to stand. The first thing Kelly said was, ‘This is happening in schools all over the country.’ Children are left to deal with trauma without the means to cope. She was really focused on the broader implications of gun violence, and it’s worth noting she’s a strong human rights advocate. No one wants to be in such a situation, but I felt fortunate to be there with her.”
Host Dana Bash responded, “Right. I mean, that’s the first thought that crosses your mind. You must have been reminded of her childhood trauma, especially after losing her father.”
Raskin then expressed concern about the ongoing issue of gun violence, stating, “We’re not tackling this problem, which leads to thousands of deaths yearly from gun violence. Around 100 people are shot every day. The nightmare we witnessed at the dinner was a stark reminder. Meanwhile, countless others are being shot across the country, but we act as if it’s just part of daily life. Before we dive back into political battles, perhaps we could unite around something like universal criminal background checks, which most Americans actually support.”
