Candidates Silent on Gun Control
COSTELLO: The debate over gun control is going nowhere. As you know, Friday's movie massacre in Colorado has once again raised the question of whether it's time for tougher laws. Today, we definitely know that's just talk. But, hey, at least the candidates agree on something. They agree to do nothing. Here's Mitt Romney on CNBC and then you'll hear the president.</s>MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I still believe that the Second Amendment is the right course to preserve and defend and don't believe that new laws are going to make a difference in this type of tragedy.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I hope that over the next several days, next several weeks and next several months, we all reflect on how we can do something about some of the senseless violence that ends up marring this country.</s>COSTELLO: John Avlon is a CNN contributor. He's also the senior political columnist for "Newsweek" and "The Daily Beast." Welcome, John.</s>JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hey, Carol.</s>COSTELLO: Do you think we'll really reflect months from now on ways we can stem the violence in this country?</s>AVLON: I think if we don't do it now and in the coming weeks, hoping for collective action in the coming months is a bridge too far. Here is the ironic thing: both Romney and President Obama have backed for example assault weapons bans in the past. But because we have a divide over gun legislation in this country that isn't left versus right as much as urban versus rural. In fact, we use our guns differently in urban and rural areas. We have a stalemate when it comes to presidential politics. Principles get put aside, and even practical problem solving gets put aside, all in pursuit of swing voters in swing states. And it really holds a rational political discussion about this issue back.</s>COSTELLO: Well, that's the thing, John. We can't even have a discussion about it, because if you even begin to discuss it you're either anti or you're for. There's no middle ground here.</s>AVLON: That's right. And yet there is. I mean, that's what's so frustrating. It's become politically incorrect to even have a policy discussion about this. And yet, if you look at polling, over 80 percent of Americans believe that there should be perfectly stringent and increasingly stringent background checks before people buy guns. A reasonable debate about why a 100-round magazine cartridge is so readily available, stricter enforcement of current laws. There is common ground on this issue, but politicians have been cowed into not wanting to deal with it because they don't believe that the headache is going to be worth the progress they may or may not make. It takes leadership. And we last saw this in 1994 when Bill Clinton took on the NRA and we got an assault weapons ban passed for 10 years. So it does take leadership. But actually the poll support is there for reasonable restrictions that are consistent with respecting the Second Amendment.</s>COSTELLO: But when you look at other polls, John, you have to admit it's not a top concern that Americans have right now, so why get into it?</s>AVLON: No. Well, that's exactly the rationale. You add that to the 10-1 lobbying split between the NRA and groups like the Brady organization. And that's exactly what politicians say. Look, we have had over 180 deaths because of mass shootings in the last five years alone. But we have 10,000 gun deaths a year in this country. So the real question becomes if not now, when? Can't we have this conversation? Because it's a reasonable rational conversation to have, and there is common ground to be found. The NRA is very fond of saying that guns don't kill people. People kill people. That is true. But it's also equally true that people with guns kill people. Unfortunately, sometimes a lot of people. And we can have a conversation about ammunition, about increased background checks, without artificially polarizing this debate. It's called problem- solving. And it takes a little bit of principle. It takes a little bit of courage, but it's the right thing to do after we honor the victims, moving forward as we reflect on incidents like this.</s>COSTELLO: But it's probably not going to happen. I'm just being a realist. You heard what Mitt Romney said and what President Obama said.</s>AVLON: Yes.</s>COSTELLO: We're not going to have that conversation. In a few weeks, we won't even be thinking about it.</s>AVLON: That's right. And here again it's both these individuals backed assault weapons bans in the past. But it's not considered worth it politically. So it does come with the question -- you know, after Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot, there was a bill put forward about restricting not guns, not gun sales, but these excessive magazine cartridges that really aren't consistent with the purposes of hunting or self defense, which is what most people use their guns for. Guns are a part of American culture. It is wrapped in the Constitution. We can all respect that. But we shouldn't be kept from having a reasonable conversation, especially in the wake of tragedies like this. And when people in Congress think it's not worth the political headache, the people who suffer gun violence every day should make them feel the heat a little bit more, because this is a real concern for people across this country.</s>COSTELLO: John Avlon, thanks so much for being here this morning.</s>AVLON: Thank you, Carol.</s>COSTELLO: Thanks, John. What was he thinking? That's the question a lot of people are asking after seeing the accused Colorado massacre shooter in court. But should we be talking about him at all? Or even show you his picture now? It's our talk back question today.