LOS ANGELES — More than 48,000 people have signed a petition that they posted on the White House website demanding that British CNN talk show host Piers Morgan be deported over comments he made on air about gun control.
Morgan last week lambasted pro-gun guests on his show after the Dec. 14 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where a gunman shot dead 26 people, including 20 children.
“We demand that Mr. Morgan be deported immediately for his effort to undermine the Bill of Rights and for exploiting his position as a national network television host to stage attacks against the rights of American citizens,” the petition said.
The petition, started on Dec. 21 by a man identified as Kurt N. from Austin, Texas, accuses Morgan of subverting the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms.
U.S. citizens can file a petition on the White House website, whitehouse.gov, if they collect at least 25,000 signatures within 30 days. The White House is then obliged to issue a response.
Morgan, 47, a former newspaper editor in London, shot back at his critics on Twitter. He repeated his past calls for the United States to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and conduct background checks on all gun purchases.
Five days after the Connecticut massacre, Morgan called a guest, Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners for America, an “idiot,” “dangerous” and an “unbelievably stupid man” when Pratt argued that more guns were needed to combat crime in the United States.
“I don’t care about a petition to deport me. I do care about poor NY firefighters murdered/injured with an assault weapon today. #GunControlNow,” Morgan tweeted on Monday, referring to a shooting in New York that killed three people, including the gunman.
Christa Robinson, a CNN spokeswoman, said the network had no immediate comment on the petition.
Publicist Howard Bragman, vice chairman of Reputation.com, said the controversy will get Morgan attention that may translate into higher ratings and wouldn’t harm his reputation.
“A lot of it comes from his being British, he’s seen the differences between the U.S. and UK, he’s passionate and authentic in taking this issue on, and it’s probably only going to help him attract more people to his show,” Bragman, told Reuters.
Their true colors are showing. The right isn’t too keen on the constitution after all and not wiling to Protect Piers right to free speech.I guess they can’t stand the heat of all that “freedom”.
Their hypocracy is outrageous. .Piers told this guy exactly what he needed to hear — “cut the crap.’. and i second his comments. The right is using and abusing the constitution and they KNOW it . ” a well regulated militia being necessary to a FREE state….”I second Piers comment and glad he said them. I’d say it is time to start another pettion against “Gun owner for America ” As well as the fool walking around baxter blvd to “make a point.”. intimidation to silence someone is a two way street..
He isn’t an American, so he does not bear our Constitutional Rights, let him go back to London and complain of getting rid of all the knives and other weapons.
I think you might want to study up on how the Constitution and Bill of Rights works.
That history and education thing seems to trip them up every time doen’t it? Still, it’s difficult to imagine how these folks can forget the millions of Americans who’ve died or those still dying today while trying to extend our Constitutional Rights to people all over the globe.
Last time I heard from Bruce was just after the election and he was still on the hunt for the President’s birth certificate. You are right about the education thingy. Of course when you get your education on the Constitution from Rush, Hannity or Beck you really aren’t expected to know what you are talking about. You are only expected to parrot whatever they tell you to think.
The BC is still an issue.
Yeah I’m holding my hand on my butt waiting for US style “constitutional rights” in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Serbia, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama, and Libya, all places where we have sent our forces over the last 30 years.
Are you trying to say that the U.S. has not been trying to do just that since Korea? If so, you haven’t been paying much attention in life or school. You make it sound like we and the Soviets never fought a generation long Cold War. Being ignorant of history is forgivable, but ignoring events that have occurred in your own lifetime is at best, illogical. My guess is you simply had to say something negative and this was the best you could come up with. Poor effort.
It’s getting darn annoying holding the flag for those who are all set to toss it in for the UN agenda.
He may not be an American, but has the Constitutional Rights of Americans in his mind. Show me where it defines, the type of weapons used to massacre innocent people! What is the matter a non Us citizen can”t exercise free speech in this country..SAD
Oh he can speak, but he owns no first amendment right. …and no, a non-citizen can not come here and subvert our Constitution.
I said the same about Muppet Murdoch (The Australian) when he came in here and lobbied to change the rules about media ownership.
Foreigners have far too much to say about how we run our country.
Yeah…..and the United State of America has NO say how other countries are run………LOL. The hypocrisy from the Right is PATHETIC!
excellent…
I do not for a minute think he is here trying, as you say, to subvert our Constitution; If anything he is trying to have Americans respect it. Where have you been living? Foreigners are what the very fabric of this country is all about!! For Gods sake, if you are going to spout off at the mouth, at least know what your talking about!!!
Yes, he can speak, but remember the infringements our troops are put through in other countries. It is not the weapons it is the person.
He may not been as quick, still could of caused as much death. The problem with this country sometimes, you want to give every one else right, look at the illegal immigrants. My grandparents had to follow the law, why should not others.
wat
Why do you find it completely impossible to hold an intelligent discussion of such issues without name-calling and the sort of hyperbole in the above post?
If courtesy was a requirement for commentators in American media, Rush Limbaugh would have been stripped of his citizenship and deported long ago.
Man isn’t that the truth! Oh wait, I’m talking about Rush and his Ditto heads and truth has nothing to do with anything for them!
Rush, who I’m not especially fond of, doesn’t hold a candle to P. Morgan for rudeness and obnoxiousness.
You haven’t listened to Rush Limbaugh.
I listen to both, regularly, and my comparison stands.
“Kurt N“ from Austin, TX aka “Too Cowardly to Give His Full Name”, coveniently forgets the First Amendment while he tongue-kisses the Second. What a Sissy.
The system abbreviates names, get your facts straight.
The system?
The petition system abbreviates names that are signed.
Huh?
…and your name is?
Um, apple-orange “Tux”. I’m not pushing petitions.
I’m not anti-gun ownership but lets be honest, for the most part Morgan speaks the truth here.
I think deportation may be a little much, but he doesn’t need to be subverting the Constitution, openly, on a national news program. Maybe that’s why the networks hire Canadians and Brits so they can do what would get Americans tried for sedition or treason?
Where did he subvert the constitution? Do you even know what it means? He, like anyone else in this country, including you, has a right to speak. Merely calling for a ban on guns is a long way from subversion. Perhaps you are subverting the Constitution when you when you accuse him of doing so instead of backing his 1st Amendment rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avOV6_42xe4
You really need to take responsibility and do your own research.
You really need to look up the word “subvert”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BmYUn2KdFi0 Watch this video about the discrepancies in Sandy Hook incident and then let us know if we should disarm ourselves. And also if we should have a Brit media person try to spin the public opinion against our Constitution, law of the land.
This youtube video is research? You have no idea what subvert or reseach is do you? But then again you have no idea what facts are either, or honest debate or the 1st Amendment. Aren’t you “subverting” (lol) the Constitution when you deny him his right to speak?
Thats right. Subversion should be quashed on sight and a lesson taught to those who would continue to speak negatively of our glorious United States. Those who are not like us, can never understand us and that deviation from normalcy is dangerous at the very least.
PS If you are nodding your head in agreement while reading the above, please remove yourself from this society (by _any_ means)
So because he exercised rights afforded under the First Amendment and said things those who love Guns disagree with he should be deported?
He doesn’t own a First Amendment right. He’s a limey! He gets to use OUR first amendment because we are far more accepting of GUESTS than Great Britain..
Of course he has a 1st Amendment right, one that fools like you would remove for anyone that disagrees with you.
You sound severely undereducated.
For the same reason the left doesn’t like citizens united. If we are going to have a serious conversation it should be a.decision by the people and outside voices are not needed or productive.
There is no conversation nor discussion necessary. Americans have the right to keep and bear arms. Period.
I share your point of view.
Since when is Piers Morgan a deciding factor in anything? What are you people so scared of?
What are you Marxists afraid of from the Koch Brothers?
And what does a political donation decide? Noting. Pierce is a British citizen his voice belongs there. We have a serious discussion to have that will inflame emotions itself. Outside opinion not needed we have 320 million already that all get to cipe in the decision.
Whenever the gun owners would make a point Piece would shut him off or go to a commercial. He cannot digest the truth. Pierce would like to ban all guns in America and that will never happen
,
They couldn’t even answer his SIMPLE questions!
Its funny when people think they are making really good points, but they can’t even be bothered to get the name correct. Good work.
I’d grant him citizenship immediately, if he happens to want it. We need more sensible people. Send the pro-arsenal folks to Somalia, where they’ll blend right in.
Liz, who’s going to protect you while you’re up there on your high horse? And do you have children to protect? If so, how many police will it take so they come to your house first?
WELL .. I am NOT signing it, I agree with him 100%, More, so called Americans are too cowardly to take the stand he did, Should be a petition honoring him, after all he is an OUTSIDER..and he cares more about American people than some Americans do, by sticking his neck out. Apparently he cares about peoples lives, more than he does $$$$. Americans appear to love their guns more….When is enough going to be enough in America, We don”t need the types of weapons that were used to kill these beautiful people in CT.. Would you not agree? probably NOT…
You’re right about one thing. He’s and outsider. I will add with a bunch of cheek.
I’ll sign the petition.
no doubt, because your lacking in knowledge!!!
So you believe in the 2nd Amendment but not the 1st. Typical right-winger
The worst part about Democracy is that it lets people like you vote.
Really?????
Our forebears established the 2nd Amendment in order to protect themselves and future generations from tyranny (Brits, etc.). Some have pointed out that in order to maintain that protection from a modern tyrannical government, most likely, at this point the U.S. Gov’t, if it became tyrannical, U.S. citizens would need nuclear weapons and jet fighters. Well, as far as I know, we civilians don’t have those kinds of weapons. But we do have 150 million adult citizens who could bear arms, if necessary. That would at least slow down the tyranny. Most of us don’t even know what tyranny is, but we don’t have to look too far to see it. Syria, and some would say Russia, China, Iran and North Korea come to mind. Does this justify small children being murdered? Of course not. Maybe true assault rifles need more restrictions, if not eliminated from the civilian arsenal and probably mental health issues need to be more effectively considered. But we need to tread lightly when it comes to the 2nd Amendment, and human rights in general.
Maybe true crazy people need more restrictions.
Big word, IF.
Only in America does someone link gun ownership and human rights in the same sentence, and keeps a straight face. What have we become?
The right of self-protection is a human right.
“Themselves” being the operative word. . . White wealthy landowning males of Western European extraction. Others were not considered nor were they allowed to vote, and the firearms were muzzle loaders.
Our greatest defense against tyranny is at the polls and we need to get more than 40% of eligible voters thinking and voting.
Never watch any of those stuffed shirt talking heads anymore.
Let the Aussie Murdoch and The Brit Morgan duke it out on WWF then maybe….maybe… I’ll watch.
I don”t think you will be missed!!!!
Where can we find the petition?
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petitions
Even though exerting your 1st amendment, don’t hold your breath for any success.
We have drastically higher deaths by gun than either the Brits or the Canadians and of course far higher gun ownership. Wonder if he pointed that out.
Seriously? What is this……Germany circa 1939?
““We demand that Mr. Morgan be deported immediately for his effort to
undermine the Bill of Rights and for exploiting his position as a
national network television host to stage attacks against the rights of
American citizens,” the petition said.”
LOL, these paranoid Walter Mitty’s think they can take away someone’s first amendment rights because he of a perceived attack on the second amendment. HUH! As far as exploiting his position…….. well if that were true then Fox Snooze would not be on the air.
Not saying Morgan is right or wrong on this one , I’ll say he is and was an idiot long before this !