After another senseless mass shooting in Maine, which has so far claimed the lives of 18 people and injured 13 others, the “banning assault rifles” debate is back up and running.
At this point, it happens like clockwork. A tragic event occurs, the conversation around guns heat back up and then quickly loses steam, and then everyone kind of forgets about it until the next horrible one happens.
This latest shooting, which happened at the hands of a 40-year-old US Army Reservist and certified firearms instructor, is the deadliest mass shooting of the year. The suspect, Robert Card, was found dead last night after a days-long manhunt.
Because of the severity of the tragic event, many news media outlets across the country have picked up on it, and that includes the panel on ABC’s The View.
Joy Behar and company were discussing what should be done in response to the killings, where the gunman used an AR-15 to walk into a bowling alley and sports bar and open fire on crowds of people.
Sara Haines first stated:
“I would love to see an assault weapons ban. Like President Reagan, I don’t believe they’re a sport or hunting instrument. It’s like shooting fish in a bucket, but that’s my tea.”
Calls for assault weapons bans are often asked for following events such as this one in Maine, so its not completely out of the ordinary for someone with a platform to jump on board with the idea.
Fellow panelist Joy Behar followed up on Haines’ comment asking for a ban, stating:
“But also, if you shoot with an AR-15, let’s say you shoot a deer, you can’t eat it because you basically demolish the animal.”
That’s not exactly correct, considering there are different kinds of rounds you can use with automatic weapons.
As you might imagine, people online were quick to criticize Behar and question her knowledge about the AR-15:
People who know nothing about the topic they have chosen to discuss….
— Roman of the Empire (@Roman_OT_Empire) October 27, 2023
Here’s my AR-15: pic.twitter.com/BySOO12ATd
— BombulusMaximus (@BombulusMaximus) October 27, 2023
— Strom（柯智洋） (@Cyber_Spock) October 27, 2023
Joy clearly as a LOT of hunting experience
— Rock/Hard Place (@txtarheeldad) October 27, 2023
— Separate Heading (@separateheading) October 27, 2023
It is illegal in most states to hunt with a caliber that small. It is inhumane because it will typically not kill the animal. Utah requires 7.62 or larger. pic.twitter.com/90UeZUhD01
— John Pendergrass (@NotesFromUtah) October 27, 2023
