Piers Morgan responds to critics in new column, threatens to deport self
In response to a pair of petitions centering around Piers Morgan – one requesting that the White House deport him, the other asking him to stay – the British journalist and host of CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight has fired back on Twitter and in a column published in the Daily Mail.
Following the tragic schoolhouse massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, Morgan used his position on television to call for stricter gun control laws, earning the wrath of the pro-gun lobby in the United States. Nearly 100,000 people have signed an online White House petition demanding the deportation of the British-born host due to the threat he poses to their Second Amendment rights, apparently trumping his First Amendment rights. While on vacation in the UK for the holidays, Morgan issued a response via Twitter on Friday noting that only 90,000 people had signed the White House petition, leaving 310,910,000 Americans who presumably want him to stay in the country.
After sparring with critics on Twitter, Morgan lashed out in a column he penned for the Daily Mail, in which he lays out his argument in a rational and reasonable fashion. Morgan points out that the British government's response to the worst school shooting in UK history in 1996 was to implement stricter gun control laws, leading to an extremely low average of 35 gun murders per year since the laws were passed. 
Since he first came to the US in 2007 to work as a judge on America's Got Talent, Morgan mentions that six of the country's 12 worst-ever mass shootings have occurred without a meaningful reaction from politicians fearful of the power wielded by the National Rifle Association and its pro-gun lobby. Backing up his arguments with statistics and facts, Morgan proposes his own centrist solutions to the problems as he advocates tighter gun control, increased funding for mental health treatment, and a more responsible entertainment industry.
"In conclusion, I can spare those Americans who want me deported a lot of effort by saying this: If you don't change your gun laws to at least try to stop this relentless tidal wave of murderous carnage, then you don't have to worry about deporting me," Morgan writes. "Although I love the country as a second home and one that has treated me incredibly well, I would, as a concerned parent first – and latterly, of a one-year-old daughter who may attend an American elementary school like Sandy Hook in three years' time – seriously consider deporting myself."
Leaving aside personal opinions on Piers Morgan, his column is required reading in this instance. How do you feel about it?
- Piers Morgan
Show:
- Piers Morgan Tonight
Network:
- CNN
Dec 30th, 2012, 6:58 am
Jacko
The Uk doesn't have more violent crime since all guns were banned, it has never even come close to the violence in the USA where just the murders of children under 10 years old surpass 25 years of total shootings in the UK. This is just false information being fed to the USA. I cannot see why any civilised country would allow the sale of military style assault weapons to anyone except the Police and Military. Piers Morgan is pointing this out as something that may halt the murder of innocent children who will now never have the chance to grow up in the so called freedom of the USA, some freedom when morons call for deporting a man for critcizing crazy laws. Any normal person would listen to his comments, many on this board posting anonymously are the very reason why the USA should ban these weapons.The USA is full of good people, but it has more than it's fair share of gun loving cretins. Long live the good people of America and deport the Anon morons who are so weak to hide behind their assault guns.
msd85
Believe me Rtruell, if I had total say over this place, anonymous comments would be the first thing to go. I'm all for freedom of speech, but people should at least have the guts to stand by their opinions and not hide behind the cloak of anonymity.
rtruell
Wow! Less than 24 hours after posting the article, there's 3 pages of comments...but only 5 that are worthy of consideration. So many wienies posting anonymously...and nearly every one of them totally missing the point. As if Piers Morgan leaving the USA will solve the USA's gun problem.
TVRage should eliminate the ability to post anonymously...it'll result in a far higher quality of comments and conversation. Oh, but wait...that would infringe on the wienies rights to free speach! Oh, but that's OK...they want to infringe on Morgan's right to free speach, so they won't complain when *their* rights are infringed upon. After all, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, right? Right??
tinalessia
So National Redenck Association is screaming about free speech and our 1st amnd. however unless you are not a citizen, then shut the hell up??? So basically foreigners can come here to live, pay taxes but if you have an opinion, you're not welcome. Hmmmm, sounds like my 1st husband. reminds me of extreme Christians pointing their finger at me and telling me I'm wrong for my beliefs. Nice. I also notice that almost all of the nasty remarks are from an "anonymous "source. No cowardice there at all, I'm sure y'all are probably hiding behind your gun racks.I have an Italian flag on my name but I'm still and American citizen. No One is disputing your right to bear arms or trying to change the constitution, or wanting you to stop shooting squirrels off of your double wide. We're asking for more control. PERIOD. To all of you David Koresh wannabes,get your finger off the trigger and grow some thicker skin. THERE IS A GUN PROBLEM...It needs to be dealt with. That's it.We should be working together to find a solution. All of you NRA's out there, I'd bet a million dollars you weren't affected by this latest shooting. I'm 5000 miles away and cried for days. When will it be enough?
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