Sunny Hostin says gun violence ought to be handled “as a public well being problem.”
As particulars of the Uvalde, Texas, faculty capturing proceed to unfold, The View co-hosts mentioned the tragedy on Wednesday’s present. Hostin — co-host, lawyer and mother — ticked off a listing of issues to enhance gun security, together with the implementation of sensible weapons.
“Since 2020, weapons are the main explanation for loss of life of American kids in our nation. Weapons,” stated Hostin, 53. “It hurts me a lot. And I began to assume: Maybe the method is we must always consider this as a public well being problem as an alternative of a gun reform problem. Perhaps that is how we’d like to consider it. As a result of actually it is a public well being problem.”
Hostin pointed to U.S. Surgeon Normal Dr. Vivek H. Murthy’s previous feedback calling weapons “a well being care problem,” which stirred up the NRA forward of his first appointment to the position in 2014.
“Our surgeon normal … has stated it over and over — and he was chastised for it,” she stated. “However it’s a public well being problem.”
Hostin then went via a listing of how to make assist enhance gun security.
“Let’s strengthen the background checks,” she started. “Ninety p.c of People agree with that.”
She went on to recommend, “Let’s up the age necessities and ban beneath 21-year-olds from buying,” because the Uvalde faculty shooter was in a position to legally buy two AR-15-style rifles in Texas legally after turning 18 this month. “If you cannot purchase a drink, why can you purchase a gun at 18? It is freakin’ ridiculous.”
Hostin referred to as for safer gun storage, more durable restrictions for individuals who have safety orders in opposition to them and stronger repercussions for straw purchases (when somebody buys weapons for somebody unable to legally buy them for themselves.)
She additionally slammed gun trade immunity, saying, “Let’s enable folks to sue firearm corporations, producers.”
Sensible weapons, which might be fired solely by verified customers, have lengthy been mentioned — and Hostin stated, on the very least, gun know-how ought to be on par with smartphone know-how.
“When our iPhones get stolen, you may kill them. You may’t use them once more,” she stated. “How about when a gun will get stolen, why cannot we make them sensible weapons and … destroy [them so they don’t fall in the wrong hands]? We’ve the know-how to do this.”
She concluded, “These are a few of these frequent sense gun security reforms that we are able to put in place. And I believe Republicans can get on board with it.”
Tuesday’s capturing at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde took the lives of at the very least 19 kids and two academics earlier than the shooter was killed by legislation enforcement. Previous to terrorizing the college, the shooter shot his grandmother.