Bernie Sanders Refuses To Apologize To Sandy Hook Victims At Brooklyn Debate, Hillary Clinton Gets Upper Hand On Gun Control Issue
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton continues her barrage of criticisms against her rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, for failing to make a stand on gun control policies.
During their latest debate at the Duggal Greenhouse at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Clinton, 68, slammed Sanders, 74, for his previous comments in an interview with NY Daily News, wherein he said that he would not support Sandy Hook victims in their lawsuit against gun manufacturers.
The families of the Sandy Hook victims are suing the gun manufacturer that manufactured the AR-15 rifle that was used by Adam Lanza, the shooter in the 2012 incident that killed 26 people, including school officials and kids.
The former Secretary of State lashed out at the Vermont Senator after he backed off in an interview talking about the lawsuit. Hillary Clinton accused Bernie Sanders of voting for a law that protects gun manufacturers from such legal proceedings.
“This is a serious difference between us,” Clinton said to start off the debate. She further addressed the issue of gun control with sobering stats.
“Ninety people on average a day are killed or commit suicide or die in accidents from guns, 33,000 people die a year. I take it really seriously because I have spent more time than I care to remember being with people who have lost their loved ones.”
Hillary Clinton also said that it is definitely a problem in the country, and she emphasized the need for a president who can take a stand and fight against the gun lobby. The presidential candidate said that the country needs a chief executive who can push for “common sense gun safety reforms.”
We need a president who will always put families above the gun lobby. #DemDebatehttps://t.co/fh7oXAZLn0
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 15, 2016
The leading candidate for the Democratic Party nomination reinforced her point, citing instances when Bernie Sanders did not bother to support victims but instead said that the gun manufacturers who are being sued “do not deserve their day in court.”
Hillary Clinton also criticized Bernie Sanders for bashing the greed and recklessness of Wall Street but not talk about the greed and recklessness of gun manufacturers around the country.
She added that Bushmaster, the gun manufacturer, had commercial ads showing the AR-15 rifle as a combat weapon used for killing on the battlefield.
Debate moderator Wolf Blitzer then asked the Senator if he thinks he owes the Sandy Hook victims an apology. He plainly said no, to the dismay of Sandy Hook victim families.
“No, I don’t think I owe them an apology. They are in court today, and actually, they won a preliminary decision today,” he answered.
However, his next statements made what seemed like a forced attempt to show his support for the Sandy Hook victims.
“They have the right to sue, and I support them and anyone else who wants the right to sue.”
Regardless of Sanders’ statements, Erica Smegielski, the daughter of the Sandy Hook elementary school principal who was killed, was not impressed. She voiced her opinion on Twitter.
This is what a HERO looks like. Keep going @EricaSmegs we’ve got your back. #gunsense pic.twitter.com/I7jmj1NEiy
— k8 (@rolling_2) April 15, 2016
On Thursday, a judge allowed the families of Sandy Hook victims to sue Bushmaster, arguing that, while there are federal laws protecting gun makers, the plaintiffs can still sue because the rifle is a military weapon and should not have been sold to a civilian.
Hillary Clinton may now be getting the upper hand over Bernie Sanders on the issue of gun control. Even so, the Senator is inching closer to the former U.S. Secretary of State in the number of accumulated delegates.
The debate was held days before the New York primary, which will take place on April 19. The results on that day will be crucial for the political rivals as they move into the final stretch of their campaigns for the presidency.
[Photo by Seth Wenig/ AP Images]
