CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript "Interview with HI. Sen. Mazie Hirono"
Interview
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Joining me now is Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. She serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senator, thanks so much for joining us.
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): Nice to see you.
TAPPER: I want to get to the legislative aspect of how we can, as a country, do something to curtail these horrific incidents, these mass shootings.
But before we get to that, what's your response to the president's trip to Dayton and to El Paso?
HIRONO: As usual, all -- everything that he experiences, he brings it back to himself.
So while he was supposed to be there to show sympathy and empathy, I think he showed himself the most sympathy and empathy. And he always acts like the victim.
TAPPER: So another thing I want to ask you about is, yesterday, we broke the story on this show about how, according to many officials, current and former and other sources close to the White House, the Department of Homeland Security throughout 2017 and 2018 was pushing the White House to make domestic terrorism a higher priority...
HIRONO: Yes.
TAPPER: ... in the national counterterrorism strategy. And the White House kept pushing back.
What's your reaction?
HIRONO: Well, apparently, he doesn't like to hear the words white supremacists doing anything.
And so they really cut back on any references to domestic terrorism and acknowledging that as a growing problem. And, as you know, Chris Wray only a couple of months ago before our Judiciary Committee in the Senate acknowledged that domestic terrorism is a growing concern, and that much of that is associated with white supremacy actions.
TAPPER: Sources tell CNN that the House -- the House Judiciary Committee -- you're on the Senate Judiciary Committee -- the House is considering coming back early to work on gun-related legislation, including perhaps red flag legislation, perhaps even a ban on some kinds of semiautomatic assault weapons, semiautomatic weapons, limits on high-capacity magazines.
Is there anything in there that I just mentioned that you think could get through the Republican-controlled Senate?
HIRONO: Not as long as Mitch McConnell is in charge.
We can't even get the law that was passed, the bill that was passed by the House, which is just a background check law. And so there are two people who are holding everything up. It's Mitch McConnell and the president.
And when the president starts talking about he's going to take on the NRA, he will stand up to them, oh, that's just such B.S., you know?
So, by the way, when all of this tragedy occurred, and Veronica Escobar, when the president was talking about going to El Paso, she had wanted to talk with him. She reached out.
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TAPPER: She's the congresswoman from the El Paso area. We had her on the show yesterday.
HIRONO: Yes. Yes.
But he had all kinds of time to talk to the NRA, who got to him immediately.
TAPPER: What can Senate Democrats do, if anything, to try to bring this legislation that has passed the House, this background check legislation? It has overwhelming support among the American people.
HIRONO: Yes.
TAPPER: Probably would not have had any impact on these two shootings, but would have closed a loophole that has been obvious for many years.
HIRONO: Certainly.
As you say, these loopholes have been huge for a long time. But we need to get to also the banning of the assault weapons and any kind of weapons that can charge -- that can fire dozens of bullets at one time.
What can we do? Well, you know what? The elections, that is one opportunity. We need to defeat Mitch McConnell because he is very focused. In fact, he prides himself as being the Grim Reaper, and he's happy to hold back all of these kinds of bills that the House has sent to us.
So, one way is to defeat Mitch McConnell. Another way is for the Republicans in the Senate to raise their voices. And you hardly hear a peep out of any of them.
TAPPER: So semiautomatic weapons are the most popular kind of weapon, I think, being sold in the United States right now.
If you're talking about banning them, how do you envision that? Do you envision a mandatory buyback, mandatory confiscation, just a restriction sales of new ones?
HIRONO: Well, you start with the sales of new ones, because when you start talking about confiscating guns, then you run into, I would say, some legal challenges.
But I think there are ways to encourage people to turn in their firearms, but first and foremost let's just not keep selling new -- the new sales. That, we can stop.
TAPPER: All right, Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, thank you so much for being here.
HIRONO: Thank you.
TAPPER: I don't know why you're here, as opposed to in Hawaii, but we love having you. Thank you so much.
HIRONO: Good to be with you. TAPPER: A call to police from a concerned mother about her son
possibly owning these assault-type weapons -- the CNN exclusive about the alleged El Paso gunman and potential warning signs next.
Then, children sobbing and hysterical, not sure where their parents are and when or if they will ever see them again. The ICE raid that now has ICE agents scrambling.
Stay with us.
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