CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • World
  • Innovation
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
  • Travel
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Fever Dreams
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Confider
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    INNOVATION
    • Science
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      FOOD & BEVERAGE
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Beauty
        • Home
        • Pets
        • Kitchen
        • Fitness
        • I'm Looking For
        BEST PICKS
        • Best VPNs
        • Best Gaming PCs
        • Best Air Fryers
        COUPONS
        • Vistaprint Coupons
        • Ulta Coupons
        • Office Depot Coupons
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • Walmart Promo Codes
        • H&M Coupons
        • Spanx Promo Codes
        • StubHub Promo Codes
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        HOMEPAGE
        Entertainment

        Conan O’Brien Calls for Assault Weapons Ban Post-Orlando: ‘These Are Weapons of War’

        ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

        In lieu of an opening monologue, the late-night host gave a moving speech calling for an end to the sale and purchase of semiautomatic firearms in America.

        Marlow Stern

        Senior Entertainment Editor

        Updated Apr. 13, 2017 3:38PM ET / Published Jun. 14, 2016 12:44AM ET 

        The brutal massacre of 49 LGBT civilians at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida, has left the nation reeling—and divided. While information is still being collected about the killer’s motive, with reports ranging from a 911 call pledging allegiance to ISIS to that he was a self-loathing homosexual who’d frequented the club (and used gay dating apps) in the past, the one thing we know for sure is how he killed these innocent souls: primarily with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle that he’d legally purchased days prior.

        A military-grade assault weapon, the AR-15 provides users limited blowback and serious firepower, able to dispense 45 rounds a minute. It typically comes with a 20 to 30 round magazine, though drum magazines containing 90 to 100 rounds—like the one James Holmes used to kill 12 people in Aurora, Colorado, back in 2012—are also available.

        Late-night TV hosts approached the horrific tragedy in different ways. On his program Last Week Tonight, John Oliver offered a solemn tribute to the victims while pointing to the hundreds of people lined up outside Orlando blood banks as a symbol of hope. Full Frontal’s Samantha Bee was furious, lambasting NRA-backed Republicans for their “don’t blame guns” response to the shooting.

        Bee’s TBS colleague, Conan O’Brien, seemed to combine the two. In lieu of an opening monologue, he delivered a solemn speech about how lamenting these regular mass-shootings has become a “national ritual,” and questioned why there is any need for a civilian to be able to purchase or own a killing machine like the AR-15, branding semiautomatic assault weapons “weapons of war.”Here’s O’Brien’s full monologue:

        “Our goal, obviously, night after night, is to be funny and silly if you’re in the mood for that late at night. However sometimes, events are so horrifying and bleak that to come out here and tell jokes, it’s just not really possible—and tonight is sadly one of those nights. At a time when we think we’ve heard the worst stories about senseless violence in our country that it couldn’t possibly get worse, the news out of Orlando yesterday is still impossible to fathom. That so many people can lose their lives so quickly because of one person’s demented rage will never make sense, and God help us if it ever does.”

        “Now, I am not a pundit. I am not an expert, and I have always—always—made it a policy to stick to my job and keep my opinions to myself. I have really tried very hard over the years not to bore you with what I think. However, I am a father of two, I like to believe I have a shred of common sense, and I simply do not understand why anybody in this country is allowed to purchase and own a semiautomatic assault rifle. It makes no sense to me. These are weapons of war, and they have no place in civilian life.”“I have tried to understand this issue from every side, and it all comes down to this: nobody I know, or have ever met in my entire life, should have access to a weapon that can kill so many people so quickly. These mass shootings are happening so often now that lamenting them afterwards is becoming a national ritual. I do not know the answer. But I wanted to take just a moment here tonight to agree with the rapidly growing sentiment in America that it’s time to grow up and figure this out.”“In the meantime, there are a lot of people suffering in Orlando. If you’d like to help them, visit: GoFundMe.com/pulsevictimsfund. Now, here’s what we’re gonna do: we’re gonna take a break, and then go back to doing whatever it is we do here—I’ve never figured that out—but I thank you very much for listening, and we’ll be right back.”

        READ THIS LIST

        DAILY BEAST
        • Cheat Sheet
        • Politics
        • Crime
        • Entertainment
        • Media
        • World
        • Innovation
        • U.S. News
        • Scouted
        • Travel
        • Subscription
        • Crossword
        • Newsletters
        • Podcasts
        • About
        • Contact
        • Tips
        • Jobs
        • Advertise
        • Help
        • Privacy
        • Code of Ethics & Standards
        • Diversity
        • Terms & Conditions
        • Copyright & Trademark
        • Sitemap
        • Best Picks
        • Coupons:
        • Coupons:
        • Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
        • HP Coupon Codes
        • Chewy Promo Codes
        • Nordstrom Rack Coupons
        • NordVPN Coupons
        • JCPenny Coupons
        • Nordstrom Coupons
        • Samsung Promo Coupons
        • Home Depot Coupons
        • Hotwire Promo Codes
        • eBay Coupons
        • Ashley Furniture Promo Codes
        © 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC