Liam Neeson speaks out in favor of gun control
Liam Neeson speaks out in favor of gun control
Liam Neeson, legendary Irish actor and star of such films as Taken and Non-Stop, does not identify with the hardcore, gun-toting action heroes he so often portrays.
"I am totally for gun control in the U.S.," Neeson said in an interview with The Independent. "The population of America is roughly 300 million and there are 300 million guns in this country, which is terrifying."
Neeson criticized the National Rifle Association's response to the 2012 shooting in Newton, Connecticut, which the actor summarized as, "If that teacher had been armed..."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
"It's crazy," Neeson said. "I'll give Britain its dues, when they had the Dunblane massacre in Scotland, within 24 hours the gun laws were changed so you could not have a handgun."
Neeson became an official U.S. citizen five years ago. He says of the Constitution: "It is the right to bear arms which is the problem. I think if the Founding Fathers knew what was happening they would be turning in their graves with embarrassment at how that law has been interpreted."
A free daily email with the day’s biggest news and analysis – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Explore your latest briefing
-
-
talking pointsLivestreaming an execution: cruelty or added deterrent? -
QUOTE OF THE DAY‘You don’t get to take a man from his family. You don’t get to take his very life, his whole future from him, and just walk away from it. Especially when that man is Tupac Shakur.’
-
today’s big questionCan a Democrat win the Texas governor’s race?
-
Explore your latest briefing
-
-
talking pointsLivestreaming an execution: cruelty or added deterrent? -
QUOTE OF THE DAY‘You don’t get to take a man from his family. You don’t get to take his very life, his whole future from him, and just walk away from it. Especially when that man is Tupac Shakur.’
-
today’s big questionCan a Democrat win the Texas governor’s race?
-