Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel explain why it's not too soon to talk about tightening gun laws
The federal government's response to the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in Las Vegas, "has been fine, it's been pro forma," Stephen Colbert said on Tuesday's Late Show, though he had a beef with White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying that now isn't the time to discuss tightening gun laws. "Where have I heard that before?" he asked, playing a compilation-clip answer. "They always say that a gun tragedy is never the right time to talk about stopping the next gun tragedy. It's like your alcoholic uncle wrapping his car around a tree and getting out, saying, 'Today's not the day to talk about my drinking, okay? I'm still drunk right now. ... Who wants to go for a drive?'"
House Republicans aren't doing nothing, though. They're planning to vote on a bill to legalize silencers, Colbert said, "because that's the problem with gun violence: It's the noise."
On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel said he had nothing much to add to his thoughts on Monday night, but did want to address "these nuts who spent most of the day today on television and online attacking those of us who think we need to do something about the fact that 59 innocent people were killed" and "almost anyone can get any weapon they want." He suggested they don't want to talk about it because they are partly culpable, then said: "It's not too soon for us, because we're Americans, and last time I checked, the First Amendment is at least as important as the Second Amendment, so we will talk about it, and shame on you for suggesting we do otherwise." Peter Weber
Subscribe to 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
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
North Carolina Supreme Court risks undermining its legitimacy
Under the radar A contentious legal battle over whether to seat one of its own members threatens not only the future of the court's ideological balance, but its role in the public sphere
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Codeword: January 14, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: January 14, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published