CNN's Chris Cuomo is hilariously confused during a Virginia Republican's argument against background checks


CNN's Chris Cuomo was having the hardest time Monday wrapping his head around why anyone would be opposed to universal background checks for gun purchases — and his guest on Monday's New Day, Rep. Scott Taylor (R-Va.), wasn't exactly helping. "If you want to sell your gun to your son, or give it to your son, how do you actually enforce [background checks]?" Taylor asked Cuomo.
"You have to do paperwork," Cuomo answered, looking nonplussed. "You have to say, Here's who bought it, here's who the guy is, here's who's going to get it, and have it processed." To put it simply, Cuomo said: "If I sell a boat to you, to my son, there's paperwork, right? You've got to put through paperwork. Why not put through paperwork on any sale when it comes to a gun?"
"I do not think you're going to be able to enforce that," insisted Taylor.
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.
Cuomo continued to be completely lost by that argument: "Why would you only have certain sales affected by background checks? I don't get why that's a good thing. You said, 'Well, it's hard to enforce.' That's not a standard of whether or not to put a law in place. You put a law in place and figure out how to enforce it."
Taylor again insisted that he doesn't support universal background checks while failing to offer any reason why, despite Cuomo's pressing. When Taylor tried to pivot the debate to Cuomo's "support" of the policy, Cuomo quipped: "I don't support anything except you answering my question, my friend." Watch the whole debate below. Jeva Lange
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
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Book reviews: ‘Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America’ and ‘How to End a Story: Collected Diaries, 1978–1998’
Feature A political ‘witch hunt’ and Helen Garner’s journal entries
By The Week US Published
-
The backlash against ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli filter
The Explainer The studio's charming style has become part of a nebulous social media trend
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
WHCA rejects White House press seating grab
Speed Read The White House Correspondents' Association objected to the Trump administration's bid to control where journalists sit during press briefings
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sends more migrants to El Salvador jail
Speed Read Another 17 Venezuelan alleged gang members have been deported to a notorious prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published