W.H. Encourages Americans to Discuss GOP’s ‘Fear’ of NRA at ‘the Thanksgiving Table’
RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
O'DONNELL (voice-over): "On the refugee issue, we have a pullout that say 41 percent of people support the idea of having Syrian, 56 percent in. We have that to the situation on Capitol Hill with her was an overwhelming vote, including 47 Democrats, who wanted to have additional restrictions on the vetting process. Is the president not hearing where the public is on this issue?"
EARNEST: "Kelly, if he pretty strong case about why what Congress it is not what Congress it is not going to do much to improve our national security. It may make them feel better, in terms of making a political argument. That's unfortunate what we're talking about an issue as important as our national security. The fact is, the reason the president continues to support the refugee program is that individuals who enter the united States as a refugee are subjected to more screening, and more vetting than anybody else who enters the United States. Cap to cement to a back on check, they have to submit to an in-person interview, they have biometric and biographical information is collected and then run through a wide range of databases that are maintained by international criminal organizations, international law enforcement organizations. The Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence committee, Department of Defense , and only then are they given the opportunity to enter the United States. Since 2011, when the war in Syria broke out, about 22,000 Syrian individuals were referred to the United States. To determine if they could qualify for if you do status and be admitted to the united States. These are individuals who had already been vetted by the United Nations for consideration in this program. It will more than 2000 of them have been admitted to the united States. As an indication of just how rigorous this process is. And it's why further encumbering the process with even more bureaucracy may be effective as a political -- if you cyclical rhetoric, but it's not going to do anything to improve the national security of the united States. If Congress were actually interested in doing that, they would pass a law that prevents someone from being on the terrorist watch list for buying a gun. That's what Congress should do. As people are sitting around the things giving table -- Thanksgiving table talking about these issues, that's an issue that should be raised. If we're going to have a series discussion about national security, let's talk about the pretty obvious things that Congress could do. One obvious thing that Congress can do is pass a law that prevents someone who is on the terror watch list from being able to buy a weapon. I'm not sure why that's even controversial. I'm not sure why it hasn't been done so far."
