Conan O’Brien took an admittedly uncharacteristically serious turn during the taping of the Monday night episode of TBS’ Conan, proffering his opinion on the availability of semi-automatic assault rifles like the one used in Sunday morning’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead and dozens more injured.
“I have really tried very hard over the years not to bore you with what I think,” OBrien started. “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 semi-automatic assault rifle. These are weapons of war, and they have no place in civilian life.”
He continued, “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.”
Omar Saddiqui Mateen, 29, opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle that he legally purchased in the last 10 days from a gun store near his Fort Pierce, Fla. home.
Noting that mourning the victims of mass shootings — many of which are committed using AR-15s and guns like them — is “becoming a national ritual,” O’Brien said in conclusion, “It’s time to grow up and figure this out.”
What do you of O’Brien’s stance on semi-automatic assault rifles?
