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‘The Second Amendment Shall Not Be Infringed!’: Sandy Hook Victim’s Father Interrupted During Public Hearing

Jan. 29, 2013 8:48am Billy Hallowell

UPDATE: The folks over at Twitchy point out that MSNBC selectively edited their clip to advance the idea that the father was “heckled.” Read our complete breakdown of the evidence in our follow-up story here.

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Some of the parents who testified about gun control before a subcommittee of the Connecticut Legislature on Monday called for stricter laws and improvements in mental health care. While Mark Mattioli, whose 6-year-old son James was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School attack, instead, focused upon personal responsibility and a call to civility, other parents mentioned cracking down on so-called assault rifles. Among them was Neil Heslin, a father whose child, Jesse, also perished during the rampage. As he was making his case against assault weapons, he was interrupted by alleged gun rights advocates who were a part of the audience.

Right after Heslin made the point that citizens do not need access to “these assault-style weapons or military weapons,” a man in the audience spoke out fervently against the father’s appeals.

“The Second Amendment shall not be infringed,” he uttered in response to Heslin’s seemingly-rhetorical question:

The Daily Mail has a recap of how the incident unfolded, with a hand-full of individuals purportedly joining the man in voicing their angst over the issue:

He said: ‘It’s not a good feeling. Not a good feeling to look at your child laying in a casket or looking at your child with a bullet wound to the forehead. It’s a real sad thing,’ said Heslin, who held up a large framed photograph of himself and his son.

A handful of people at the packed legislative hearing then shouted about their Second Amendment rights when Heslin asked if anyone could provide a reason for a civilian to own an assault-style weapon.

‘We’re all entitled to our own opinions and I respect their opinions and their thoughts,’ Heslin said. ‘But I wish they’d respect mine and give it a little bit of thought.’

Watch a portion of the incident at the start of the MSNBC clip, below (UPDATE: however, as Twitchy notes, the network edited out the portion where Heslin asks his rhetorical question):

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Following the incident, MSNBC host Martin Bashir covered the event on his show, deriding those who interrupted (or responded, depending on who you ask) and claiming that the behavior was inexcusable; his guests agreed.

“This, I think, has to be a new low in this debate — the idea that you would desecrate the memory of the victims of Newtown and insult their families,” Democratic strategist Julian Epstein said during the segment (watch it in its entirety, above). “This shows just…how extreme and outrageous the NRA — and I assume the hecklers were NRA moles — how they’ve become.”

But Twitchy took issue with this assessment, writing:

MSNBC is propping up its story with a blatantly edited video. In fact, Heslin was not heckled. Gun rights advocates in the audience indeed voiced their support for the Second Amendment — after he asked why anyone would need “assault-style weapons or high-capacity clips.” You’d never know based on the MSNBC version, which completely cut out the footage of Heslin’s question.

Watch the unedited footage, below:

The audience at the Gun Violence Prevention Working Group hearing in Hartford, Conn., numbered well over 1,000 individuals and featured a wide array of perspectives. From people advocating greater firearms controls to NRA-enthusiasts and gun rights activists, ideological diversity was in no shortage.

What do you think about the incident? It seems Heslin was certainly interrupted (unless he wanted the audience to weigh in), but were the responses hecklers or merely passionate Second Amendment adherents? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that audience members may have been responding to a rhetorical question posed by Heslin.

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Related:

‘The Problem Is Not Gun Laws’: Watch the Emotional Speech by a Sandy Hook Victim’s Dad That Got a Standing Ovation

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (131)

NUKENOVA
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:57am
I am so tired of people using this sad story of a mentally ill man flipping out. Allowing the killing babies at a school to advance an anti-gun plan the liberals have had running for as long as anyone can remember .Didn’t officials find the ar15 was not the weapon used in the killings.This is proof the liberals are out to take away our best defensive weapon against their incursion on our rights. Understand if the Feds have this rifle it’s a “personal defense weapon” if we own one it’s an “assault rifle”,same rifle.Personally I own a defense rifle,how about you?

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Charles Curtis
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:28pm
They prepare to take the weapons with “training exercises” in Houston, Miami, and where ever. . . telling United States Military that they are “authorized” to take weapons from citizens of this nation.
Lies. Truth is a shield that we must employ! U.S. armed services have NO AUTHORIZATION to violate the U.S. Constitution or its amendments that were passed by a vote of two-thirds of state legislatures, Laws, Regulations, and Orders that violate this law of the land are UNLAWFUL ORDERS and must be refused IAW the UCMJ and your Oath to Protect and Defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and _domestic_. We face a chain of command issue that the 2nd Amendment was designed to ‘regulate’. We the American People must be prepared to regulate the elements of our government that are in violation of the Constitution, and protect those elements that defend the constitution from those that would incarcerate or kill them.

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truthspeare
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 8:36am
New tax, new revenue.
Is this what Sandy Hook has come to
44 provides money to schools
Not dedicated to protectors
But to assessors
I have to confess
So worthless

The borders are unsecure
Fast and Furious automatic war weapons
Running loose
Still out there for sure
Still killing Mexican kids
Who except dead would like to play
But US provided weapons
Killed them and with open borders
Mean they will kill ours some day

So the current ban protects not one child
Not with open borders
No way
Taxes, taxes, taxes,
Throw in some political favors
For the teacher’s union to relax

Tax the gun
Tax the ammunition
Tax for registration
Tax for mandated training
Tax for reporting requirements
Heavily fine the slightest era.

My fellow Americans, like allowing Benghazi to die, like photo op’ing superstorm Sandy, like failing to take action to secure the border to protect our children 44 has been consistent. Do not let a good crisis go to waste. With Sandy Hook, he is using the celebration of the lives of the fallen kids and teachers as cover for a tax on the middle class.

If he were serious about our kids, he would take a multlateral approach:

1. Secure the boarders: To ensure nuclear dirty bombs, nuclear weapons, mines, c4 to make IED for our highways and weapons of war do not enter the country such as fully automatic weapons, etc. Imagine of the effects of a dirty bomb set strategically in a city full of elementary schools.

The ploy is f

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washicd
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 4:01am
firstly, it has been shown that there was no intentionally disrespectful ‘heckler’. mr. heslin posed, what the audience thought was a rhetorical question, and later realized that the father wasn’t being rhetorical but rather was actually polling the audience.

and just how long are those who didn’t lose a child at sandy hook supposed to bow their heads in respectful silence while a father of one of the victims testifies one and a half months later at a state legislative hearing on the subject in reference to certain gun control issues? at one point you are a grieving parent and at another point you are advocating a position concerning a God given right. there is a dividing line there. it’s certainly respectful (at least up to a point) to refrain from correcting a grieving parent. once it becomes an encroachment on another persons civil rights, the respectful thing to do is to answer with honest conviction.

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Liberty_27
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 11:59pm
Why isn’t the truth being told I keep hearing even from parents who lost a child in Sandy Hook school that the children were mowed down with an AR15 assault weapon this is false the assassin used 2 hand guns the AR15 was later found by police in the car of the murderer. This info came to me from a police source at least the parents of the murdered children could have a little peace that they were not murdered by an AR15 like the media has been leading everyone in the world to believe lets get Mental Health Help to those who need it not more useless gun laws to add to the 20,000 plus already on the books that no criminal observes or obeys as it is. How about penalties that count like life no parole for murder 10 years no parole just for saying you have a gun in a crime even if you don’t & 20 years if you do with no tv no paper no games just 1 book the Bible to read for that time.

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hades3
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 7:05pm
Why don’t these brave, politicians bring the survivors from the Bengahzi terrorist attack to meet
the public. They could also bring the families of the victims of Fast and Furious, from both Mexico and the U S to tell their stories. But no ! These incidents don’t fit the Marxist profile. The Obama gang does not see these as ” A crisis that should not go too waste!”

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The Third Archon
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 6:46pm
““This shows just…how extreme and outrageous the NRA — and I assume the hecklers were NRA moles — how they’ve become.””
NRA fascists would be more accurate. (note–for those idiots who will construe what I am saying as “ALL members of the NRA are fascists,” that’s NOT what I said, and not what I AM saying; however, many members, and more importantly the policy suggestions coming from the NRA, ARE fascist).

“But Twitchy took issue with this assessment, writing:

MSNBC is propping up its story with a blatantly edited video. In fact, Heslin was not heckled. Gun rights advocates in the audience indeed voiced their support for the Second Amendment — after he asked why anyone would need “assault-style weapons or high-capacity clips.” You’d never know based on the MSNBC version, which completely cut out the footage of Heslin’s question.”
(1) It was a OBVIOUSLY rhetorical question.
(2) They weren’t on the stand to testify, so even if it HADN’T been a rhetorical question it wouldn’t have been their place to answer.
(3) “The Second Amendment” is a descriptive reality–it is not a normative justification for why people NEED semiautomatic rifles, OR an explanation of WHY they are protected by the 2nd. Thus their outburst doesn’t even address or ANSWER the rhetorical question posed.
(4) “Heckling” and being a “passionate 2nd Amendment adherent” are NOT mutually exclusive.
(5) It WAS disrespectful and a breach of the decorum of a legislat

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- The Third Archon
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 6:46pm
  *Legislative hearing.
  
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- Liberty_27
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:05am
  He was not heckled he was given an answer to his question that he posed to the people there. The news cut out the question to make it look like he was heckled that is un American to create false misleading news to the public should be a crime !!!
  
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- Liberty_27
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:13am
  Also this nonsense that everyone is an NRA mole is ridiculous their are more gun owners in America than NRA members firstly I wish their were more the NRA is only 1 of many organizations that promote & teach Gun Safety to children and even to police to knock them is stupid unless we want everyone shooting themselves in the foot ?
  
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Disgusted_in_CT
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 5:46pm
Speaking from CT, I am sorry for the fathers loss.
BUT you are using your loss as a tool to take away our rights and that sir is unexcusable and that is the liberals prime tool.
Notice where the 2nd meeting is going to be held, right in Newtown.
Can you say gun control agenda.
I for one well never comply with the state, I well become a outlaw and hey at that point I guess it well be time to take care of business any way possible since I am a outlaw.
You want to make outlaws of people who have been law abiding all their lives then your going to pay the price.
At that point the time for talking is done and action needs to be taken.
Give liberals a inch and compromise they take a mile and refuse to compromise.
NO MORE.

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- The Third Archon
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 6:54pm
  Your fantasy of an American revolution style resistance WILL get you killed should you naively act on the belief that an insurrection of irregulars composed of only the extremely reactionary minority (a sizable portion of the American Right, granted, but still a minority even in that group which is merely a plurality) of the American Right can successfully forcefully resist the modern American professional military, let ALONE actually prevail OVER them to enforce your idea of “appropriate” law on the rest of the country.
  
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Tom
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 4:03pm
There was NO HECKLING its just another left wing lie. The crowd was ridiculously respectful as this guy droned on about his opinions. Not one word was spoken by the crowd until he asked a general question to the forum. That is when a few people responded .WATCH THE WHOLE VIDEO for the TRUTH.

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- The Third Archon
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 6:58pm
  So…what you are saying is “rhetoric” is something we need to add to the list of things beyond the understanding of conservatives–along with “etiquette,” “the rules of legislative decorum,” and “red herrings.”
  
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- washicd
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 4:14am
  wow, archon, i read tom’s comment and didn’t draw that conclusion at all. your response seems rhetorical while lacking the etiquette you seen to expect.
  
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Endstatism
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:52pm
I wonder if Heslin would be in support of depriving children of their mom and dads. Because that is what will happen if they ban so called “assault weapons” because many gun owners have made it known that they will not register or turn in banned firearms. A large percentage of gun owners in America have families.

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@leftfighter
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:26pm
Mr Heslin, sir, as the parent of children the same age as the one you lost, I first & foremost want to extend the condolences of myself & my family to you & yours. I cannot imagine the pain or loss that you’re feeling.

That said, the weapon was merely a tool used by the nut job who murdered your child. If you take away that tool, another would be used. What gun was used by McVeigh or by any of the dozens of other attempted bombers of the past several years?

The fact that your child is dead is a tragedy beyond words, but it is not rational to ban a tool because has been used to murder people. All that will do is make them move to another tool.

Do you know who Rodrick Dantzler is? If not, do you think it may be because he used a car? If banning machines were rational, you’d have to ban them next.

Let’s assume Diane Feinstein’s stats are correct & that 350 people have been killed people using “assault-style” guns (a rediculous term, since any weapon used in an assault is by definition an assault weapon) in the 10 years since the weapons ban was lifted. By proposing a return to the gun ban, you’re proposing that preventing the actions of five insane people per year trump the rights of 300 million law biding Americans.

Five. Out of 300 million.

I bring you back to rationality, sir. I understand you’re hurting, but the insanity ruling your life right now should not be used as a tool to infringe upon the rights of even one law biding American.

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- Endstatism
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:55pm
  I may also point out that the Columbine shooters constructed bombs using propane tanks commonly used for barbeque grills. Fortunately they didnt detonate or else there would have been far more people killed. You didnt hear calls to ban propane tanks.
  
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beefrank
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:17pm
What do you expect after Obama and the Democrats have been demonizing gun owners and 2nd Amendment supporters as soon as the first T.V. images from Sandy Hook were shown? This hearing should not have been scheduled because nothing will come from it. It was only a show.

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thewhiteright
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:56pm
The intent of the 2nd Amendment is to assure the individual citizens right to maintain sufficient armament to guarantee the advantage of liberty and validate separation from any government action that would impose infringement against the liberties of the individual citizen. The individual citizen is the sole possessor of this right and has immunity from any government attempt to restrict.

To subvert the 2nd Amendment is in violation of the sworn oath of the elected official and treason against this country and the individual citizen.

Are these signs of a Tyrant? Powers to:
Intercept and store all of our online internet and telephone communications.
“No free speech zones” You can be charged with a felony and serve a year in prison,
Stock pile billions of rounds of hollow point ammunition. (hollow point ammunition is illegal in war)
Assassinate U.S. citizens without trial at home and abroad.
Declare state of emergency free from review from Congress for six months.
Seize and control communication media.
Seize and control of all modes of transportation, aircraft, trains, highways, seaports.
Seize and control electric, gas, fuels.
Mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
Relocate and establish new locations for populations.
The last item to accomplish is: The disarmament of the citizen.

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- The Third Archon
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 7:06pm
  “The intent of the 2nd Amendment is to assure the individual citizens right to maintain sufficient armament to guarantee the advantage of liberty and validate separation from any government action that would impose infringement against the liberties of the individual citizen.”
  For the sake of argument, let’s just assume that interpretation of the Second Amendment is “correct” and should be/is controlling as a matter of law. Given that, taking away ALL guns, or granting rights to every individual to have ANY gun, is irrelevant in either case with respect to the law–that is because no matter WHAT small arms are accessible to individual American citizens, in the world of TODAY where the American professional military has become what it is, NO amount of small arms of ANY kind in the hands of disconnected irregulars will EVER make any difference to whether or not an effective resistance can be mounted against a particular government action (the ostensible purpose, according to your interpretation, of the 2nd Amendment). Therefore, any legislation on small arms is irrelevant because the 2nd Amendment is irrelevant under your interpretation, since due to intervening changes since its adoption its proscriptions CANNOT fulfill its purposes.
  
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LivingInGodsGrace
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:45pm
I don’t find much “journalism” in Billy Hallowell’s articles.

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LivingInGodsGrace
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:43pm
“I ask if there’s anybody in this room that can give me one reason or challenge this question … why anybody in this room needs to have one of these assault-style weapons or military weapons or high-capacity clips. [Pause, waiting for response.] Not one person can answer that question.”

Audience members: ”[Unintelligible] Second Amendment shall not be infringed”

Public official: “Please no comments while Mr. Heslin is speaking. Or we’ll clear the room. Mr. Heslin please continue.”

Heslin waited for a response. And when he got that response, it wasn’t Heslin who registered outrage — it was the media.

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LivingInGodsGrace
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:40pm
Saw it, read the transcript. The father ASKED a question, waited for an answer. One person answered. There was NO heckling! Blaze, PLEASE correct your headline. You are adding to the problem. Remember Australia!!!
“a lie is halfway ’round the world before truth puts it’s shoes on…”

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- LivingInGodsGrace
  Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:47pm
  Seriously, using the blatantly edited video from MSNBC?! Shoddy journalism as usual from Billy H. I think he spends too much time with his cute baby and not enough time “researching”
  
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PlanetReality
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:30pm
Occupy wall steet how much did that democratic mess cost the taxpayer??????
Enough said!!
Moles or americans fighting for their ammendment rights!!!

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ROBIN_SAGE
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:08pm
So the First Amendment applies to a rhetoric spouting, emotionally unstable, completely illogical, grieving father but not the rest of the crowd? The fact that YOUR side is happy to exploit people who are still in Shock for their own agenda speaks volumes of who really has “character”…

This man DESERVED to be put in his place, because contrary to what your ‘No Child Left Behind’ education fed you, there are things called “FACTS” and they separate RIGHT from WRONG–he is WRONG and needs to be corrected…period

Damn Skippy!!!!!

Molon Labe!!!!!!!!!!!!! RS

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GoliathsDavid
Posted on January 29, 2013 at 2:05pm
Problem is, folks, that an assault weapon was not used and it has been confirmed over and over again, that the AR was NOT used in this massacre. This is false testimony being given by this victim’s father. Are we, as a people going to accept partial truths, incorrect information and lies as fact? If we are then we have passed from the realm of reality into some sort of parallel universe based on fiction novels. When fiction becomes the basis for reality, then God help us all.”

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