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Bill O’Reilly Calls for Gun Registration on Letterman: ‘Just Like You Have to Register Your Car’

Feb. 12, 2013 11:37am Billy Hallowell

Bill OReilly Calls for Gun Registration, Corrects David Lettermans Automatic Gun Comments

Bill O’Reilly (left) and David Letterman (right) (Photo Credit: CBS)

On Monday night, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” where he defended the U.S. government’s use of drones and answered David Letterman’s questions about gun control. During the exchange, O’Reilly called for gun crimes to be “federalized” while also laying out a proposal on gun registration.

Other subjects that the two men covered included the film “Zero Dark Thirty” and the new Esquire article that documents the purported life struggles of the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden.

But while the appearance covered a variety of topics, O’Reilly’s proposal for guns were some of the most interesting. Here’s a transcript of his comments:

“Here’s what you do with guns…you federalize all gun crimes, number one. You take it out of the local jurisdiction and state and you federalize it, right? So therefore if you’re caught in a gun crime holding up a 7-11, you get a mandatory 10 years if you’re convicted in a federal pen, on top of whatever Slurpee you stole.” [...]

The second thing you do is, if you buy a gun, you have to register the gun — just like you have to register your car, alright. Now, people say ‘Oh, slippery slope, they’re gonna come–. Hey, this makes it easier for the government to take a thug who has a gun that’s not registered and put him in jail for 10 years.”

Later in the interview, Letterman expressed some confusion surrounding the difference between automatic and semi-automatic weapons. After the host asked why people need automatic guns, O’Reilly corrected him, noting that these firearms are illegal (although he didn’t get into the nuance of acquiring permits for them).

“What about the … automatic weapons. I still don’t understand the need for an automatic weapon,” Letterman said. “I’m not against guns, but I don’t get the automatic weapons.”

O’Reilly tackled by trying to explain the difference between automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

Watch the relevant part of the exchange, below (and see a longer portion of the interview here):

(H/T: Mediaite)

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Comments (356)

Chuck T
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:15pm
As a former teacher one would think Bill would know that if a “right” needs to be registered it really isn’t a right at all, it’s merely a privilege granted by a capricious government that can choose to revoke it at any time, for any or no reason. Perhaps he should refrain from trying to teach people like Letterman about a topic he evidently doesn’t know very well himself.

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BlackCrow
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:14pm
Operating a vehicle on a public road is a privilege and therefor subject to licensing (permission) & registration (taxation).

To keep and bear arms is a right and as a right there needs to be an overriding reason to rescind that right on an individual reactive reason not a general preemptive reason.

If Bill O’Reilly is what passes for a “conservative” in the north east then the United States is well and truly over. I cannot accept this line of bunk as conservative nor do I think for a second that compromise can be reached with the likes of O’Reilly and armed conflict with libs is inevitable.

SECEDE!

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:33pm
  Actually, I’ll go one step more radical than you. Driving on the road is not a privilege. Driving is a form of travel, and free egress and travel is germane to the notion of liberty. Put another way, nobody had to get a license to ride a horse and plenty of people were run down by horses back in the day, and the founders would have rankled at the very suggestion that the government gets to license the means you choose to get around in the land.
  
  Freedom means NO LICENSE, no registration, no permission, as long as you are acting peacefully and respecting the rights of others to do as they wish. Something many have forgotten.
  
  Report this comment
Seagal45
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:14pm
I have been done with O’Reilly for a long time; this one makes me wonder if he has early dementia. What a maroon!!!

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EQUALIZER
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:14pm
Oreilly is the biggest government plant you have ever seen. Notice how he always seems to avoid the biggest news story of the day if it is against Obama.

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RaydocX
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:07pm
O’Reilly is falling into the Prog trap…
Background Checks and provision of ID are NOT a national registration.
in point of fact, many maunfacturers CAN trace back a firearm through the test casing they fire (it’s why some specifically include the casing to prevent that concern).

I am repeatedly amused, the same Left that won’t demand voter ID universally now wants to have a universal firearm registry.

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love the kids
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:06pm
Sure Bill, cars never kill anyone because they are registered.

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SUNTZU
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:06pm
SORRY Bigasss
Driving is a privilege.
Defense IS a RIGHT
Remember Billy boy was
a school teacher.
Dont get my wrong
some know right from left,just takes
some longer to get over it.

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Derek01
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:05pm
I used to watch him. Slowly began switching channels because he’s become more and more of a liberal @$$. Now I’m done. Register that OReilly

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rolex1965
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:04pm
DO#@H BAG…How about ILLEGAL aliens….I guess they don’t have to register…..

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term limits for congress
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:03pm
Registering guns is racist. The thugs can’t be bothered to show ID to vote (that’s racist), so surely they’re not expected to register their guns. Maybe there will be exemptions… government officials, union members, thugs, etc.

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Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:02pm
First, Bill O’Reilly absolutely refuses to call what even a blind man can see, that Obama is a communist. And now this… Shame on you, Bill, you should know better.

Requiring a mandatory federal registration of all guns only opens the door to future confiscation of said guns by identifying who the law-abiding gun owners are. Remember, the 2nd Amendment serves the God-given right of WE THE PEOPLE to defend ourselves against any who illegally intrude in our homes, or those who wish to cause us bodily harm, up to and including our government who, these days, is for anything but WE THE PEOPLE. Rethink your position, Bill, you got this one WAY wrong.

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- Beachmastermax
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:11pm
  Ask Bill to “Think”? Right.
  
  Report this comment
THe_Chemist
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:02pm
Ok Bill’s doing an interview on Letterman.. need I say more? O’Reilly is a RINO, just like Chris Christie…

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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:02pm
The Progressives are coming out of the shadows now. I think it’s great, because it enables us to see them in the light of day and makes it easier to identify and defeat them. Fox News Corp. is a member too.

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ZAP
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:02pm
I’m a criminal and i’m not going to register my stolen guns,so there

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Joe_The_Patriot
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:01pm
Bill has become a self righteous Dlck Head… He knows NONTHING about guns but is all to quick to give his opinions of what should be done… It’s obvious to me that he supports big gov’t and is now part of the problem…. I’m done with the factor… **** HIM

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lynda1276
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:00pm
So sad to see Bill O’Reilly join the dark side…….

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huey6367
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:59am
Bill!!! Are you crazy???? Registration leads to confiscation. Read this:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/11/canadian-news-anchor-issues-ominous-warning-to-america-registration-will-lead-to-confiscation/

I can’t stand watching him anymore because of comments like this.

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- Small World
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:30pm
  Amen. Don’t ask don’t tell.
  
  Report this comment
UNALIEN
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:59am
O’Reilly is a pinhead

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Slave
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:59am
I wouldn’t call the poor fool a commie, just a poor fool. He and like minded slaves have gone through an extremely rigorous and successful installation of a delusional philosophy. One that elevates their self perception to the point of levitation while simultaneously placing the lesser uneducated slaves in the sty.
His inability to recognize this should bring pitty, even if it comes with a chuckle.

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lel2007
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:58am
I don’t register my car with the federal government, and there’s absolutely no good reason a gun should be registered with the federal government or state government.
O’reilly’s a conceitedass.

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Case3ops
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:57am
Another wealthy elitist that can afford personal security dictating how my family and I should be restrained and restricted on our personal defense.

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RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:56am
As Glenn has pointed out a number of times. Bill, like so many others simply live and grew up where there were so few to next to no guns. He is not familiar with the need for such a tool that is guaranteed by the Bill Of Rights for the rest of us. He has professional protection which the average citizen can in no away afford. So, how have all of these gun bans worked so far for Chicago, NYC, Washington DC? They have disarmed the law abiding citizens and have obviously emboldened the criminal element.

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Beachmastermax
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:56am
Registration implies permission. Once you ask permission you have given up the right. This is a concept way over Bills head. He has never understood the constitution or the meaning of Rights.

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- Beachmastermax
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:03pm
  You know the guy that accompanies you into a bar and runs his mouth and causes a hassle? When the fight breaks out, you look behind you and all you see is him making tracks out the door?
  
  That is B.O.
  
  Report this comment
Cavallo
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:56am
Anyone that still watches him or gives him an ounce of credit is a fool or a fascist. He just wants to be like the rest of the insiders and be able to get away with sexual assault. Still won’t answer questions about that, huh Bill?

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My Two Cents
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:54am
I have no tolerance for pompous asses. Hence, I do not watch either one of these guys.

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