Samantha Bee is angry and remarkable in this week’s segment of Full Frontal. In addressing the Orlando shooting, she takes an approach not many would take, and goes down a road not many would dare.
Hi, I’m Samantha Bee,
Welcome to Full Frontal. Here we are.
Now after a massacre the standard operating procedure is that you get up onstage and deliver some well-meaning words about how we will get through this together, how love wins, how love conquers hate, but that is great, that is beautiful, but you know what? Fuck it! I am too angry for that. Love does not win until we start loving each other enough to fix our fucking problems.
She shows a clip of Democratic Senator Christopher Murphy of Connecticut stating that there were 370 instances last year, in which more than four people were shot. Four or more people being shot is considered a mass shooting — a massacre. Thus, in 2015, America averaged one massacre per day that year.
Bee talks about the existing reports that said the Orlando gunman beat his ex-wife, was reported multiple times to his employer for being “homophobic and unhinged,” and even the FBI questioned him twice for ties to terrorism. None of these things disqualified him from legally buying an assault weapon. She then quotes President Obama from a town hall meeting less than two weeks ago:
I’ve got people who we know have been on ISIL websites, living here in the United States — US citizens — and we’re allowed to be put them on the “No Fly” List when it comes to airlines, but because of the National Rifle Association (NRA) I cannot prohibit those people from buying a gun. -President Obama
Bee shows a clip of Florida Senator Marco Rubio saying the shooting could have happened anywhere in the world and “unfortunately, this was Orlando’s turn.” Bee goes nuts.
“Orlando’s turn? Mass shootings are so normalized that now we’re taking turns? As far as anywhere in the world? Not quite, Sparky!
Australia had five mass shootings from 1987 to 1996.”
She says the Australian public decided it had had enough, and Parliament passed gun laws. They haven’t had a mass shooting since. How do they do that? She mentions Australia doesn’t have a Second Amendment allowing the public the right to bear arms/weapons. She adds, now we can’t even get semiautomatic assault weapons out of the hands of civilians. Bee says, these “penis replacements” are not good for hunting or home protection — but perfect for massacres. And they can be bought in Florida with NO WAITNG PERIOD. She goes on to show Florida Governor Rick Scott dodging questions about the gun violence. CNN corners him on the phone later and and when asked what’s the biggest thing we can all do to help, Scott says,
“The biggest thing we can do is pray. Pray for the families, pray that it never happens again.” -Florida Gov. Rick Scott (on what we can do to help stop mass shootings)
… Bee just about loses her mind. Pray? With each mass shooting we pray and yes they keep happening. She suggests paying attention to one particular Bible passage:
This also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. -James 2:13
“Oh, shit,” Bee says. “We were supposed to do something when we prayed?” She reminds the audience that Rick Scott actually has done something — he’s passed bill after bill loosening gun laws.
In conclusion, Samantha Bee has a prayer to God of her own… and it makes way more sense…
This is probably the most powerful Samantha Bee segment I’ve ever seen. Cheers to her for going up against the NRA and speaking out for gun violence with her well-known and loved ‘no bullshit’ approach. More, Bee, please.