Comedian Jon Stewart has effortlessly shut down a Republican lawmaker’s anti-drag argument.
On a recent episode of The Problem with Jon Stewart, the political commentator sat down with Oklahoma State Sen Nathan Dahm to discuss the latter’s pro-gun stance.
At the start of their discussion, the Republican lawmaker expressed his belief that the solution to combat gun violence in the United States was to bring in more guns.
Throughout his political career, Dahm has introduced bills easing gun restrictions – including the US’s first “anti-red flag” legislation.
Under the bill, police are prohibited from seizing guns from people who might be a threat to hurting others or themselves.
“So when we got 400 million guns in the country, we had an increase and gun deaths went up. So when exactly does this curve hit that takes it down?” Stewart countered.
In response, Dahm said that the focus needs to be put on the “individual” – which resulted in Stewart reminding him that he removed the ability to focus on the “individual”.
After Dahm said that gun laws violate a person’s “right to bear arms,” Stewart highlighted the lawmaker’s other political stances that limit a person’s rights – like his support of banning drag shows.
“In every place in your life, you want to bring order, but guns are the outlier for you?” Stewart asked.
“You want to ban drag show readings to children, why? What are you protecting? Is that free speech? Are you infringing on that performer’s free speech?”
The Oklahoma State Senate member responded: “They can continue to exercise their free speech. Just not in front of a child.”
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After Dahm added that it was the government’s “responsibility” to protect children “in certain instances,” Stewart cut him off by asking what the leading cause of death was for children in the US.
“I’m going to give you a hint. It’s not drag show readings to children,” the comedian added.
“I’m presuming you’re gonna say it’s firearms,” Dahm replied, which resulted in Stewart eviscerating the lawmaker for his hypocrisy.
“No, I’m not going to say it like it’s an opinion. That’s what it is. It’s firearms. More than cancer, more than car accidents,” Stewart explained.
“And what you’re telling me is you don’t mind infringing free speech to protect children from this amorphous thing that you think of.
“But when it comes to children that have died, you don’t give a flying f**k to stop that because that shall now be infringed. That is hypocrisy at its highest order.”
Shortly after the clip’s release, LGBTQ+ gun control activists flocked to social media to praise Stewart for his powerful statements.
One person wrote: “I just watched this on my TV, and I had to get my phone out to comment, thank you, Jon Stewart! This is the best interview I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen thousands. My heart and soul needed this.”
Another person tweeted: “The way he gathered this man so effortlessly.”
Watch the full interview clip here or below.
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