Fauci says gun control IS a public health issue because the number of mass shootings in last month is 'horrifying' - but still refuses to address the potential health crisis at the border
Dr Anthony Fauci has weighed in on gun control and says he believes it is a 'public health issue' after a 'horrifying' number of mass shootings in the last month, but he still didn't address the potential health crisis at the border.
'Myself, as a public health person, I think you can't run away from that,' Fauci said when asked about gun violence during an appearance on CNN with Dana Bash.
'When you see people getting killed, I mean, in this last month, it's just been horrifying what's happened. How can you say that's not a public health issue?'
He made the comments amid mounting pressure from the Biden administration and Democrats for sweeping gun control legislation.
It follows a series of mass shootings in the US over the past month.
Dr Fauci has weighed in on gun control and says he believes it is a 'public health issue'. 'Myself, as a public health person, I think you can't run away from that,' Fauci said when asked about gun violence during an appearance on CNN with Dana Bash
Fauci, as the face of the COVID response since the Trump administration, has rarely spoken up about other policy issues.
Last Friday, in a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, President Biden slammed the use of assault rifles and called for their ban.
'There’s no reason someone needs a weapon of war with 100 rounds, 100 bullets, that can be fired from that weapon, Nobody needs that.
'I strongly, strongly urge my Republican friends in the Congress who refuse to bring up the House-passed bill to bring it up now.
'Who in God’s name needs a weapon that can hold 100 rounds, or 40 rounds or 20 rounds. It’s just wrong, and I’m not going to give up until it’s done.'
Republicans are mainly united on gun control and have blocked attempts at legislation.
Last week Biden also criticized having to lower White House flags to half-staff 'again' after a gunman killed eight people at an Indianapolis FedEx plant.
Meanwhile, Fauci has been blasted for refusing to speak out about the migrant crisis at the southern border.
Earlier this month, South Carolina Sen Lindsey Graham claimed that the thousands of new arrivals present a health risk to Americans amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Graham made the claim after the infectious diseases expert - who serves as Biden's chief medical advisor - criticized some southern states for completely reopening.
'Paging Dr. Fauci: You need to go to the southern border and witness in person the biggest super spreader event in the nation – President @JoeBiden's immigration policies,' Graham tartly tweeted.
'Thousands of migrants from Central America are coming into the country with a 10 percent COVID-positive rate. They have 900 people staying in a room built for 80 – overcrowded by more 1,000 percent'.
Graham continued in a separate tweet: 'Migrants in these facilities are intermingled and on top of each other. After being around COVID-positives, they are dumped off in Texas and taken to other parts of the country furthering the spread.'
He then directly told he doctor: 'If you are worried about the spread of COVID, you should be gravely concerned about what is happening at our southern border. There is no end in sight on this super-spreader event until these policies are changed.'
'When you see people getting killed, I mean, in this last month, it's just been horrifying what's happened. How can you say that's not a public health issue?' He made the comments amid mounting pressure from the Biden administration and Democrats for sweeping gun control legislation
He made the comments amid mounting pressure from the Biden administration and Democrats for sweeping gun control legislation. It follows a series of mass shootings in the US over the past month.
Fauci has not spoken out about the crisis at the border, despite strongly critiquing Republican governors who have lifted restrictions in Texas and Mississippi.
Just last week other House Republicans complained to Fauci for not letting Americans eat at restaurants, while charging that COVID-positive migrants are being released into the country - and people's liberties are being lost.
Fauci was chided by Reps Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan as he testified alongside Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky on Thursday before the House Select subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
'We had 15 days to slow the spread turned into one year of lost liberty,' Jordan said. 'What metrics, what measures, what has to happen before Americans get their freedoms back?'
'COVID-positive migrants are released into the country, and that's allowed - but a vaccinated person can't go to a restaurant?' Scalise said. 'Kids packed in crowded, poorly ventilated cells six inches, not six feet, apart for 20 hour a day or more - but we can't open schools for in-person learning?'
Fauci answered Scalise's questions more delicately, while pushing back on Jordan's assertions.
'No doubt it's a very difficult situation at the border,' Fauci told Scalise.
'I mean obviously everyone would like to see that situation fixed, I know that it's a very difficult situation,' he added after the Louisiana Republican asked if migrants in custody should be following COVID-19 social distancing protocols.
To Jordan's question about when Americans would have their 'freedoms' restored, Fauci explained that the level of infection in the country would need to be much lower.
'You're indicating liberty and freedom I look at it as a public health measure to prevent people from dying and going to the hospital,' Fauci also said. 'I don't look at this as a liberty thing, Congressman Jordan, I look at this as a public health thing.'
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