Jimmy Kimmel tears up during emotional plea for stricter gun laws
- TV Show
Just like with the debate over health care, the shootings in Las Vegas hit home for Jimmy Kimmel.
On Monday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host delivered a touching and emotional monologue about Sunday night’s mass shooting in his hometown that left 59 dead and more than 500 others injured. “Here we are again in the aftermath of another terrible, inexplicable, shocking, and painful tragedy, this time in Las Vegas, which happens to be my hometown,” he opened, immediately holding back tears. “It’s the kind of thing that makes you want to throw up or give up. It’s too much to even process, all of these devastated families who now have to live with this pain forever.”
He continued, “Why is that allowed? I don’t know why our so-called leaders continue to allow this to happen. Or maybe better question: why do we continue to allow them to let it happen?”
In response to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ opinion that this isn’t the time for a debate over gun control, Kimmel responded, “I don’t know, we have 59 innocent people dead, it wasn’t their time either, so I think now is the time for political debate.” He further criticized President Trump and politicians, who in February, made it easier for those suffering from mental illness to buy guns. Kimmel rejected the “thoughts and prayers” of such lawmakers, saying, “They should be praying. They should be praying for God to forgive them for letting the gun lobby run this country.”
His stance comes after he was a crucial voice in the battle against the most recent attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare. The comedian, whose infant son has dealt with major health issues, delivered a number of powerful pleas to reject the bill, which recently folded.
“I want this to be a comedy show, I hate talking about stuff like this,” Kimmel continued on Monday. “I just want to laugh about things every night, but it seems to be becoming increasingly difficult lately. It feels like someone has opened a window into hell. What I’m talking about tonight isn’t about gun control — it’s about common sense. Common sense says no good will ever come from allowing a person to have weapons that can take down 527 Americans at a concert.”
He added, “Something needs to be done already. Tell your Congress people to do something. It’s not enough to send your love and prayers.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC. Watch the clip above.