Talk show host Piers Morgan has vowed to continue lobbying for
gun control in the US in the wake of a campaign to have him
deported.
More than 60,000 people have signed a petition they posted on the
White House website demanding the CNN talk show host be ejected from
the States over comments he made on air about gun control.
However, the former Daily Mirror editor has spoken out again
after two US volunteer firefighters were shot dead and two more
injured as they arrived to tackle a fire in what police say was an
"apparent trap" as they responded to an emergency call in the town
of Webster in New York state on Monday morning.
Morgan last week created controversy when he lambasted pro-gun
guests on his show, after the shooting on December 14 at Sandy Hook
Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 26
people, including 20 children.
Morgan, 47, a former Daily Mirror newspaper editor, responded to
his critics again on Twitter. He Tweeted about the shooting of the
firefighters on Monday in New York - in which the gunman also killed
himself: "I don't care about a petition to deport me. I do care
about poor NY firefighters murdered/injured with an assault weapon
today. #GunControlNow."
He repeated his past calls for the United States to ban assault
weapons and high-capacity magazines and conduct background checks on
all gun purchases.
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who has been involved in a
long-running feud with Morgan, tweeted: "Americans. Was the second
amendment not introduced to protect you from the tyranny of the
British? Piers Morgan in other words." And: "Perhaps we should start
a petition to keep Piers Morgan in America! #dontsendpiersback"
Five days after the Connecticut massacre, Morgan called a guest
on the show, Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners for
America, an "idiot" and a "dangerous and unbelievably stupid man"
when Mr Pratt argued more guns were needed to combat crime in the
United States.
The petition demanded: "We demand Mr Morgan be deported
immediately for his effort to undermine the Bill of Rights and for
exploiting his position as a national network television host to
stage attacks against the rights of American citizens."
The petition, started a week after the killings by a man
identified as "Kurt N" from Austin, Texas, accuses Morgan of
subverting the second amendment of the US Constitution, which
guarantees the right to bear arms.
US citizens can file a petition on the White House website if
they collect at least 25,000 signatures within 30 days. The White
House is then obliged to issue a response.
Christa Robinson, a CNN spokeswoman, said the network had no
immediate comment on the petition.
Publicist Howard Bragman, vice-chairman of Reputation.com, said
the controversy will get Morgan attention that may translate into
higher ratings and wouldn't harm his reputation.
He said: "A lot of it comes from his being British, he's seen the
differences between the US and UK, he's passionate and authentic in
taking this issue on, and it's probably only going to help him
attract more people to his show."
