White House addresses petition to deport Piers Morgan

White House addresses petition to deport Piers Morgan

whitehouse.gov

President Obama responded to a "We the People" petition regarding gun violence in a video released by the White House.

A petition created by pro-gun activists to kick British-born CNN host Piers Morgan out of the country got the attention of a very important voice Wednesday: the White House.

In an “official White House response” to the petition to “Deport British Citizen Piers Morgan for Attacking the 2nd Amendment,” White House press secretary Jay Carney stressed the importance of protecting freedom of speech, even for those criticizing the right to bear arms.

“Let’s not let arguments over the Constitution’s Second Amendment violate the spirit of its First,” Carney wrote.

WATCH: NUTTY GUN ADVOCATE PROMISES 1776-STYLE REVOLUTION IF GUN BAN GOES INTO EFFECT ON CNN BROADCAST

“President Obama believes that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. However, the Constitution not only guarantees an individual right to bear arms, but also enshrines the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press -- fundamental principles that are essential to our democracy. Americans may disagree on matters of public policy and express those disagreements vigorously, but no one should be punished by the government simply because he or she expressed a view on the Second Amendment -- or any other matter of public concern.”

Carney went on to explain that the “vast majority” of gun owners in the U.S. are responsible.

“They buy their guns legally and they use them safely, whether for hunting or sport shooting, collection or protection,” he said. “But you know what, I am also betting that the majority -- the vast majority -- of responsible, law-abiding gun owners would be some of the first to say that we should be able to keep an irresponsible, law-breaking few from buying a weapon of war. I'm willing to bet that they don't think that using a gun and using common sense are incompatible ideas ... that if we work harder to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, there would be fewer atrocities like the one in Newtown.”

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PRO-GUN ACTIVISTS SIGN PETITION CALLING FOR PIERS MORGAN'S DEPORTATION OVER GUN CONTROL ADVOCACY

The original petition to deport Morgan, started Dec. 21 on the White House petition website, accused the outspoken TV host of waging a “hostile attack against the U.S. Constitution by targeting the Second Amendment” and demanded he be deported immediately for "exploiting his position as a national network television host to stage attacks against the rights of American citizens."

Petitions submitted to the White House site must reach a 25,000-signature threshold to receive a response from the President.

As of Wednesday evening, more than 109,000 had signed the petition.

Morgan has found himself in the middle of a firestorm since he took an aggressive stand for tighter gun control laws following the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.

PETITION TO DEPORT CNN'S PIERS MORGAN OVER GUN CONTROL IS COUNTERED BY ONE SAYING THE UK DOESN'T WANT HIM BACK

Morgan and Alex Jones, one of the co-creators of the petition, engaged in a fiery exchange Monday night.

"I'm here to tell you, 1776 will commence again if you try to take our firearms!” the conservative pundit said on Morgan’s show, “Piers Morgan Tonight.” “Doesn't matter how many lemmings you get out there on the street, begging for them to have their guns taken. We will not relinquish them. Do you understand?"

“The establishment knows no matter how much propaganda, the Republic will rise again when you attempt to take our guns,” Jones added.

Jones, who has a radio show that airs on 140 networks, then went on to personally attack Morgan, telling the host, whom he called a “Redcoat,” that he shouldn’t “try to do what your ancestors did before.”

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