Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel used his opening monologue Tuesday to say the "nuts" who oppose new gun control measures "bear some responsibility" for criminals getting guns.
Kimmel has waded deeply into political debates recently, taking strongly held stands in the debate over repealing Obamacare and now strongly supporting gun control measures. Kimmel said he wanted to follow up on his initial comments about the Las Vegas shooting by responding to people who argue it is too soon to pass new gun control measures.
"I’m not going to get deep into it again tonight," Kimmel said. "I said what I had to say last night, but I do want to say something to those nuts who spent most of the day today on television and online attacking those of us who think we need to do something about the fact that 59 innocent people were killed."
"They say it’s inappropriate to be talking about it because it’s 'too soon,'" Kimmel added. "Well maybe it’s too soon for you because deep down inside you know in your heart, you know you bear some responsibility for the fact that almost anyone can get any weapon they want, and now you want to cover yourself until the storm of outrage passes, and you can go back to your dirty business as usual."
The late night host may have been referring to gun advocates or gun sellers, but he did not specify beyond saying the targeted individuals participated in "dirty business." Kimmel then said he would not "hold back" because free speech rights are "at least as important" as the right to bear arms.
"It’s not too soon for us, because we’re Americans, and last time I checked, the First Amendment is at least as important as the Second Amendment, so we will talk about it," he said to loud applause from the audience. "And shame on you for suggesting otherwise."
This is not the first time Kimmel has used insulting names for his political opponents. In September, in the midst of the debate over health care and Obamacare repeal efforts, he called Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.) "inbred."