Bryon Donalds shuts down CNN reporter asking on gun ban

March 28, 2023

A Florida Republican shut down a CNN reporter Tuesday by claiming the “emotional” impact of the Nashville school shooting shouldn’t shake the nation’s right to bear arms.

A visibly irritated Rep. Bryon Donalds (R-Fla.) told journalist Manu Raju that opportunists shouldn’t use the tragedy that claimed six lives to push an agenda that would ban guns — and questioned the reporter’s need for a blue suit.

“The Second Amendment here in the United States. People are allowed to possess firearms,” Donalds said.

“Need is in the eye of the beholder. I don’t question why you need a blue suit, but you got one. And I know we’re talking about something very, very different.

“But the second amendment allows American citizens to possess firearms.”

When Raju pushed and asked whether a ban specifically banning AR-15s — the assault rifle killer Audrey Hale used during her Monday massacre — could be in order, Donalds again rejected the reporter’s question.

“If you’re going to talk about the AR 15 You’re talking politics now,” Donalds said.

“Let’s not get into emotion because emotion feels good. But emotion doesn’t solve problems.”

Raju also asked Rep. Andy Ogles, who represents the Covenant School where three children and three adults were killed whether he believes a ban on assault rifles could be in order.

The Republican — who came under fire for posing with the weapons with his family for their holiday card — told the reporter the guns were not to blame for the bloodshed.

This image released by the Metro Nashville Police Department on their Twitter account on March 27, 2023, shows one of the three guns used by the shooter and recovered at the scene along with significant ammunition. — Audrey Hale used an AR-15 to kill six people at a Nashville mass shooting.

“Why not talk about the real issue facing this country in regards to this shooting, which would be mental health,” Ogles hurriedly said before storming off.

Raju blasted Ogles’ comment by telling viewers Republicans didn’t support the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which provided funding for mental health programs and research.

Follow The Post’s coverage of the school shooting in Nashville

The bill passed the House and Senate last year, but Raju claimed only 14 House Republicans supported the legislation — but 184 Republicans actually approved the legislation, the document shows.

Manu Raju talks to Rep. Bryon Donalds. — Rep. Bryon Donalds said “emotion” won’t solve the mass shooting problem.

Manu Raju talks to Rep. Andy Ogles. — Rep. Andy Ogles said the mental health crisis is to blame for the shooting.

Donalds was one of the bill’s supporters. Ogles did not vote — he was serving as Maury County mayor at the time.

Hale, a 28-year-old transgender female, suffered from an emotional disorder, police said.

She was receiving treatment for the disorder, though cops did not elaborate on what she was suffering from or what type of treatment she was receiving.

A source close to the Hale family said that the shooter was autistic “but high-functioning.”

Cops said she hid her cache of weapons from her parents before carrying out her 14-minute shooting spree around 10:15 a.m. Monday.