Former Navy SEAL and Trump super PAC spokesperson Carl Higbie suggested on Monday that people on the terrorist watch list should be in jail instead of being stripped of gun rights.
During a panel discussion on CNN about a push in the U.S. Senate for new gun safety measures, host Alisyn Camerota asked Higbie if he agreed with Donald Trump's assertion that people in nightclubs should arm themselves against possible terrorist attacks.
"They are trying to blame guns for this whole thing [massacre of 49 people at Pulse nightclub] right now," Higbie complained. "You don't blame Boeing for the planes hitting the tower. You don't blame spoons for people getting fat."
"Criminals are going to get guns no matter what," he continued. "And to put a terrorist watch list together -- what is the criteria to get on this terrorist watch list. When you can define that then we start talking about having a legitimate conversation about whether or not you should ban somebody from being able to buy a gun on that list."
CNN commentator Bob Beckel pressed Higbie on whether or not the Orlando shooter should have been able to buy a gun even after the FBI questioned him about terrorist activities.
"We should look at the fact that the FBI's hands are tied behind their back and they're not allowed to investigate," Higbie replied. "Look, if you're on a terrorist watch list, you should be in jail. I don't think you should be on a list, you should be in jail."
"But isn't that a violation of someone's civil rights?" Camerota wondered. "Throw them in jail rather than just depriving them of access to guns?"
"Both are right," Higbie snapped. "So Alisyn, where do you draw the line?"
Watch the video below from CNN's New Day, broadcast June 20, 2016.
