Joe Scarborough spent another day thundering about gun violence, and accused President Donald Trump of being “impotent” on the issue, comparing him to the biblical villain Pontius Pilate.
“He’s letting Christians that go to church get slaughtered, like Pontius Pilate,” said Scarborough on the set of “Morning Joe,” Friday. “Paul Ryan, Donald Trump, they’re just washing their hands of it, like Pontius Pilate, letting Christians get slaughtered in pews, letting country fans get slaughtered at concerts.”
“Why is Donald Trump impotent? Why is he impotent when it comes to this? He’s supposed to be a man of action. He is letting our children get slaughtered,” he added.
In the Bible, Pilate was the Roman prefect of Judaea who presided over the trial of Jesus Christ.
The biblical allusion came as part of a broader denunciation of the gun lobby in the United States by Scarborough after 19-year-old accused gunman Nikolas Cruz walked into his former high school in Parkland, Florida and murdered at least 17 people with an AR-15.
These are the victims of the Florida attack:
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Victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
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Victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
Scott Beige - Geography Teacher
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Elizabeth James Watt
Chris Hixon - athletic director
Photo Credit: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
“They’re extreme lobbyists at the NRA in Washington, D.C, that do not even represent the views of most NRA members across America, most Republicans, most conservatives across America,” he said.
“They like to say that anybody that doesn’t adopt their extremist view is no longer a conservative and lives in a bubble. No. it’s actually they are the ones who actually live in a bubble and the consequences are bloody for our children.”
On Thursday Scarborough sounded many of the same notes, training his fire on the “useful idiots” in the media and politics who would carry water for the gun lobby in an attempt to silence the inevitable calls for action that arise after mass shootings.
President Trump, first lady Melania visit Parkland shooting victims at Florida hospital
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President Trump, first lady Melania visit Parkland shooting victims at Florida hospital
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump speak while visiting first responders at Broward Health North hospital in Pompano Beach, Florida, on February 16, 2018. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited a Florida hospital to offer their respects to the victims of a mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a nearby high school. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump speaks with doctor Igor Nichiporenko (L) and First Lady Melania Trump while visiting first responders at Broward Health North hospital Pompano Beach, Florida, on February 16, 2018. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited a Florida hospital to offer their respects to the victims of a mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a nearby high school. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit with Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, trauma surgeon at Broward Health North Hospital in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S., February 16, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit with Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, trauma surgeon at Broward Health North Hospital in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S., February 16, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
US President Donald Trump speaks with doctor Igor Nichiphorenko (L) and First Lady Melania Trump while visiting first responders at Broward Health North hospital Pompano Beach, Florida, on February 16, 2018. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited a Florida hospital to offer their respects to the victims of a mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a nearby high school. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump speaks with doctor Igor Nichiporenko (L) and First Lady Melania Trump while visiting first responders at Broward Health North hospital Pompano Beach, Florida, on February 16, 2018. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited a Florida hospital to offer their respects to the victims of a mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a nearby high school. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with doctor Igor Nichiporenko (L) beside First Lady Melania Trump while visiting first responders at Broward Health North hospital Pompano Beach, Florida, on February 16, 2018. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited a Florida hospital to offer their respects to the victims of a mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a nearby high school. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit with medical staff of Broward Health North Hospital in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S., February 16, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
US President Donald Trump speaks with doctor Igor Nichiporenko (L) and First Lady Melania Trump while visiting first responders at Broward Health North hospital Pompano Beach, Florida, on February 16, 2018. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited a Florida hospital to offer their respects to the victims of a mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a nearby high school. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit with Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, trauma surgeon at Broward Health North Hospital in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S., February 16, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer
