MSNBC host Joe Scarborough got into a heated exchange with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Wednesday while the two debated gun control and the parameters of the Second Amendment.
MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle opened the debate, asking the senator his thoughts on 18-year-olds having the right to purchase assault rifles and not hand guns in select states.
Cruz made the argument that previous assault weapons bans “had no effect on violent crime.”
Scarborough interrupted Cruz, arguing studies show weapons like the AR-15 “are actually designed to be more lethal.”
Cruz went on to say that although the AR-15 looks “scary,” it’s not any more dangerous than the deer hunting guns millions of Americans own.
The argument began to pick up steam as the conversation shifted to a debate on Supreme Court rulings on the Second Amendment.
“Senator, there are a lot of people, lawyers right now, who are rolling their eyes at what you’re saying,” Scarborough said.
“My career was litigating before the Supreme Court,” Cruz said. “I recognize this is not what you do.”
“I don’t need you to lecture me on what the Supreme Court does and what it doesn’t do,” Scarborough shot back. “You can talk down to me all you want to.”
Cruz swept Tuesday night’s Texas Republican primary, taking home more than 1.2 million votes, far more than any of his Republican challengers.
