John Oliver

Yesterday, Americans watched in shock as even watered-down gun legislation died on the floor of the Senate. But that is exactly where it belongs, according to gun lobbyists like Philip Van Cleave of the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

Yesterday, Americans watched in shock as even watered-down gun legislation died on the floor of the Senate. But that is exactly where it belongs, according to gun lobbyists like Philip Van Cleave of the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

You hold up this sign whenever I make a suggestion that you think is infringing upon your Second Amendment rights, okay? Okay. Assault weapons ban. Boom, there it is, increased background checks. Really? Yes. Just for background checks?

You hold up this sign whenever I make a suggestion that you think is infringing upon your Second Amendment rights, okay? Okay. Assault weapons ban. Boom, there it is, increased background checks. Really? Yes. Just for background checks?

Okay, so let's just try this one. Okay. Nice and easy. Sure. A mandatory one-hour waiting period if you buy a gun.

Okay, so let's just try this one. Okay. Nice and easy. Sure. A mandatory one-hour waiting period if you buy a gun.

Exactly. Gun control does not work. What if, hypothetically speaking, what if gun control could work? Which obviously it can't, so we know that it won't, so that's not a problem. But what if it could, due to that time that it did?

Exactly. Gun control does not work. What if, hypothetically speaking, what if gun control could work? Which obviously it can't, so we know that it won't, so that's not a problem. But what if it could, due to that time that it did?

Australia. Yes, Australia. In 1996, a conservative prime minister, John Howard, instituted sweeping gun control laws following a mass shooting that shocked the nation. So should we be learning from this effective example? Of course not.

Australia. Yes, Australia. In 1996, a conservative prime minister, John Howard, instituted sweeping gun control laws following a mass shooting that shocked the nation. So should we be learning from this effective example? Of course not.

Unfortunately, not only is Australia actually in the real world, even their animals can holster weapons. So who was right about gun control? There was only one way to find out. Confront the man responsible. Mr Prime Minister, let's begin in the formal Australian way. G'day. How do you do? Obviously gun control doesn't work. It can't work. It will never work. So how was your scheme a failure?

Unfortunately, not only is Australia actually in the real world, even their animals can holster weapons. So who was right about gun control? There was only one way to find out. Confront the man responsible. Mr Prime Minister, let's begin in the formal Australian way. G'day. How do you do? Obviously gun control doesn't work. It can't work. It will never work. So how was your scheme a failure?

Well, my scheme was not a failure. We had a massacre at a place called Port Arthur 17 years ago, and there have been none since. Zero gun massacres? Hold on.

Well, my scheme was not a failure. We had a massacre at a place called Port Arthur 17 years ago, and there have been none since. Zero gun massacres? Hold on.

Did gun control actually work?

Did gun control actually work?

Yeah. It was just their mass shootings disappeared.

Yeah. It was just their mass shootings disappeared.

Exactly. They probably barely had a massacre before 1996. There were about 13 in the previous 18 years. In the 18 years before Port Arthur, there were 13 mass shootings.

Exactly. They probably barely had a massacre before 1996. There were about 13 in the previous 18 years. In the 18 years before Port Arthur, there were 13 mass shootings.