CNN host Piers Morgan brought the gun-violence debate to a Katy shooting range on Monday for a series of heated interviews with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, State Sen. Dan Patrick and bad boy rocker Ted Nugent.
Then, he went to Houston to eat, tweeting that his meal at Underbelly cooked by Chris Shepherd was "the best food I've eaten in America." Morgan stayed at The Houstonian.
What, you thought the British expat was going to spend all his time out in Katy with the gun folks?
An avid supporter of gun regulation, Morgan has drawn ire from self-proclaimed Second Amendment champions as he continues to push the issue in the wake of the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, which claimed the lives of 20 first graders and eight adults, including the 20-year-old perpetrator.
"I think you're obsessed with guns. 99.99 percent of the gun owners of America are wonderful people that you are hanging around with here today."
Inside Katy's Tactical Firearms gun shop and shooting range, the TV host received lessons how to use the controversial AR-15 assault rifle as well as the M2 Browning — a machine gun that fires 900 rounds a minute, one that required two store assistants to hold it down while Morgan shot. (Watch the video and keep in mind that the M2 is 100-percent legal.)
While republicans Abbott and Patrick mainly stuck to Second Amendment rights, Nugent spoke on behalf of gun owners across the nation against what he feels is an unwarranted crusade led by regulatory advocates like Morgan.
"I think you're obsessed with guns," Nugent told Morgan.
"99.99 percent of the gun owners of America are wonderful people that you are hanging around with here today. Perfectly safe. Perfectly harmless. Wonderful, loving, giving, generous, caring people. Would you leave us the hell alone?"
Meanwhile, outside the gun shop
Conservative Austin-based radio host Alex Jones — who unleashed a pro-gun rant on Morgan's show in early January — also got a little personal during his small protest event outside the firing range, calling Morgan everything from a "red coat" and "hatchet man" to "globalist collaborator scum."
Jones was particularly worked up about this Twitter post from Morgan, which the pundit read aloud in a fake British accent for a video on his YouTube channel:
Rather large protest growing outside this Houston gun store now. Feels slightly tyrannical, ironically... #GunsInAmerica CNN 9pm
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 5, 2013
Sante's Garden Room is decorated with two olive trees.
Photo by Chris Furia