On his Friday HBO program, “Real Time” host Bill Maher said what many people on the left have been reluctant to say: that he opposes the Second Amendment guarantee of the right to bear arms.

Maher complained his side would not come out and say that, making the argument a “constant center-right debate.”

“I’m so sorry, but this is the problem with the gun debate — it is that it’s a constant center-right debate,” Maher said. “There’s no left in this debate. Everyone on the left is so afraid to say what should be said, which is the Second Amendment is bullshit. Why doesn’t anyone go at the core of it?”

Maher said the current proposal offered by Sens. Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey would leave the door open for some people to get their hands on guns without background checks.

“What it will not do — in other words, no registry,” Maher said. “[A]lso the family and friends plan — you can loan even if this goes through — and this is before, by the way, any amendments. This is before the House has lifted its leg on this bill. Even if they pass it, you can still loan or sell a gun to family, friends, co-workers or neighbors. That pretty much includes anybody, doesn’t it? ‘I don’t know you. Oh you want to sell me a gun, well you are my friend. Thank you very much, thank you friend.’”

Maher went on to criticize those on the left for not using the correct language when it comes to firearms, as they did with abortion.

“If I could just restate this once more — I do it all the time then I’ll stop,” Maher added. “It is as much a problem on the left as the right. Nobody is stepping forward to say we have to end this fetish-ization of the guns, this love of guns … I mean, Gabby Giffords got shot in the head and she went on TV with her husband and said, ‘We are still strong supporters of the Second Amendment.’ Why can’t they say about guns what the Democrats said about abortion — it should be safe, legal and rare.”

(h/t Real Clear Politics Video)

Follow Jeff on Twitter