In a laudable attempt to gauge the public’s attitudes on how to address gun violence in America, MSNBC Live host Ali Velshi traveled to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and had a conversation with a panel of gun owners there, a video of which was shared during Thursday’s edition of his show. Twice during the aired portions of the discussion, the panel laughed at Velshi’s suggestions: companies pushing gun control and the idea of “gun buybacks.”

The first question showed in the video was of Velshi asking: “Who here thinks we need changes in laws?” Retired police officer Gregory Phillips didn’t miss a beat, coming back with: “Why? Why do we need changes in laws? That's silly.”

Later on in the video, Velshi broached the subject of gun buybacks. “Let me ask you about a proposal that's been floated out there by a presidential candidate or more about gun buybacks,” he prefaced. Of course, the person he was talking about was failed presidential candidate Robert O’Rourke (he dropped out last Friday), who wanted “mandatory” buybacks. A.k.a. gun confiscations.

“Who thinks that's a good idea,” Velshi wondered. To that, even some of those more inclined for gun control laughed at the idea. Panelist Robert Mallon responded by cracking a joke. “I bought mine for a million bucks. So, if they’re willing to pay that…” The rest of his comment got drowned out by the laughter of his fellow Wisconsinites.

The other case of laughter came when the panel scoffed at the anti-gun virtue signaling from companies like Walmart and Dick’s:

CAROL RUETER (Nursing home activities director): Walmart stopped selling them, you can go to Fleet Farm. It's the same people that want to get them and will get them. They're still going to get them. HASEMAN: So now this is their way out to say they can be the hero. “We are going to get rid of all this stuff.” Well, they were probably looking for a way to get rid of them anyway. PARRISH: They still sell alcohol, which kills as many people. PHILLIPS: Yeah. [Laughter]

The conversation covered a range of topics inside the gun debate, including so-called “red flag laws.” Panelist Larry Haseman, who says he owns over 100 firearms, spelled out the serious problems law-abiding gun owners have with those proposals.

“If you had red flag laws, if the individual is calling wolf, as long as there is some pretty severe consequences for somebody that goes through that motion, and then whatever the legal expense and everything for that person to get his rights back are paid by that person. I could accept that to some level,” he explained to Velshi.

In concluding the video, Velshi closed out with a quote from Phillips that pretty much summed up the thoughts of many gun owners: “Don’t mess with my rights to protect my family by trying to take away my firearms.”

[H/T to The Washington Free Beacon's Cameron Cawthorn]

The transcript is below, click "expand" to read: