UK tells US: keep Piers Morgan, we don't want him

The first was launched on 21 December in response to Morgan's on-air comments in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shootings criticising US gun culture.

The petition urges the US to "deport" Morgan for being "engaged in a hostile attack against the US constitution by targeting the second amendment [the right to bear arms]."

Over 80,000 people have so far signed this petition, which is hosted on the White House official website.

However a second campaign was launched on 25 December, urging the US government to do precisely the opposite and keep Piers Morgan in America.

"There are two very good reasons for this," the second petition explains. "Firstly, the first amendment. Second and the more important point. No one in the UK wants him back."

"Actually there is a third," the petition adds. "It will be hilarious to see how loads of angry Americans react."

This particular petition currently has just over 5,000 signatures.

White House officials have said they will respond to any petition that passes the 25,000 signature threshold.


The outspoken former tabloid editor has launched something of a personal crusade for greater gun control measures in the wake of the December 14 massacre at Sandy Hook elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

Last week Tuesday, Morgan held a prickly interview with Gun Owners of America executive director Larry Pratt, appearing to become incensed and incredulous when Pratt suggested more, not fewer, weapons as the solution.

"You're an unbelievably stupid man, aren't you?" Morgan asked during the heated debate. "You have absolutely no coherent argument. You don't actually give a damn about the gun murder rate in America."

Following the interview, a Texas journalist posted a petition on the White House website alleging Morgan "is engaged in a hostile attack against the US Constitution by targeting the Second Amendment."

"We demand that Mr Morgan be deported immediately for his effort to undermine the Bill of Rights and for exploiting his position as a national network television host to stage attacks against the rights of American citizens," it says.

Many Americans follow a literal interpretation of the Second Amendment, which enshrines the "right to bear arms" in the US Constitution.

Morgan insists America can outlaw military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines without infringing on people's constitutional rights and says he has no quarrel with the Second Amendment.

A defiant Morgan refused to back down from his position.

"Ironic US gun rights campaign to deport me for 'attacking 2nd Amendment rights' - is my opinion not protected under 1st Amendment rights?" he posted on his Twitter feed on Saturday, referring to freedom of speech provisions.

Morgan continued to post incendiary comments on the gun control debate, including a response on Sunday morning to an NBC interview with a top official in the powerful pro-gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association.

"Watching @davidgregory expose Wayne Lapierre for what he is - a dangerous, dim-witted, deluded menace to American safety. @NRA," Morgan tweeted.

And to the petition's sponsor, he wrote: "Bring it on, you goon."

At least some Americans have come out in support of Morgan.

In one message, reposted by Morgan, Lee Cox in Arizona wrote: "I'm a native-born US citizen, and I agree 100% with Mr. Morgan. If he goes back to the UK, should I go with him?"

America has suffered an epidemic of gun violence over the last three decades including 62 mass shooting incidents since 1982. The vast majority of weapons used have been semi-automatic weapons obtained legally by the killers.