Below is a transcript of an interview conducted with Utah Governor Spencer Cox on the show “Face the Nation” on July 9, 2023:
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is my pleasure to welcome the Republican governor of Utah, Spencer Cox. Thank you for joining us today.
GOVERNOR SPENCER COX: Thank you for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s great to have this face-to-face conversation. I know you’re on the coast for the National Governors Association meetings, which are currently focusing on mental health and child protection. These are bipartisan issues, but they can become complex. Let’s start with the topic of guns and gun control. This year alone, there have been 356 mass shootings across 39 states, with 22 occurring over the July 4th weekend. As a leader, what will you do to address this issue?
COX: We are working as a bipartisan group of governors on a subcommittee focused on this. I am actively involved in those discussions, along with other governors from both parties. We have been engaging with Congress to explore potential solutions, but as of now, there is no clear answer. The situation is worsening, and we need to identify the root cause. Gun control is a contentious topic that often dominates the debate, but there are other underlying factors at play. We need to examine what is dividing us as a nation and a society. We must look into our homes, schools, and communities to find common ground and determine how we can address this issue. While there has been some bipartisan legislation passed, it is yet to yield significant results.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When it comes to children, the CDC states that firearms are the leading cause of death among kids and adolescents. In Utah, there seems to be a focus on banning dangerous things for kids, such as social media and transgender issues, but not firearms. Why is that?
COX: It is incorrect to say that there is a movement to increase children’s access to firearms or to disregard their safety. There is a complexity associated with the Second Amendment that needs to be considered. But the leading cause of gun-related deaths among children is actually suicide. This is an important aspect that demands attention. In Utah, we are working to address mental health issues and suicide prevention in a bipartisan manner. We must understand the underlying causes of the significant rise in anxiety, depression, and self-harm. One driver we have identified is the impact of social media on mental health. Utah is actively tackling this issue as well. We need to ensure our children are in a better mental state. Though we are also taking steps to keep guns away from kids and secure them properly, the focus should be on addressing the underlying issues that lead someone to believe life is not worth living. It is our responsibility as a society to ensure young people understand that things will improve and that they have a reason to continue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Lawmakers in Utah introduced 25 firearm-related bills, with 16 of them passing and expanding access to firearms. Do you believe this is contributing to the issue, or is it worth reevaluating?
COX: It is crucial to constantly evaluate our gun laws to ensure they do not inadvertently cause harm. However, I have not seen evidence suggesting that our current laws are contributing to the problem in Utah. Nonetheless, the conversation is worth having to determine if any adjustments need to be made. When considering legislation, we need to assess if it will lead to more harm or less harm. In Utah, we strive to strike this balance. We acknowledge that we are not perfect, and we continuously reassess our gun laws and their effects on our children’s safety. Mental health remains a critical aspect in addressing this issue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Utah has taken the lead in restricting social media access for minors, but a recent court ruling prohibits the Biden administration from pressuring social media companies to remove certain content. Will this impact your efforts to protect young kids from harmful content?
COX: The court ruling you mentioned does not directly impact Utah’s laws. It originates from a different district. While there may be future litigation regarding our restrictions, we believe we are legally justified in our actions. We anticipate that social media companies will sue the state of Utah over this matter. It is likely that the Supreme Court will eventually weigh in on this, specifically regarding restrictions on youth access. Our aim is to empower parents and children under the age of 18 to have more control over social media. Recent research has established a causal link between social media use and increased rates of suicide, anxiety, depression, and self-harm. We are confident that our approach is legally solid, and we seek to address the harmful addiction and consequences of social media by giving families greater control.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You mentioned litigation. Are there any upcoming legal actions that we should watch out for?
COX: Yes, we held a press conference a few months ago to discuss this matter. We are preparing to push for legal accountability from social media companies for the harm they are causing to our young people. We are currently evaluating all social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, to determine the next steps in this process.
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