0 have a great weekend and stay warm and please don't get sick . th flu has now reached epidemic porportion and practically the entire country is in the red. elderly and children are most vulnerable . the centers for disease control and prevention reports that as of right now. 20 children have died from the flu or complications as a result of the flu. i am uma, this is american's news headquarters live from the nation's capitol. the flu virus is spreading across the nation and with the flu on the rise, so is the demand for the vaccine. new york governor declared a state of emergency. we have the latest on the situation. anna, what can we tell us. >> it is a epidemkick and the learn -- boston is hit hard and the death tollis 6 . 18 in all of massachusetts. state public health officials say the early arrival and fierce symptoms this season is causing patients to flood emergency rooms and a rush on the vaccine. this year 130 million doses was flu vaccine ared and 112 million are used. supplies are running low in places. but vaccine is still available . new york state andrew cuomo declaring a state wide public health emergency and urging everyone to get the vaccine. since the twine flu epidemic vaccination rates increased in the u.s. . half . americans have still yet to get the vaccine in yearr. >> it is a difficult situation. thank you very much. we literally would be unable to fire. that technology exists but it is extremely expensive. >> the national rifle association participated but characterized the administration's agenda as one attacking the second amendment. they don't think they got a fair shake and this is why. >> gun control is a failed experiment. joe biden pushed a gun ban and bill clinton justice department said it had no impact. look at mental health and violent culture and then start to make a difference in our kid's livings. >> on tuesday, the vice-president's group will deliver $recommendation to president obama. but joe biden thinks a great deal can be done to reduce gun violence without impinging on the rights guaranteeed by the second amendment. >> the gun control and expanding background checks and revive a band on military assault weapons will spark a big political fight in congress. some are charging that it is fueling concerns that the white house is trying to erode second amendment rights. >> thank you for having me. good to be here. >> first of all, this week as the vice-president suggested that executive orders and action can be taken to implement strict gun control laws. what impact could this have on the gun debate? >> this will have a tremendous impact. people are very concern spooked about what is happening. here, millions of people made the choice to purchase fire arms because they know that guns save lives and the rhetoric coming out of washgton d.c. with executive orders or andrew cuomo saying that confiscation is an option and iowa laww maker saying we need to take guns from them. there is it a concern that the right they have been able to enjoy, they may not be able to purchase a fire arm or limited in the choice, and as a result guns are flying off of the shelves and our membership in gun owners of america is sky rocketing and people want as with any insurance policy, they want to be able to get that insurance before there is a need or crisis. >> we are hearing that universal background checks and renewed ban will be among those recommendation that we will see on tuesday. what is your recommendation on this? >> we tried the ban approach and didn't stop columbine from occurring. that ban expired. the clinton ban expired and those guns were legal again . we are safer 10 years later, the murder rate plummeted and we are safer with all of the guns being legal. it underscores the point that banning guns does not make people safer f. it did it would have worked in washington d.c. in the heyday of their ban. we put up signs that said there are no guns here. anti-gun as someone will be. they will never put a sign in front of the home saying there are no guns here that. is a magnet for the criminal . it simagnet for the terrorist and criminals that want to make a name for themselves. >> there is calms for armed gaurs in all schools and now lib rams like democratic senator barbara boxer saying hold on, she introduced a proposal to the president to have federal funds to pay for armed security guards in the school. what do you say about the about face going on? >> i find it interesting in the 15 block or so area there is police to protect our congressman. how many have been protecting the children. my heart goes out to the parent in connecticut. i have lost a child through a tragedy and i know the pain they are feeling. with 7 school age children right now. if i had had a child in the school in connecticut, i would have hope prayed to good there would have been an armed teacher or principal to protect the children in the same way that joe myrick of pearl mississippi high school used his fire arm to stop a school shooting. that's what you have to do. when bad guys get their hands on guns, you need a good guy to stop them. >> do you think it is it possible to have a meaningful compromise? >> i think the second amendment precludes the compromise. the right of the people shall not be infringed. we need to get rid of the school zone loop hole where people can carry except at schools and those are the places that crimy nams target. >> you are taking a look at all of this, what are you hoping for come tuesday. do you think you will see recommendations to live with? i don't thinkk we will see meaningful recommendation. their old adage don't let a crisis go to waste. they are using the tragedy that happened in connecticut and tryying to exploit for their own political gain. >> as we move forward with the debate. you think we'll see further polarization in congress? >> i do, as a warning for legislators. president clinton lamented many times it was the gun control that he pushed in 1993 that cost him control of the congress. many pro gone gun democratic voters crossed over to vote republican. legislators need to remember that lesson and that may make many of them gun shy. >> thank you for insight. >> you're welcome. thank you very having me. >> for the other side of the debate. those who witness to brutal violence first hand. the debate over gun control is a emotional one. some are pushing for their own recommendation. joining us now william killbrew. he met with the vice-president and said there needs to be more gun control regulation. >> thank you for having me on the show. >> i know you met with the vice-president. i want to let our audience know you are a victim of brutal violence as you watched your mother and 12 year old brother murdered by your mom's estranged boyfriend employ. tell us what happened? >> i woke up to the screamms of my mom and when it was all said and done, marshall brent williams who was convicted of a 11 and half yearr sentence of second-degree murder got out and met my mom and got into a relationship and murdered her and killed my 12 year old brother and went back and shot her again and then put the gun to my head and i left there with no hope or dignity and my leader and my guide was bleeding to death. >> it is a heart breaking story and our heart goes out to you. >> thank you very much. >> what did you push forward in the meeting with the vice-president? >> for us, what is listening to what is happening in the table and the vice-president kept an open mind of what we need to do about this . the vice-president was clear in that meeting by saying, the answers are not here, all of the answers are not here and there needs to be a conversation with the american public on what, what needs to happen and neepeds to be addressed and the previous caller concluded what the white house has done and to conclude that the at this point is ahead of the process. we need to get through the process and listen to what the recommendations are and the foundation is recommending having their recommendation on monday morning . victims and survivors will have a voice. my mother and brother will have a voice and to conclude it is over with doesn't give hope to victims and survivors that are involved in this. >> and personally from you. from your vantage point what would you like to see happen? what is one recommendation that you would like to see? >> it is a bigger issue than gun violence . mental health and gun violence are key points bumpt look at what happens in the aftermath. kids still have to go to school in the fourth grade. i was 10 years old when my mom murdered. i had to go back to the fifth grade and sit with my classmates. we need training for our teachers and being trauma informed. the crayons and remend them of the blood they saw . for me the water fountain, i was recommended that my brother was hot and i saw a fountain of blood coming from him and when i walked to the water fountain it was a traumatizing experience. my teacher didn't know that. it is important to knet our services and everyone who has contact with the children and adults that suffer from trauma to be more trauma inned about the issues around traumma and the impact. >> it is it a sobering image that it is come to your mind when you think of what you were going through in school. do you think that when groups like the n ra push for arming security guards in all schools, do you think that type of recommendation can make a difference? >> the vice-president mentioned school resource officers and how important they were. how important they are with building relationships with childrens in schools and community policing is another avenue we can go down, but just putting guns in the hands of people in - that have them can be dangerous. one of the members held up a concealed weapon's permit and never had a gun or trained in her life . in virginia, she got on the internet and able to get a concealed gun permit and can use it in pennsylvania and colorado and that is dangerous. only time she was next to a gun was when she was shot at virginia tech. >> many people are going to tell you that gun owners, are law-abiding citizens that will not commit a crime. >> all law abiding citizens. we don't want to take the guns away from anybody that should have them. but a domestic abuser like marshall brent williams getting his hands on a gun it is a dangerous thing to have . somebody with a illness or a drug abuser, individuals like that that have guns in their hand. we have to make sure guns don't get in the hands of the people that shouldn't have them. national shouldn't have had a gun in his hand and shot my mother and brother. he impacted many people and then he took his own life. >> wow, you will have given us important thought to think about and reflections here and again, our heart goes out to you. such a sad situation and it is great to see you are trying to make a difference. >> trauma survivors are doing the best to survive tep by step . for anybody that has that. go to www.thefoundation.organd go to our national center for trauma informed care. there is so much we can do about this issue, but log on and join us and join the conversation. >> all right, indeed. william, thank you for joining us. >> all the best to you. thank you so much. >> a number of states are looking to curtail the violence in our schoolings . texas lieutenant governor is calling for state funded fire arm training for teachers and they would decide who would get it and training. >> do you think that teachers should have weapon's training and carry guns at school. tweet us at twitter.cock/hurricaneuma. turning now to a story that fuels emotions. a colorado judge giving the man charged in the movie massacre two month to enter a plea. defense attorneys are requesting that delay until march and saying they are not ready to move ahead. the decision outraged the victim's family one father screamed out rot in hell >> it is a frustrate emotional time for a lot of people. >> it is going to be a lot of waiting but in the end justice will be served. >> i don't think he is insane. he is absolutelyy justt evilll. >> the judge's defensive move saying he granted the delayy because he didn't want to give the defense an opening to appeal the case later on. >> and violence rages on in syria and more than 50 countryies calling on the un securitycouncil to bringg in the court. they are joining us from jerusalem for the latestt on this story, conor? >> the un said a letter will be delivered to the un security council requesting that syria be referred to the international criminal court . this would open up prosecution for war crimes and it is a significant step, but will not do much to end the violence in syria that continues day in and out as it has now for nearly two years. rebels have taken an important military air base in northern syria and syria military was using to launch air strikes . rebels say they control the air field. they have captured ammunition and weapons. they say it will help to limit the number of air strikes that the syrian air force can lnchh on civilians. the ability to launchh air strikes is a cruciall part of the syrian regime to fight the rebels. but the rebels faced a set back outside of damascus, where the syrian military retaken a suburban neighborhood that was under the control of rebels. both sides seeing the victory and progress and both sides setting a set back in the battlefield in syria. this comes as the russian foreign ministers that he continue to back a peace effort, but not one that forces president assad to step down as a precondition for talks. very little is changing with the diplomatic efforts. the united states and europe press for ah assad to step down. russia backs assad as the violence continues in syria, uma. >> coming up on america's news headquarters. starting this spring our troops will have a different mission. >> president obama discusses that mission in the weekly address this one day after meeting with afghan president karzai. stay with us. stouffer's is proud to make america's favorite lasagna... with hand-layered pasta, tomatoes, and real mozzarella cheese. but what makes us even prouder... is what our real dinners can do for your family. stouffer's. let's fix dinner. if we took the already great sentra apart and completely reimagined it? 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