More than 65,000 sign petition to deport Piers Morgan over 'hostile' gun control views British CNN host has taken aggressive stand for tighter U.S. gun laws after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre Petition claims he has engaged in hostile attack against U.S. Constitution Created on December 21 and has garnered more than 45,000 signatures Morgan: 'Are there any other countries that will have me?

Divisive: A petition has been launched to deport Piers Morgan after he has taken a strict stance on gun laws

He called Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners for America, an 'idiot,' 'dangerous' and an 'unbelievably stupid man' after he argued that more guns would cut crime.

In another debate on gun controls, an exasperated Mr Morgan shouted down economist John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime and accused him of 'lying' over gun crime trends in foreign countries including Britain.

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Gun rights advocates, who have been forced on the back foot by public outrage over the Connecticut school killings, were furious over the attacks - particularly as they came from a foreigner.

The petition on the White House website reads: 'British citizen and CNN television host Piers Morgan is engaged in a hostile attack against the U.S. Constitution by targeting the Second Amendment [the right to keep and bear arms].

Speaking out: The petition had already garnered more than 65,000 signatures by Tuesday

'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.'

The petition was started on December 21 by a man from Austin, Texas, who was identified as Kurt Nimmo. US citizens can file a petition on the White House website and the administration has to respond if it collects at least 25,000 signatures within 30 days.

Morgan has made it clear in TV debates that he was not attacking the Second Amendment, which gun advocates insist protects a citizen’s right to bear arms.

But the American establishment is usually terrified of doing anything that could be deemed anti-constitutional and even Morgan’s on-air CNN colleagues looked taken aback by the force of his anti-gun outbursts.

Morgan, who also writes a column in the Mail on Sunday's Live magazine, has refused to back down.

Hitting back: Morgan has responded to the growing petition with a series of tweets

Outspoken: Morgan called gun advocate Larry Pratt 'an unbelievably stupid man' on his show last week

On Twitter, the former Daily Mirror editor insisted that 'wanting America to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines isn't "anti-consitutional" – it’s called "common sense."'

He also joked that, if deported, he was thinking of anchoring his CNN show from Jamaica.

CNN has said it has no immediate comment on the petition but media pundits believe the publicity won't damage a network which is struggling to win audiences.

Prior to the row, there had been speculation that Morgan might lose his prime-time slot.

Independent publicist Howard Bragman said that the controversy was likely to get Morgan noticed and may translate into higher ratings.

'A lot of it comes from his being British, he's seen the differences between the U.S. and UK, he's passionate and authentic in taking this issue on, and it's probably only going to help him attract more people to his show,' Mr Bragman said.

Last night an unrepentant Mr Morgan fired back at his critics on Twitter saying: 'Merry Christmas! Even to those who want me deported.'

 VIDEO  'You're an unbelievably stupid man': Morgan v Pratt... 

See the full debate at CNN.