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Bernie Sanders on Gun Control

Democratic primary challenger; Independent VT Senator; previously Representative (VT-At-Large)

 


Changed views on gun control due to epidemic of gun violence

I lost a race for Congress, because in 1988 I said we should ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons. I am proud that today I have a D- voting record from the NRA. Under my administration it will be the American people doing gun policy, not the NRA. In Vermont until the last two years ago, we had no gun control legislation and I represented that perspective. The world has changed. People are sickened by mass shootings and gun violence. The world has changed, and my views have changed.
Source: 8th Democrat 2020 primary debate, St. Anselm College in NH , Feb 7, 2020

For background checks, and closing loopholes

I have a D-minus voting record from the NRA. We have got to have the guts to finally take on the NRA. I will do everything I can to expand and create universal background checks, do away with the strawman provision, do away with the gun show loophole, and do away with the loopholes that now exist for gun manufacturers who are selling large amounts of weapons into communities that are going to gangs.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) , Jul 30, 2019

2013: state decisions on guns; 2019: federal legislation

Q: A Vermont newspaper recently released portions of an interview you gave in 2013 in which you said: "My own view on guns is, everything being equal, states should make those decisions." Has your thinking changed since then?

SANDERS: No, that's a mischaracterization of my thinking.

Q: It's a quote of you.

SANDERS: Look, we have a gun crisis right now, 40,000 people a year are getting killed. In 1988, when it wasn't popular, I ran on a platform of banning assault weapons and in fact lost that race for Congress. I have a D-minus voting record from the NRA. And I believe that what we need is comprehensive gun legislation that, among other things, provides universal background, we end the gun show loophole, we end the strawman provision, and I believed in 1988 and I believe today.

Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami) , Jun 27, 2019

Buy back assault weapons, and ban their sale

Sen. Bernie SANDERS: Assault weapons are weapons from the military and that they should not be on the streets of America.

Rep. Eric SWALWELL: Your plan leaves them on the streets. You leave 15 million on the streets.

SANDERS: We ban the sale and distribution [of assault weapons].

SWALWELL: Will you buy them back?

SANDERS: If the government wants to do that and people want to bring them back, yes.

SWALWELL: You are going to be the government, will you buy them back?

SANDERS: Yes.

Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami) , Jun 27, 2019

Applaud students taking action to prevent school shootings

Shortly after the mass shooting that killed their friends and teachers, some brave students from Majority Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland came together to demand that government finally take action to prevent further shootings. Instead of simply grieving the loss of their fellow students, they decided to stand up and fight back. They wondered, as well as we all wonder, how a 19-year-old youngster who was known to be at risk for violence could have legally purchased at least ten guns, including a variant of an AK-47, the assault weapon he allegedly used.

While there may not be any guaranteed answers as to how we end mass shootings, that does not mean that we should not be doing everything possible to prevent them. We need action. While the American people are divided over various aspects of gun control, the more important truth is that there is now widespread & growing agreement on a variety of actions that would almost certainly lower the level of gun violence in this country.

Source: Where We Go From Here, by Bernie Sanders, p.143-4 , Feb 16, 2018

Intervene with mental illness, to prevent mass shootings

On October 5, 2015, after yet another mass shooting, I issued the following statement:
Source: Our Revolution, by Bernie Sanders, p.157 , Nov 15, 2016

Ok to sue gun manufacturers if they sell for misuse

The New York Daily News published a cover story headlined, "Bernie's Sandy Hook shame." It accused Sanders of callously defending gun manufacturers against a lawsuit brought by relatives of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting. [This is based partly on] Hillary Clinton's attacks which include that Sanders supports the NRA.

Clinton is attacking Sanders for refusing to support the Sandy Hook victims in their lawsuit against gun manufacturers. The reason Sanders opposes the lawsuit because he believes a gun manufacturer should not be criminalized for selling a product which is legal to sell to people. But Sanders would support the victims if they could prove the gun manufacturer knew the person they were selling a weapon to would misuse the weapon, like massacre people with it.

Source: CommonDreams.org column, "Shadowproof," by Kevin Gosztola , Apr 7, 2016

Deal federally with straw-man gun purchasers

Q: You voted against the Brady Bill that mandated background checks. You also supported allowing riders to bring guns in checked bags on Amtrak trains.

SANDERS: Let's begin by understanding that Bernie Sanders has a D-minus voting rating from the NRA. Back in 1988, when I first ran for Congress, I supported a ban on assault weapons. And over the years, I have strongly supported instant background checks, doing away with this terrible gun show loophole. And I think we've got to move aggressively at the do away with this gun show loophole, that we have to address the issue of mental health, that we have to deal with the straw-man purchasing issue, and that when we develop that consensus, we can finally, finally do something to address this issue.

Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas , Oct 13, 2015

Common sense, incremental gun control plan

Q: Let's talk about the gun issue. You've called for moderation in this saying that you think you can bring both sides together.

SANDERS: I wouldn't use the word, "moderation." That's not quite the right word. This is what I do believe. I come from a state that has virtually no gun control. And yet, at political peril, I voted for an instant background check, which I want to see strengthened and expanded. I voted to ban certain types of assault weapons, which are designed only to kill people. I voted to end the so-called gun show loophole. What I think there needs to be is a dialogue. And here's what I do believe: I believe what I call common sense gun reform. Plus, a revolution in mental health, making sure that if people are having a nervous breakdown, or are suicidal, or homicidal, they get the care they need when they need it. I think the vast majority of the American people can support and agenda composed of those features.

Source: Meet the Press 2015 interview moderated by Chuck Todd , Oct 11, 2015

Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable

Q: What about gun control?

SANDERS: As a nation, we can't continue screaming at each other; we've got to find common ground.

Q: Well, what is that?

SANDERS: For a start, universal instant background checks. Nobody should have a gun who has a criminal background, who's involved in domestic abuse situations, people should not have guns who are going to hurt other people, who are unstable.

Q: In the situation in Louisiana, instant background checks didn't catch what was necessary. Instant background checks lead to more speed & more mistakes. Don't you need longer waiting periods?

SANDERS: Well, what we need to do is, whatever we need, is a system that works. Bottom line is, I hope that nobody in America disagrees that people, as in the case of the shooter in Louisiana, who has a history of mental instability, should not be having guns. People who have criminal backgrounds, people who are abusing wives, should not be having guns. That is the issue that I think we can bring people around

Source: Meet the Press 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls , Jul 26, 2015

Guns in Vermont are for hunting; but in L.A. are for killing

Q: The parents of one of the 12 innocent people killed during the Aurora movie theater shooting, sued to hold ammunition sellers liable for the attack, but their lawsuit was dismissed. And one of the reasons was a law that you voted for which protects manufacturers of ammunition from being sued. Why did you vote that way?

SANDERS: We have been yelling and screaming at each other about guns for decades, with very little success. I come from a state that has virtually no gun control. But the people of my state understand, I think, pretty clearly, that guns in Vermont are not the same thing as guns in Chicago or guns in Los Angeles. In our state, guns are used for hunting. In Chicago, they're used for kids in gangs killing other kids or people shooting at police officers, shooting down innocent people. We need a sensible debate about gun control which overcomes the cultural divide that exists in this country. And I think I can play an important role in this.

Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls , Jul 5, 2015

Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans

Q: Recently you've been criticized as not being truly progressive when it comes to gun control. What's your response to that?

SANDERS: Well, I think the people of Vermont know differently. They know in every single race that I have run, with the exception of one, the NRA and other gun lobbyists supported my opponent. I voted for banning assault weapons, doing away with the gun show loophole and fighting for instant background checks so that we make sure that guns do not fall in the hands of those people who should not have it. So, I have a strong record. But what we need to do is bridge this cultural divide between rural America and urban America and come up with some common sense legislation that accommodates everybody. What we really need is a national dialogue.

Source: ABC This Week 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls , Jun 28, 2015

Mixed approach to gun control vs. gun rights

On Guns: A mixed approach. No federal handgun waiting period. Some protection for gun manufacturers. Ban assault weapons.

Sanders voted against the pro-gun-control Brady Bill, writing that he believes states, not the federal government, can handle waiting periods for handguns. In 1994, he voted yes on an assault weapons ban. He has voted to ban some lawsuits against gun manufacturers and for the Manchin-Toomey legislation expanding federal background checks.

Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series , Apr 30, 2015

I'm pro-hunting, but no one needs an AK-47 to hunt

During the 1994 campaign the NRA had played a very forceful role against me. They distributed widely a "Bye, Bye, Bernie" bumper sticker.

Vermont is a rural state in which tens of thousands of people enjoy hunting and own guns. VT is an "outdoor" state--and hunting is a key part of that way of life. I am pro-gun, and pro-hunting. But I don't believe that hunters need assault weapons and AK-47s to kill deer. I voted for the ban on assault weapons, which brought the wrath of the NRA down on me.

Source: Outsider in the House, by Bernie Sanders, p. 38-9 , Jun 17, 1997


Bernie Sanders on National Rifle Association

2005: Allow suing gun manufacturers for negligence

Joe Biden said Sanders voted to allow gun manufactures to not be sued. But the law that Sanders originally supported does allow lawsuits in some cases.

Biden said, "The biggest mistake that Sen. Sanders made, he voted to give the gun manufacturers a loophole that does not allow them to be sued for the crimes they have created."

Sanders voted in favor of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005, which largely protects licensed manufacturers & firearms dealers from civil lawsuits over the misuse of guns or ammunition. But the legislation included six exceptions where civil suits could still be brought. The exceptions include cases in which a firearm seller acted with negligence, cases involving the transfer of a firearm with the knowledge that it would be used to commit a crime, and cases of sales in violation of state or federal law.

A decade later, Sanders switched positions and signed on as a cosponsor of an unsuccessful bill that sought to repeal the law he helped enact.

Source: FactCheck.org on 8th Democrat 2020 primary debate , Feb 8, 2020

Ban assault weapons; automatic background checks

Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls , Feb 19, 2019

To pass gun controls, Congress needs guts to stand up to NRA

Q: A survivor from a high school shooting said, "It's been happening everywhere. I've always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here too. So, I wasn't surprised, I was just scared."

SANDERS: It is unspeakable to see that kids go to a place where they should feel safe, where they can focus on learning, are now worrying.

Q: Have you guys done enough in the Senate?

SANDERS: Of course not! But the American people are united, overwhelmingly, on common sense gun safety legislation. Expand background checks, do away with the gun show loopholes--

Q: If they are, how come this stuff doesn't ever pass?

SANDERS: It's a three-letter word, it's the N-R-A! And it's Trump and the Republicans who don't have the guts to stand up to these people, and that's pretty pathetic. You got a Congress dominated by the NRA, and all the right-wing organizations, and that is enormously unfair to the kids in these high schools, and the American people in general.

Source: Meet the Press 2018 interviews of 2020 hopefuls , May 20, 2018

We aren't divided on guns: just sick & tired of gun violence

In his first appearance at SXSW, Sanders said in regards to gun violence, "American people are sick and tired of this. On issue after issue, the truth is that American people are, by and large not divided when it comes to social and economic issues."

When it comes to gun violence, Sanders stresses the expansion of background checks; doing away with gun show loopholes where people can buy guns without background checks; banning strawman purchases where criminals can get guns; and making provisions banning the sale and distribution for assault and military weapons.

Source: Deadline.com blog on 2019 SXSW South-by-Southwest conference , Mar 9, 2018

FactCheck: No, never supported by National Rifle Association

Hillary Clinton said about Bernie Sanders, "in his own book, he talks about his 1990 campaign, and here's what he said: He clearly was helped by the NRA, because they ran ads against his opponent." Is that true? We dug up the relevant section of Sanders' book:

"In 1988, the NRA had supported [my Republican opponent Peter] Smith and had opposed me [partly because] I supported a ban on certain types of assault weapons. A few months after taking office, Smith suddenly announced that he would vote FOR the ban on assault weapons. The NRA was furious at his about-face. While the NRA has never endorsed me or given me a nickel, their efforts against Smith in 1988 clearly helped my candidacy."So Hillary is TECHNICALLY accurate, but Bernie was only "helped" by the NRA campaigning against his opponent, and not for him--because he opposed the NRA's desired stance too! And Bernie was never financially supported by the NRA at all!

Source: OnTheIssues FactCheck: 2016 Dem. primary debate in Brooklyn , Apr 15, 2016

I have shown courage against NRA on gun issues

Gov. O'MALLEY: In Maryland, we overcame the NRA's objections. [The lack of progress on federal un laws] i's because of the flip-flopping, political approach of Washington that both of my two colleagues on this stage have represented there for the last forty years.

CLINTON: I have been for the Brady bill; I have been against assault weapons.

SANDERS: In 1988, just to set the record straight governor, I ran for the U.S. House. I said, "I don't think it's a great idea that we sell automatic weapons in this country that are used by the military to kill people very rapidly." Gun people said, "Vote for one of the others, but not Bernie Sanders." I lost that election by 3%. Quite likely for that reason. Do not tell me that I have not shown courage in standing up to the gun people, in voting to ban assault weapons, voting for instant background checks, voting to end the gun show loop hole and now we're in a position to create a consensus in America on gun safety.

Source: 2015 ABC/WMUR Democratic primary debate in N.H. , Dec 19, 2015

People have the right to buy guns, with sensible regulations

O'MALLEY: Senator Sanders voted against the Brady Bill. Senator Sanders voted to give immunity to gun dealers. What we need on this issue is not more polls. We need more principle. When ISIL does videos that say the easiest way to get a combat assault weapon in the US is at a gun show, we should all be waking up. We need comprehensive gun safety legislation and a ban on assault weapons.

SANDERS: It's a country in which people choose to buy guns. More than half of the people in Vermont are gun owners. That's the right of people. I think we have to bring together the majority of the people who do believe in sensible gun safety regulations. Who denies that it is crazy to allow people to own guns who are criminals or mentally unstable? We've got to eliminate the gun show loophole. We have got to see that weapons designed by the military to kill people are not in the hands of civilians.

Source: 2015 ABC/WMUR Democratic primary debate in N.H. , Dec 19, 2015

Do more than reverse gun manufacturer immunity

Q: You say that Senator Sanders took a vote on immunity that you don't like. Should he be tattooed by a single vote and that ruins all future opinions by him on this issue?

CLINTON: I would love to see Senator Sanders join with some of my Senate colleagues that I see in the audience: Let's reverse the immunity.

SANDERS: Let's do more than reverse the immunity.

Q: Was that a mistake, Senator?

SANDERS: Let me hear if there's any difference between the Secretary and myself. I have voted time and again for background checks, and I want to see it improved and expanded. I want to see us do away with the gun show loophole. In 1988, I lost an election because I said we should not have assault weapons on the streets of America. I don't know that there's any disagreement here.

O'MALLEY: Oh, yes there is. I think we do need to repeal that immunity that you granted to the gun industry.

Source: 2015 CBS Democratic primary debate in Iowa , Nov 14, 2015

I want to shield gun shops from lawsuits, not manufacturers

Q: For a decade, you said that holding gun manufacturers legally responsible for mass shootings is a bad idea. Do you want to shield gun companies from lawsuits?

SANDERS: Of course not. This was a large and complicated bill. There were provisions in it that I think made sense. For example, do I think that a gun shop in the state of Vermont that sells legally a gun to somebody, and that somebody goes out and does something crazy, that that gun shop owner should be held responsible? I don't. On the other hand, where you have manufacturers and where you have gun shops knowingly giving guns to criminals or aiding and abetting that, of course we should take action.

CLINTON: Senator Sanders did vote for this immunity provision. I voted against it. I was in the Senate at the same time. It wasn't that complicated to me. It was pretty straightforward that he was going to give immunity to the only industry in America. Everybody else has to be accountable, but not the gun manufacturers.

Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas , Oct 13, 2015

Bring together rural states & urban states with common sense

SANDERS: I come from a rural state, and the views on gun control in rural states are different than in urban states. Our job is to bring people together around strong, commonsense gun legislation.

O'MALLEY: Have you ever been to the Eastern Shore? Have you ever been to Western Maryland? We were able to pass this and still respect the hunting traditions of people who live in our rural areas. We did it by leading with principle, not by pandering to the NRA.

Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas , Oct 13, 2015

1988: NRA opposed Congressional opponents more than him

The National Rifle Association turned against [my Republican opponent for U.S. Congress, Peter Plympton] Smith. In 1988, the NRA had supported both Smith and [my Democratic opponent, Paul] Poirier, and had opposed me. During that campaign, I was very clear that while I opposed the Brady bill because I felt that a handgun waiting period could be dealt with at the state level, I supported a ban on certain types of assault weapons, which was clearly a national issue. Both Smith and Poirier adopted the anti-gun control position of the NRA.

A few months after taking office, Smith suddenly announced that he would vote FOR the ban on assault weapons. The NRA and other elements in Vermont's sportsmen community were furious at his about-face. They felt betrayed and worked hard to defeat him. While the NRA has never endorsed me or given me a nickel, their efforts against Smith in 1988 clearly helped my candidacy. (I should add here that in 1992, '94, and '96, the NRA strongly opposed me.)

Source: Outsider in the White House , by Bernie Sanders, p. 106 , Sep 28, 2015

Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole

Q: Your Democratic rivals have been arguing that, when it comes to guns, you are out of step with liberal and progressive primary voters on the issue of gun control. One said that your gun votes had been driven by "political expediency," and that this is a dividing line between you and Hillary Clinton. Your response?

SANDERS: I have, as I understand it, a lifetime voting record from the NRA of D-minus. I voted very strongly for instant background checks. I want to see them made stronger, probably the most important thing that we can do. Number two, I voted in a state which has almost no gun control, not an easy vote--I voted against the NRA, and I voted to ban certain types of semiautomatic weapons. I voted to eliminate this gun show loophole which allows people to purchase guns without a background check. And, by the way, in addition to that, what I believe is, we need to do a lot, lot better job in terms of mental health in this country.

Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls , Aug 30, 2015


Bernie Sanders on Voting Record

OpEd: pro-gun votes in line with VT's political norms

Though Sanders has largely been to the left of his main democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, he is to the right of her in one notable way, as evidenced by his voting record: gun control. MSNBC notes that "it's important to realize that Vermont has some of the most lax gun laws in the nation, in large part because gun violence in the Green Mountain State is so low," and that Sanders' gun votes put him "in line with his home state's political norms."

Gun control advocates see Clinton as "an ally who can finish the push for tightened background checks that has stalled in President Obama's second term," The Hill reports.

Source: Rolling Stone magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls , Jun 18, 2015

Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record.

Sanders scores F by NRA on pro-gun rights policies

While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America`s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs.

The following ratings are based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionaire sent to all Congressional candidates; the NRA assigned a letter grade (with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest).

Source: NRA website 02n-NRA on Dec 31, 2003

Restrict right to bear arms, according to CC survey.

Sanders supports the CC survey question on Second Amendment

The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Further Restrictions on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms' Christian Coalition's self-description: "Christian Voter Guide is a clearing-house for traditional, pro-family voter guides. We do not create voter guides, nor do we interview or endorse candidates."

Source: Christian Coalition Surve 18CC-10 on Jul 1, 2018

Sponsored bill for background checks for private transfers.

Sanders co-sponsored Background Check Expansion Act

H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act: This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals). Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to gifts between spouses in good faith.

Heritage Action opinion to vote NO (Feb. 26, 2019): This legislation would require universal background checks for all firearm sales (even private). Unfortunately, universal background checks would do little to prevent firearm violence and would instead make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase, own, carry, and use a firearm. Studies show that universal background checks are largely ineffective when it comes to preventing mass shootings. In 19 of the most recent high-profile cases, the shooters bought their firearms legally and passed all the required background checks.

White House Statement (Biden`s opinion to vote YES): Gun violence is a public health crisis. Every day, gun violence--community violence, domestic violence, suicides, and mass shootings--takes American lives and forever alters many more. Last year, we saw record levels of homicides in cities throughout our country. The Federal gun background check system is a proven tool to reduce gun violence and save lives. This system, called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, has kept millions of guns out of potentially dangerous hands. The Administration encourages closing existing loopholes in this system [such as private transfers in H.R. 8].

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 227-203-1 on 03/11/2021 (rollcall #75); introduced in Senate with 36 co-sponsors; no further Senate action during 2021.

Source: S.529/H.R.8 21-S529 on Mar 1, 2021

Other candidates on Gun Control: Bernie Sanders on other issues:
2024 Republican Presidential Candidates:
Former Pres.Donald Trump (R nominee)
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (VP nominee)
Ryan Binkley (R-TX)
Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND)
Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)
Larry Elder (R-CA;withdrew)
Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC)
Rep. Will Hurd (R-FL;withdrew)
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
Perry Johnson (R-IL)
Mayor Steve Laffey (R-RI)
Former V.P.Mike Pence (R-IN;withdrew)
Vivek Ramaswamy (R-OH)
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Secy. Corey Stapleton (R-MT)
Mayor Francis Suarez (R-FL;withdrew)

2024 Democratic and 3rd-party primary candidates:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D nominee)
MN Gov Tim Walz (VP nominee)
Pres. Joe Biden (D-DE,retiring)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I-NY)
Chase Oliver (L-GA)
Rep.Dean Phillips (D-MN)
Jill Stein (Green)
Cornel West (Green Party)
Kanye West (Birthday Party)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
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