2018 TX Senate race: on Gun Control


Beto O`Rourke: Universal background checks; ban assault weapons

Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation?

Ted Cruz (R): No. Led fight not to ban assault weapons. Calls gun control efforts "tiresome."

Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Supports universal background checks & banning assault-style weapons.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Ted Cruz: Led fight not to ban assault weapons

Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation?

Ted Cruz (R): No. Led fight not to ban assault weapons. Calls gun control efforts "tiresome."

Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Supports universal background checks & banning assault-style weapons.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Ted Cruz: Purpose of Second Amendment is protection against tyranny

[Former Congressman and radio talk-show host] Joe Walsh took to Twitter [prior to the 2016 election] to announce his post-election day plans. "On November 9th," he wrote, "if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket. You in?"

It may be tempting to write off Walsh's latest proclamation. But this sentiment--that a Donald Trump loss might justify the violent overthrow of a Hillary Clinton administration--is a longtime GOP talking point. The NRA has longed peddled the "insurrectionist" theory of the Second Amendment, arguing that the right to bear arms was intended to protect citizens against a tyrannical ruler.

This insurrectionist theory has gained a foothold in the Republican Party. During his campaign for the presidential nomination, Texas Republican Ted Cruz asserted that the Second Amendment provides "a Constitutional right to protect your children, your family, your home, our lives, and to serve as the ultimate check against governmental tyranny--for the protection of liberty."

Source: Slate.com, "Grabbing My Musket," on 2018 Texas Senate race Oct 26, 2016

Beto O`Rourke: Supports common sense gun laws

I think closing all background check loopholes would be a great place to start. That is universally popular in this country. It makes so much obvious sense that it's hard to believe Congress has been unable to act on that. That goes to show you the power of the NRA. I would like to see the Centers for Disease Control have the ability to study gun violence, which they are prohibited from doing today.That again shows Congress' capture by a narrow interest group.
Source: El Paso Inc. on 2018 Texas Senate race Jul 18, 2016

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Texas Senate race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Gun Control.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Ted Cruz on Gun Control.
Candidates and political leaders on Gun Control:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 27, 2019