BusinessInsider.com: on Gun Control

Bill Weld: 1990s: supported assault weapons bans

On guns:
• Weld broke with Republicans to back assault weapons bans in the 1990s.
• He has also supported waiting periods for firearms purchases and bans on handgun sales to individuals under 21.

Joe Walsh: Federal background check at gun shows and online

Walsh: I believe in the second Amendment, plain and simple. The problem we have now in this country is this are these mass shootings. There are a lot of things we need to look at. And I am a big gun guy, but here's what our focus should be on. We don't want anybody who shouldn't have a gun to have a gun. When I leave here in about an hour if I go to a gun dealer down the street and I want to buy a gun, I have to get a federal background check. It makes sense to me that if I buy that same gun at a gun show, I should have to undergo a federal background check. It makes the same sense to me that if I buy a gun online, I should have to undergo the background check. It makes sense that if I buy that same gun from a friend across town I should have got a background check. I think that will help, but then we've got to really take a serious look at mental health issues in this country.

Joe Walsh: Arm school employees to prevent school shootings

On guns:
• When he ran for Congress in 1996, Walsh said he was in favor of gun control. But when he ran as a Republican in 2010, Walsh came out in strong support of the Second Amendment.
• He co-sponsored the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act, which would have loosened restrictions on interstate gun purchases.
• In 2018, Walsh said on Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy show, "Who Is America?" that he supported a program that would arm children from ages 4 to 12. He later denied he said that, but video footage showed Walsh repeatedly endorsed the program.
• Walsh supports arming school employees to prevent school shootings, and ending gun-free zones in schools and military bases.
• The former Illinois congressman lauded gun rights at Business Insider's Republican debate in September. "I'm a big gun guy. I believe in the Second Amendment, plain and simple. There's no silver bullet to this issue."