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Beto O`Rourke on Gun Control
Democratic candidate for President; Texas Senator nominee
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No door-to-door enforcement, but reduce weapons of war
Q: In the last debate you said, "Hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47." But you said police wouldn't be going door to door. So how exactly are you going to force people to give up their weapons? O'Rourke: AR-15s and AK-47s are weapons
of war, designed to kill people efficiently on a battlefield. So if the logic begins with those weapons being too dangerous to sell, then it must continue by acknowledging with 16 million AR-15s and AK-47s out there, they're also too dangerous to own.
Q: Your website says you will find people who don't give up their weapons. Exactly how are you going to take away weapons from people who do not want to give them up?
O'Rourke: If someone does not turn in an AR-15 or an
AK-47, or brings it out in public and brandishes it, then that weapon will be taken from them. If they persist, there will be other consequences from law enforcement. But the expectation is that Americans will follow the law.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
, Oct 15, 2019
Ok to confiscate guns that are designed for battlefields
Q: You've said "Americans who own AR-15s and AK-47s will have to sell them to the government, all of them." You're for confiscation?O'ROURKE: I am, if it's a weapon that was designed to kill people on a battlefield. If the high velocity round shreds
everything inside of your body, because it was designed to do that, so that you would bleed to death on a battlefield and not be able to get up and kill one of our soldiers. When we see that being used against children shot by that AR-15 in Odessa and
Midland, there weren't enough ambulances to get to them in time, hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.
The day after I proposed doing that, I went to a gun show to meet with those who were selling AR-15s and AK-47s and those who were
buying those weapons. And you might be surprised, there was some common ground there, folks who said, "I would willingly give that up; I don't need this weapon to hunt, to defend myself. It is a weapon of war."
Source: September Democratic Primary debate in Houston
, Sep 12, 2019
Death in El Paso due to a gun that should not be legal
On August 3rd, a racism and violence that had long been a part of America was welcomed out into the open and directed to my hometown of El Paso,
Texas, where 22 people were killed, dozens more grievously injured by a man carrying a weapon he should never have been able to buy in the first place.
Source: September Democratic Primary debate in Houston
, Sep 12, 2019
We should have a national gun licensing program
Q: You were asked whether you supported a plan for federal gun licensing. You said it might go too far. After the El Paso and Dayton massacres do you feel the same way?O'ROURKE: We should do it.
We should have a national licensing program in this country. I also said I want to learn more. I have. This makes sense.
We know that, in those states that have adopted these licenses, or have adopted universal background checks, or have stopped the sales of weapons of war, that we are saving lives.
So let's adopt these solutions nationally and make sure that, without taking anyone's Second Amendment rights away, that we save the lives of our fellow Americans.
Source: CNN State of the Union interview for 2019 Democratic primary
, Aug 11, 2019
Money buys influence, access, and outcomes
How else can we explain that we lose nearly 40,000 people in this country to gun violence, a number that no other country comes close to. We know what the solutions are, and yet nothing has changed. It is because money buys influence, access, and,
increasingly, outcomes. The Center for Disease Control prevented from actually studying the issue in the first place. We will make sure that we ban political action committee contributions to any member of Congress or candidate for federal office.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
, Jul 30, 2019
Voluntary buyback for assault weapons, plus a ban
Beto O`Rourke on Assault Weapons: Support a voluntary buyback program.FIVE CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Steve Bullock; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Tim Ryan; Andrew Yang.
Former Rep. Beto O`Rourke supports an assault weapons
ban, writing in an op-ed in The Houston Chronicle that such firearms "should remain on the battlefield where they belong." A campaign spokesperson told POLITICO that O`Rourke also supports a voluntary federal buyback program for assault weapons.
Source: Politico "2020Dems on the Issues"
, Jul 17, 2019
Weapons of war belong on battlefield, not in our communities
Q: You're a Texan who's campaigned all over the state. What do you tell a gun owner who says the Democrats are going to take my gun away, how do you have that conversation?
O`Rourke: We talked about ending the sales of assault weapons into our communities. Those weapons of war were designed to kill people as effectively and as efficiently as possible. They should belong on the battlefield and not in our communities.
Red flag laws, so if someone poses a danger to themselves or to someone else, they're stopped before it's too late.
And what I found is that Democrats and independents and Republicans, gun-owners and non-gun-owners alike, agreed.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (first night in Miami)
, Jun 26, 2019
We need to stop listening to NRA and gun lobby
Democrats have largely converged on a moderate, consensus view of gun control; we wanted to get at a deeper question of values--so we asked "In an ideal world, would anyone own handguns?" Some answers:- Beto O'Rourke, Former congressman from
Texas: "In an ideal world, we would listen to people instead of political action committees and the gun lobby and the NRA."
- John Hickenlooper, Former governor of Colorado: "Study after study shows that having a handgun, in most cases, makes you less
safe, not more."
- Juli n Castro, Former housing secretary: "In an ideal world, people would not own handguns."
- Cory Booker, Senator from New Jersey: "As president of the United States, I'm going to bring a fight to this problem like folks have
never seen before."
- Kamala Harris, Senator from California: "We need to be practical on this. We need to pass smart gun safety laws."
- Bill de Blasio, NYC Mayor: "In the ideal world, gun ownership would be treated very, very differently."
Source: 2019 "Meet the Candidates" (NY Times.com)
, Jun 18, 2019
Background checks; limit assault rifles
O'Rourke has called for universal background checks and limits on the sale of AR-15s.
He opposes requiring states to recognize concealed carry permits granted in other states.
Source: Axios.com "What you need to know about 2020"
, Apr 29, 2019
Supports Second Amendment with sensible gun laws
I strongly support the Second Amendment. I don't want to take yours or anyone else's guns. We lose 30,000 of our fellow Americans every year to gun violence. No developed country even comes close.
We can start with areas where there is extraordinary common ground like universal background checks. We need someone who could not care less about what the NRA or the gun lobby or any other political action committee thinks.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls
, Oct 18, 2018
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
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
O`Rourke 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
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Other governors on Gun Control: |
Beto O`Rourke on other issues: |
TX Gubernatorial:
Allen West
Andrew White
Annise Parker
Chad Prather
David Dewhurst
Deidre Gilbert
Don Huffines
George P. Bush
Greg Abbott
Julian Castro
Kathie Glass
Lupe Valdez
Mike Rawlings
TX Senatorial:
Chris Bell
Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez
John Cornyn
MJ Hegar
Royce West
Sema Hernandez
Ted Cruz
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Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
CA Recall:
S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
vs.Former U.S.Rep Doug Ose(R)
vs.Laura Smith(R)
vs.Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner(R)
vs.Radio Host Larry Elder(R)
vs.Kevin Paffrath(D)
vs. Gavin Newsom(D)
NJ:
Incumbent Phil Murphy(D)
vs.State Rep. Jack Ciattarelli(R)
vs.Candidate Hirsh Singh(R)
vs.GOP Chair Doug Steinhardt(R)
VA:
Incumbent Ralph Northam(D,term-limited)
vs.Former Governor Terry McAuliffe(D)
vs.CEO Glenn Youngkin(R)
vs.A.G. Mark Herring(D)
vs.State Sen. Amanda Chase(I)
vs.Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax(D)
vs.State Rep. Jennifer Carroll Foy(D)
vs.State Rep. Lee Carter(D)
vs.State Sen. Jennifer McClellan(D)
vs.State Rep. Kirk Cox(R)
vs.CEO Pete Snyder(R)
Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
KY:
Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.Former Gov. Matt Bevin(? R)
vs.Senator Rand Paul(? R)
vs.State Auditor Mark Harmon(R)
LA:
Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
vs.Biden Adviser Cedric Richmond(? D)
vs.Senator John Neely Kennedy(? R)
MS:
Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
vs.Bill Waller(R)
Gubernatorial Debates 2022:
AK:
Incumbent Mike Dunleavy(R)
vs.Bill Walker(I)
vs.Les Gara(D)
vs.Billy Toien(L)
AL:
Incumbent Kay Ivey(R)
vs.Chris Countryman(D)
vs.Stacy Lee George(R)
AR:
Incumbent Asa Hutchinson(R,term-limited)
vs.Trump Adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R)
vs.A.G. Leslie Rutledge(R,withdrew Nov.2021)
vs.Ricky Dale Harrington(L)
vs.Anthony Bland(D)
AZ:
Incumbent Doug Ducey(R,term-limited)
Mayor Marco Lopez(D)
vs.Former news anchor Kari Lake(R)
vs.Secretary of State Katie Hobbs(D)
vs.State Treasurer Kimberly Yee(R)
vs.U.S.Rep.Matt Salmon(R)
vs.Steve Gaynor(R)
vs.State Rep.Aaron Lieberman(D)
vs.Jorge Rivas(R)
CA:
Incumbent Gavin Newsom(D)
vs.S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
vs.Kevin Paffrath(D)
CO:
Incumbent Jared Polis(D)
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CT:
Incumbent Ned Lamont(D)
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FL:
Incumbent Ron DeSantis(R)
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vs.Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried(D)
GA:
Incumbent Brian Kemp(R)
vs.Minority Leader Stacey Abrams(D)
vs.Senate candidate Shane Hazel(L)
vs.State Rep.Vernon Jones(R)
vs.2020 candidate Kandiss Taylor(R)
HI:
Incumbent David Ige(D,term-limited)
vs.Marissa Kerns(R)
vs.Lt.Gov.Josh Green(D)
vs.Vicky Cayetano(D)
vs.Paul Morgan(R)
IA:
Incumbent Kim Reynolds(R)
vs.Deidre DeJear(D)
vs.State Rep.Ras Smith(D)
ID:
Incumbent Brad Little(R)
vs.Raul Labrador(R)
vs.Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin(R)
vs.Ammon Bundy(R)
vs.Ed Humphreys(R)
IL:
Incumbent J.B. Pritzker(D)
vs.State Sen.Darren Bailey(R)
vs.Paul Schimpf(R)
vs.Jesse Sullivan(R)
KS:
Incumbent Laura Kelly(D)
vs.Jeff Colyer(R)
vs.State Sen.Derek Schmidt(R)
vs.Chase LaPorte(R)
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Gubernatorial Debates 2022 (continued):
MA:
Incumbent Charlie Baker(R)
vs.Lt.Gov.Karyn Polito(R)
vs.State Rep. Geoff Diehl(R)
vs.Harvard Professor Danielle Allen(D)
vs.State Sen.Ben Downing(D)
vs.State Sen.Sonia Chang-Diaz(D)
MD:
Incumbent Larry Hogan(R,term-limited)
vs.State Del.Robin Ficker(R)
vs.State Del.Peter Franchot(D)
vs.State Del.Kelly M. Schulz(R)
vs.Secretary John B. King(D)
vs.Ashwani Jain(D)
vs.State A.G. Doug Gansler(D)
vs.County Exec. Rushern Baker(D)
vs.Secretary Thomas Perez(D)
vs.Wes Moore(D)
vs.Dan Cox(R)
ME:
Incumbent Janet Mills(D)
vs.Former Gov. Paul LePage(R)
MI:
Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer(D)
vs.Chief James Craig(R)
vs.Police Chief Tudor Dixon(R)
vs.Garrett Soldano(R)
vs.John E. James(? R)
MN:
Incumbent Tim Walz(DFL)
vs.Mayor Mike Murphy(R)
vs.State Sen.Scott Jensen(R)
vs.Michelle Benson(R)
vs.Paul Gazelka(R)
NE:
Incumbent Pete Ricketts(R,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Senator Bob Krist(R)
vs.Chuck Herbster(R)
vs.Jim Pillen(R)
vs.Brett Lindstrom(R)
vs.Carol Blood(D)
NH:
Incumbent Chris Sununu(R)
vs.Dan Feltes(D)
vs.Karen Testerman(R)
NM:
Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham(D)
vs.Commissioner Jay Block(R)
vs.State Rep.Rebecca Dow(R)
NV:
Incumbent Steve Sisolak(D)
vs.A.G.Adam Laxalt(R)
vs.North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee(R)
vs.Dean Heller(R)
vs.Joe Lombardo(R)
NY:
Incumbent Andrew Cuomo(D,resigned)
vs.Acting Gov.Kathy Hochul(D)
vs.Rob Astorino(R)
vs.Andrew Giuliani(R)
vs.US.Rep.Lee Zeldin(R)
vs.Tom Suozzi(D)
OH:
Incumbent Mike DeWine(R)
vs.Former Rep.Jim Renacci(R)
vs.Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley(D)
vs.Mayor John Cranley(D)
OK:
Incumbent Kevin Stitt(R)
vs.State Sen. Ervin Yen(R)
vs.Connie Johnson(D)
vs.Joy Hofmeister(D)
OR:
Incumbent Kate Brown(D,term-limited)
vs.Gov. nominee Bud Pierce(R)
vs.Paul Romero(R)
vs.Casey Kulla(D)
vs.Kerry McQuisten(R)
vs.Tina Kotek(D)
vs.Nicholas Kristof(D)
PA:
Incumbent Tom Wolf(D,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Rep. Lou Barletta(R)
vs.Commissioner Joe Gale(R)
vs.A.G.Josh Shapiro(D)
vs.William McSwain(R)
RI:
Incumbent Gina Raimondo(D,to Cabinet)
vs.Gov. Dan McKee(D)
vs.Secy.Matt Brown(D)
vs.Mayor Allan Fung(R ?)
vs.Luis-Daniel Munoz(D)
vs.RI Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea(D)
vs.Seth Magainer(D)
vs.Helena Foulkes(D)
SC:
Incumbent Henry McMaster(R)
vs.US.Rep.Joe Cunningham(D)
vs.State senator Mia McLeod(D)
SD:
Incumbent Kristi Noem(R)
vs.State Rep. Billie Sutton(? D)
TN:
Incumbent Bill Lee(R)
vs.Carnita Atwater(D)
vs.J B Smiley(D)
TX:
Incumbent Greg Abbott(R)
vs.Beto O`Rourke(D)
vs.Chad Prather(R)
vs.State Sen.Don Huffines(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Allen West(R)
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VT:
Incumbent Phil Scott(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WI:
Incumbent Tony Evers(D)
vs.CEO Jonathan Wichmann(R)
vs.Rebecca Kleefisch(R)
WY:
Incumbent Mark Gordon(R)
vs.Rex Rammell(R)
vs.Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss(? D)
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