Former congressman Beto O’Rourke’s vow to take AR-15s from gun owners appears to represent a stark reversal from his failed Senate run last year.
At Thursday night’s Democratic presidential debate, O’Rourke was pressed by ABC’s “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir about whether he was proposing “taking away” guns from lawful gun owners. He said he was, specifically weapons “designed to kill people on a battlefield.”
“When we see that being used against children and in Odessa, I met the mother of a 15-year-old girl who was shot by an AR-15. And that mother watched her bleed to death over the course of an hour because so many other people were shot by that AR-15 in Odessa and Midland. There weren’t enough ambulances to get to them in time,” he said. O’Rourke’s hometown of El Paso also was the scene of a recent mass shooting.
He then vowed, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We’re not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore!”
His campaign has even produced a shirt with the slogan.
Hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15.
Buy your shirt now: https://t.co/kEJxoLvfH5 pic.twitter.com/KKpAKX4IL8
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 13, 2019
Pilot’s bravery on display in steering crippled plane clear of tragedy in dramatic water landing
Arizona police shooting suspect arrested, another remains at large after killing 1, wounding fiancee
Birth tourism scams draw sweeping crackdown as visa revocations climb
American Automaker Recalls Over 1 Million Cars for Possible Seat Belt Issue
US kills two ‘narco-terrorists’ in strike 2 months since last announced anti-‘narco-trafficking’ attack
Nigeria May Lose Major US Aid Package Over Christian Persecution
Thune-aligned groups unleash historic war chest to defend Senate majority: ‘Winning message’
AI’s massive appetite for power, water ignites fight in high-stakes Texas Senate race
Linda McMahon vows crackdown on teachers sexually harassing students: ‘Must end’
Enes Kanter Freedom ejected from WNBA game after courtside confrontation with WNBA player
Suspect in deaths of 5 found dead after cops uncover grim scene at rural property outside Portland
Lindsay Clancy’s three child victims forgotten amid crowds of support: mother of six
College grad reportedly dies in Six Flags roller coaster incident as family sues theme park
California dad paralyzed from neck down after diving into ocean to rescue child
City in Anti-2A State Has 7 Times the Murders of Cities in State That Respects Gun Rights
However, O’Rourke had a much different stance when he was running for Senate. During an interview on “The Chad Hasty Show” in April 2018, the host asked: “I own an AR-15. A lot of our listeners out there own AR-15s. Why should they not have one?”
“To be clear, they should have them,” O’Rourke responded. “If you purchased that AR-15, if you own it, keep it. Continue to use it responsibly.”
He added later in the same interview: “If you own a gun, keep that gun. Nobody wants to take it away from you — at least I don’t want to do that.”
Since O’Rourke’s run for Senate, there have been several mass shootings in the U.S., including in El Paso, which he has said has changed his view on gun control.
Source: Fox News
