Sen. Christopher Coons (D-Del.) on Friday warned that Beto O’Rourke’s pledge that the government will confiscate semiautomatic AR-15 rifles will become a rallying cry for gun rights groups for years to come and haunt the Democratic Party far into the future.
“I frankly think that that clip will be played for years at Second Amendment rallies with organizations that try to scare people by saying that Democrats are coming for your guns,” Coons, an ally of former Vice President Joe Biden in the Democratic race, told CNN’s Poppy Harlow in an interview.
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O’Rourke, a former member of Congress from Texas, received loud applause at the Democratic debate in Houston on Thursday when he declared: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We’re not going to allow it to be used against fellow Americans anymore.”
O’Rourke’s statement confirms the fears of many Republicans and gun rights advocates who say the ultimate goal of the gun control movement is government confiscation of firearms.
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Coons, who is working with Republicans to pass more modest gun control measures, scrambled on Friday to contain the fallout from O’Rourke’s statement.
“I don’t think having our presidential candidates, like Congressman O’Rourke did, say that we’re going to try to take people’s guns against their will is a wise policy or political move,” Coons said.
Asked if O’Rourke’s statement was irresponsible or hurt the party, Coons said, “we’ll have to see.”
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Democratic senator warns O'Rourke AR-15 pledge could haunt party for years https://t.co/wGAEG9Yxxf pic.twitter.com/F9FCZJqyuF
— The Hill (@thehill) September 14, 2019
Well, I read a while back that Bobby’s campaign was in trouble. This statement of his should sink it for sure. Even another Democrat thinks it was a bad idea.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 14, 2019
Well, thanks for clearing that up. https://t.co/YtLiDtEsvr
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 14, 2019
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