Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke this week pivoted hard away from his 2019 pledge to “take your” semi-automatic rifles.
SO WHAT
O’Rourke appears to have lost his passion for gun control now that he’s trying to get elected governor of Texas.
WHAT HAPPENED
Twitter users have helpfully surfaced two videos highlighting O’Rourke’s nearly 180-degree turnabout.
THEN: “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” O’Rourke said during a September 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate, endorsing a mandatory gun-buyback program of “assault-style” rifles.
NOW: On Tuesday, O’Rourke told reporters at campaign stop in Tyler, Texas, that he isn’t “interested in taking anything from anyone,” and that his first concern is defending the Second Amendment.
IN BETWEEN
In a November interview with The Texas Tribune to announce his gubernatorial run, O’Rourke said he would not back down from his hard line on gun ownership.
- “Most of us understand the responsibility that comes with owning a firearm, and we will vigorously protect that Second Amendment right and also protect the lives of those around us,” he said.
- “But I think most of us also understand that we should not have military-style weapons used against our fellow Texans.”