Beto O’Rourke’s 180 on Gun Confiscation Is Absolutely Priceless
Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke this week pivoted hard away from his 2019 pledge to “take your” semi-automatic rifles.
SO WHAT
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.
FLASHBACK : Beto O'Rourke: 'Hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47' pic.twitter.com/6c53tRXaon
— Mike (@fuctmind) February 10, 2022
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.
Texas gubernatorial candidate Robert Francis O’Rourke, who said in Presidential debate that "hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15," now says “I’m not interested in taking anything from anyone. What I want to make sure that we do is defend the Second Amendment.” pic.twitter.com/hKWGNbeVLN
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 11, 2022
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.”