Where Presidential Candidates Stand on Guns - “Sunday Political Brunch” - August 18, 2019

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Sunday, August 18, 2019

Mark Curtis, GoLocalPDX Contributor

With three recent mass shootings in the United States, the presidential candidates are espousing their positions on gun rights and proposed gun laws. I thought what I would do this week, is pull their stances on gun issues from their websites, and post in their own words with no editing by me. I can’t do all of them, so my benchmark was picking the top ten candidates based on the latest Real Clear Politics composite poll. Let’s “brunch” on that this week:

Joe Biden – “In the months ahead, Biden will also detail his plan to tackle the public health epidemic of gun violence in America, starting with universal background checks and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Biden’s plan to reduce gun violence will address not only mass shootings but also daily acts of gun violence.”

Elizabeth Warren – “The majority of Americans, including a majority of gun owners, support common-sense gun safety reforms. But for years, those reforms have been blocked by far-right ideologues in Congress bought and paid for by the gun industry and their NRA partners. Enough is enough. My plan to reduce gun violence includes ambitious executive actions and comprehensive legislation to break the influence of the gun lobby and implement real reform that will save lives.”

Bernie Sanders – “Expand background checks. End the gun show loophole. All gun purchases should be subject to the same background check standards. Ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons. Assault weapons are designed and sold as tools of war. There is absolutely no reason why these firearms should be sold to civilians. Prohibit high-capacity ammunition magazines. Crackdown on “straw purchases” where people buy guns for criminals.”

Kamala Harris – ”If Congress fails to send comprehensive gun safety legislation to Kamala’s desk within her first 100 days as president – including universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, and the repeal of the NRA’s corporate gun manufacturer immunity shield – she will take executive action to keep our kids and communities safe.”

Pete Buttigieg – “Make background checks universal and close the loopholes that allow dangerous individuals to acquire and keep guns. After each new mass shooting, it has become routine to learn that the perpetrator acquired their guns legally. Current federal law only requires licensed gun dealers to conduct background checks on gun sales, allowing too many people who are banned from having guns to acquire them anyway. This loophole and others that allow dangerous individuals to obtain guns have to be closed.”

Beto O’Rourke – “Beto believes everyone should have to undergo a background check before purchasing a gun. As president, Beto will: Implement Universal Background Checks, which the vast majority of Americans support—and which have been proven to reduce gun violence. Beto believes people who have exhibited a tendency to harm themselves or others shouldn’t have access to firearms. As president, Beto will: Enact Red Flag Laws, also referred to as Extreme Risk Protection Orders, which allow police officers to prevent people who have exhibited a tendency to harm themselves or others from keeping their weapons.”

Cory Booker – “As president, Cory will pursue the most sweeping gun violence prevention plan in history: Take on the NRA and the corporate gun lobby; Keep guns out of the wrong hands with gun licensing; Pass universal background checks, ban assault weapons, and close the loopholes that allow people who should never have a gun to get one; Bring real regulation and oversight to gun manufacturers End legal immunity that prevents victims of gun violence from seeking justice; Require handgun microstamping; Close the “Charleston Loophole” and the “Boyfriend Loophole”; Ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and bump stocks; Limit gun buyers to one handgun per month.”

Andrew Yang – “Responsible gun owners should continue to enjoy the right to bear arms, subject to licensing and education requirements that will enhance public safety. But we need to ban the most dangerous weapons that make mass shootings as deadly as they have become, and address the other violence – particularly suicide – that is plaguing this country.”

Tulsi Gabbard – “Both Democrats and Republicans support legislation I have co-sponsored to ban bump stocks. Both Democrats and Republicans support legislation to uphold Second Amendment rights and strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Now is the time for us to come together and to take meaningful action towards responsible, common sense gun safety reform… pass legislation already supported by a majority of Americans, like universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole and reinstating a federal ban on military-style assault weapons.”

Amy Klobuchar – “Amy supports a package of gun violence policies including instituting universal background checks by closing the gun show loophole and banning bump stocks, high capacity ammunition feeding devices and assault weapons. She is also the author of a proposal that would close what is commonly referred to as the ‘boyfriend loophole’ by preventing people who have abused dating partners from buying or owning firearms.”

“Why All of This Matters” – With three mass shooting in recent weeks, this gun issue is front and center on the presidential campaign trail and in the debates. Some of the positions here are vague generalities and platitudes, and some are very specific policy proposals. Websites are easy to edit and update. You get the sense that some of these candidates have updated their positions given recent events, but others have not. Voters can read and judge for themselves.

 

Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the five Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and most of the Washington, D.C. media market, He is a National Contributing Political Writer for “The White House Patch”

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