U.S. Senator from Delaware Chris Coons is pushing back on Beto O’Rourke’s statements where he has called for mandatory government buybacks on ‘assault-style’ weapons such as AR-15s and AK-47s. In a CNN video where he comments on his thoughts about Beto, he says he himself is a gun owner and he doesn’t think O’Rourke’s plan is wise on policy or for politics. The tweet below was posted last night to the @BetoORourke Twitter feed:

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

O’Rourke re-asserted his calls to ban these types of guns last night at the latest round of presidential Democratic debates saying “hell yes we’re going to take your AR-15“ Check out Senator Chris Coon’s statement in the CNN clip below from the Washington Examiner:

Coons is an avid gun control supporter himself, but he supports deals that can actually be potentially struck with ‘middle of the road Republicans’ looking to gain favor with moderates in swing states and doesn’t think rhetoric like O’Rourkes is helpful at all. He put out a press release on the 5th of this month in fact, which can be read in its entirety below:

Senator Coons’ statement on gun safety legislative negotiations

SEPTEMBER 05, 2019

Wilmington, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on his ongoing work to build bipartisan support for commonsense gun safety legislation.

“While the House and Senate have been out of session over the past month, America’s epidemic of gun violence has continued to devastate communities and families across the country. In August alone, mass shootings claimed the lives of more than 50 innocent Americans.

“Over the last month, I’ve been in regular contact with Democratic and Republican colleagues alike, working earnestly to find a way forward on gun safety legislation. In the last week, I have had positive, constructive conversations with Trump Administration officials and Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), among others, about potential legislative proposals that are positive steps forward and meaningfully improve our gun safety laws.
“In addition to working to expand background checks, I am focused on building support for a bipartisan bill that I have with Senator Toomey, the NICS Denial Notification Act, and I have been encouraged by recent conversations I’ve had with Senate Republicans and Administration officials about the bill. This commonsense legislation would simply provide states with information to help them enforce existing laws against individuals who attempt to purchase firearms but are prohibited from owning guns. 

“Bipartisan support for gun safety legislation is growing, and there is an opportunity for the President to lead. As the Senate prepares to return to Washington next week, I will continue working directly with my Republican colleagues in the Senate and with Administration officials to try and find a bipartisan way forward.”

What remains to be seen is where the Democratic presidential front runners such as Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders stand on the extreme positions or if they steer clear altogether and continue on with more traditional left-wing gun control talking points. It seems as with candidates like Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke who are struggling in the polls, radical ‘hail mary’ statements are their only hope at staying in the limelight.

We also wouldn’t want to leave out candidate Andrew Yang’s promise of $12,000 each to 10 randomly selected people made last night. These wild attempts for attention don’t seem to be doing anyone on either side any favors so far though, except maybe the lucky jackpot winners.

Despite pushback, Beto O’Rourke doubled down anyway just moments ago where he posted this on his Twitter feed tonight:

Last night, I was asked if I’d buy back AR-15s and AK-47s.

I said, “Hell yes.”

If you’re with me, RT.

Last night, I was asked if I’d buy back AR-15s and AK-47s.

I said, “Hell yes.”

If you’re with me, RT. pic.twitter.com/Z29m8i1Orn

— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 14, 2019