AURORA, Colorado - Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke says he's open to broadening his proposal to require owners of AK-47s and AR-15s to sell them to the Meantime, a new survey appears to support O'Rourke's push for a mandatory buyback.
The latest Rasmussen poll finds that 51% of voters at least somewhat favor a mandatory buyback while just 36% are opposed.
During an emotional town hall Thursday near the site of the Colorado theater shooting, a man who identified himself as a survivor of the 1999 Columbine massacre noted that the shooters there didn't use the military-style weapons O'Rourke wants to take. They instead used regular semi-automatic weapons. He challenged O'Rourke to confiscate those arms as well.
O'Rourke told reporters afterward: "If there's a way to improve what we proposed, I want to make sure we're reflecting that."
Most pistols and many rifles in the U.S. are semi-automatic. In contrast, there are about 10 million AK-47s and AR-15s out of more than 300 million firearms in private hands in the U.S.
However, those same voters he polled said that it is unlikely to work. The reason: gun owners won’t turn them over.
“Just 24% of all voters think it is even somewhat likely that most owners of those weapons would actually turn their weapons over to the government. Only 9% consider that outcome ‘very likely,’” said the pollster.
The poll comes as the administration is shopping a proposal to slightly expand background checks and put a spotlight on the mental health of potential gun owners in a bid to curb gun violence without infringing on Second Amendment rights.
O'Rourke has staked out the most liberal stance on guns, promising to demand owners give up their weapons or face a fine. He even had a campaign T-shirt made up featuring his headline-grabbing line from the last Democratic debate: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15.”
O'Rourke has staked out the most liberal stance on guns, promising to demand owners give up their weapons or face a fine. He even had a campaign T-shirt made up featuring his headline-grabbing line from the last Democratic debate: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15.”
The survey also found support for a total gun buyback. Rasmussen said that 36% are at least somewhat supportive of a mandatory buyback of all privately owned guns.
Gun owners and potential owners have recently responded to the buyback talk by making record purchases of weapons and bullets, according to background check numbers and gun stores.
My 2 cents worth on this. I have found recent polls showing exactly 180 degrees opposite of this poll. Something tells me it was asked of people in a different manner from what we are being told.
I haven't found how it was asked.
My speculation is this.
If I asked you:
1. Are you in favor of a government mandated buy back on these wrapons?
Most would say No or be opposed to it.
If I asked you:
2.Should it be mandated that the government must buy back any weapons confiscated?
Many would say of course. The government should not confiscate personal property without adequate compensation for that property.
Big difference in the answers you get.
Depending on the questions you ask!
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