OPINION: America needs Beto O’Rouke’s fire on gun control
September 24, 2019
During ABC News Democratic debate, Former Texas Representative Beto O’Rourke expressed a sentiment that was divisive and controversial.
On Sept 12., the third Democratic presidential debate was filled with the front-runners in the upcoming 2020 race. However, the major highlight of the night was O’Rourke’s electrifying comments on gun control.
When moderator David Muir asked if he was proposing to take away assault weapons, O’Rourke energetically stated to a cheering crowd, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.”
He continued by exclaiming, “We’re not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore.”
It was a surprisingly bold and clear statement from a presidential candidate about a controversial issue.
The mass shooting epidemic hit Texas, O’Rourke’s home state badly last month. On Aug. 3, a brutal mass shooting killed 22 people in El Paso. Later on that month, a shooter killed seven innocent victims in Odessa.
That is just the tip of the iceberg. A total of 116 victims have been killed in the 69 mass shootings in 2019 alone, according to FBI statistics. The pressing, tense issue is a huge situation demanding attention from the entire country. If any national concern needs immediate action, it’s this one. Innocent Americans are dying, and the government needs to step in with a strong stance. Both sides of the aisle should be proposing strong ideas to solve this crisis.
O’Rourke’s plan involves creating a national gun registry, which would allow the government to track guns and gun owners. It also calls for creating a nationwide gun licensing system. Finally, the plan includes a mandatory buyback of all assault style rifles, in which the federal government would pay individuals for their firearms. This is a sound plan, but whether you agree with O’Rourke’s specific plan is almost besides the point.
The important thing is O’Rourke came out swinging. He’s not standing on the sidelines, waiting for this problem to fix itself. It seems like many in Washington are just hoping their “thoughts and prayers” will cause this problem to suddenly go away. That, maybe, if they just wait long enough, and blame popular culture enough, people will stop dying.
Wherever the solution comes from, we need one now. There can’t be fence-sitters with an epidemic like this. The only wrong side is not taking a side on the issue at all. I hope to see every senator and representative in Congress offering solid plan, although for some this might be difficult, considering a large amount of them receive generous donations from the National Rifle Association.
While his plan may not be the best way to solve the gun crisis, his attitude toward the issue certainly is. One of determination and resolve to solve the massive problem. It’s not common for candidates to come and draw the line like O’Rourke did, but with what the country is facing right now, it’s absolutely necessary.
Rick Smith • Sep 26, 2019 at 9:33 pm
“As long as it has a muzzle and a trigger…it’s a gun…so don’t you dare step on my 2nd Amendment Constitutional rights!”
Huh?
An M1 Rocket Launcher (aka Bazooka) has a muzzle and a trigger. Do I have a “constitutional right” to purchase and brandish a “Bazooka”? The answer is “Yes…but it’s not easy and has limits”.
It’s not “easy” to purchase a “Bazooka” and it has many restrictions and has to be registered as a “Destructive Weapon”. Long story short, there are strict regulations for these types of “traditional” weapons of war. Why? Because it is an extremely dangerous weapon. Duh.
Bazookas are designed for one purpose ONLY. To KILL as many multiple combatants (i.e. humans) as efficiently and as easily as possible.
What is an AK-47…or an AR-15 “assault weapon”? It is a “weapon of war”, designed for one purpose…to KILL as many multiple combatants (i.e. humans) as efficiently and as easily as possible. Simply put…it serves NO other purpose. And it meets its design criteria very well.
“Assault weapons” look and feel like they fit right into your GrandDads gun cabinet. Many people put them in the same category as hunting rifles. But the question is…why are these “weapons of war” not placed under the same scrutiny as more traditional weapons of war?
There’s no arguing that “Assault” guns are THE weapon of choice for crazy/unhinged murderous folks that want to kill as many people as they can…in the shortest amount of time.
And make no mistake…there are “crazy/unhinged murderous folks” all over the world…not just the US. There are NO more “crazies” in the US than anywhere else in the world. But it seems, in the US, we make it so damned easy for them to accomplish their task.
Forget the ludicrous analogies about the availability of other “kill options”. This is very simple. “Assault weapons” = “Kill Many People quickly”. And when it’s a “one vs. many” scenario, Assault weapons do it better than just about any other option.
It’s been proven in the US over and over again…
Juan Longoria • Sep 24, 2019 at 10:30 pm
Our nation’s forefathers felt the need to include the second amendment in the constitutional bill of rights because of people like Robert O’Rourke
Felipe Dominguez • Sep 24, 2019 at 10:26 pm
Beto speaks the truth and with a lot of heart !