{"id":114414,"date":"2019-08-19T18:50:37","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T22:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=114414"},"modified":"2019-08-19T18:50:37","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T02:37:56","slug":"beto-o-rourke-arkansas-gun-show-ban-ar-15s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/beto-o-rourke-arkansas-gun-show-ban-ar-15s\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert ‘Beto’ O\u2019Rourke Visits Arkansas Gun Show, Vows to Ban Their AR-15s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Robert \u201cBeto\u201d O\u2019Rourke visited an Arkansas gun show over the weekend and vowed to ban and buyback the AR-15s being sold there. The handsomest Irishman in the 2020 Democratic presidential field stopped by the show to \u201cinclude everyone in this conversation\u201d and soon after posted on social media his disapproval of the \u201cweapons of war\u201d he saw being sold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In Arkansas, I listened to gun owners and sellers \u2014\nand appreciated hearing their perspectives,” the Texas Democrat said on Twitter.\n“But as the plan we released yesterday says, if I’m president, you\nwouldn’t be able to buy weapons of war for $395. You wouldn’t be able to buy\nthem at all.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Arkansas, I listened to gun owners and sellers\u2014and appreciated hearing their perspectives. But as the plan we released yesterday says, if I\u2019m president, you wouldn\u2019t be able to buy weapons of war for $395. You wouldn\u2019t be able to buy them at all. pic.twitter.com\/Pz8KuFq9Tt<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 17, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote> \n\n\n\n

SEE ALSO: Beto\u2019s Plan to Stop Gun Violence Isn\u2019t His Own<\/a> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Rourke traveled from the gun show to the steps of the state capitol in Little Rock, where he headlined a rally hosted by the anti-gun group Moms Demand Action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday I went to a gun show in Conway, Arkansas,\u201d he told the crowd, sparking laughter and applause. \u201cI listened to those who were selling guns to learn from them to hear their perspective and to share mine with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Rourke claimed to have had several conversations with gun\nowners, all of whom (amazingly!) agreed with his gun control policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says one man selling guns at the show came up to him and\nsaid, unprompted, that he should not be allowed to sell guns at a gun show and\nvoiced support for a universal background check law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hours later, O\u2019Rourke used an additional alleged gun-show\nconversation to energize donors at the Annual Clinton Dinner in Little Rock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He claims another man at the show, a self-described Trump\nsupporter, admitted that \u201cassault rifles\u201d are not needed for hunting or\nself-defense. The man further claimed, according to O\u2019Rourke, that AR-15s are\ndesigned for the battlefield, and that he would be willing to turn his in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Rourke did not mention whether he had any additional conversations\nwith people who disagreed with his gun control proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

SEE ALSO: Primary Debates Label Gun Manufacturers \u2018Enemies\u2019<\/a> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The candidate reiterated the theme of unity in a statement about his visit to the show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’re not going to get this done until we include\neveryone in this conversation,” he said. “In a democracy and in this\ncountry, I hope, you’re never allowed to write anybody off because they’re a\nRepublican, because they’re a gun seller, because they’re at a gun show. In\nfact, if you want to solve and address these challenges, listen to the people\nwho understand it perhaps in some ways better than anybody.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s unlikely gun owners more broadly will be so (allegedly) accepting of O\u2019Rourke\u2019s proposals. He released last week a full slate<\/a> of gun control policies, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n