In Salem, Beto O'Rourke says rival's gun control plans go 'too far'

[TexasTowelie]

SALEM — Former Democratic Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke marked his third presidential campaign visit to the Granite State by drawing a line in the sand on the issue of gun control between himself and 2020 rival Sen. Cory Booker.

Following a Thursday evening event on the banks of Salem’s Millville Lake, O’Rourke told reporters that he thought Booker’s recent call for a federal licensing program for the purchase and ownership of firearms went too far.

“I come from, just like New Hampshire, a very proud, gun-owning state,” O’Rourke said.

“People who use firearms responsibly for hunting; for self protection; for collection. I think relying on the responsibility and accountability that gun owners feel, matching that with universal background checks, stopping the sales of weapons of war, that’s the perfect way to complement the responsible gun ownership that we see in this country right now. I don’t know if we need to take the step of licensing every single firearm to every single owner — I think that may be too far.”

Read more: https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/national/in-salem-beto-o-rourke-says-rival-s-gun-control/article_53e8427d-e0ea-52cb-9f6c-840571870278.html

[lark]

1. See, this is why I was excited about the process.

Reading this moved him much nearer the bottom of my list, just above Sanders, Gillibrand and Tulsi, of the ones I know something about. I think Booker has the better idea, not Beto.

However, as I say about all of them, if they win the nomination, I will work for him in the general to help him defeat drumpf.

[Indygram]

2. This is no different than a voter ID law or poll tax

You have to be very careful about making constitutional rights like voting or owning a firearm come with a price tag. Gun safety courses are not free. Licenses for anything are not free. What about very poor people who hunt as a source of food for their family?

Beto is not against discussing anything but there are a lot of proposals that sound great on paper that are problematic when implemented. A national license with gun safety requirement will never pass and by including it there would be so much resistance and push back that yet again NOTHING would pass.

[lark]

3. State could make that free or nearly so.

People with no resources don't need a gun, they need food and shelter. I do not believe the current interpretation of the constitution is is anyway correct, there is no individual right to own a gun, it is not included in the constitution - it's just the NRA Russian Repug SCOTUS ruling for big business and against the lives of our citizens.

If you aim for the stars, you might hit the moon. If you aim for nothing that's what you get. Bills can be amended to pass. Right now no gun control would pass the Senate, zip, zero, nada. Does that mean we shouldn't try? I don't think so. The idea is to save lives, not keep the status quo.

[Indygram]

6. I grew up in a rural area and my family was poor

We had several hunting rifles that were handed down from family members. If not for those hunting rifles my family would have starved. Those guns PROVIDED the food our family needed. This is STILL the reality for many rural families where there are few jobs and families need to hunt and grow the bulk of their food and can or freeze it for the year.

Those rural voters who hear Bookers proposal do NOT oppose background checks or a ban on assault rifles. They DO, however, care about someone threatening to do something that could be harmful to their families.

[dalton99a]

7. +1. Many don't realize hunting is also a way to control the deer population

[kcr]

9. True

But there's something you need to get before you do that... I forget what it's called...

[Indygram]

10. A hunting license is not always required

If you are a Native American tribal member, you don't need a license. In some states if you hunt on your own property you don't need a license. Adding additional costs of a federal license and requiring often expensive hunter safety courses that rural people would have to probably drive at least 2-3 hours to get to would be an added financial burden. Again...like a voter ID or poll tax.

[kcr]

20. Thanks! Yep. A license.

It was right on the tip of my tongue. Thanks for helping me out.

[dalton99a]

4. There are plenty of people who hunt for food in rural areas

A deer can feed a small family for several months

[kcr]

8. A lot of things sound great when you think them in your head, too

But don't sound so great when you say them out loud. Like saying things like, "X will never pass!"

[Indygram]

11. Go ahead and try running on that and enjoy another 4 years of Trump

eom

[kcr]

21. Don't go getting too excited now

[Humanist_Activist]

16. As far as I'm aware of, no one is talking about restricting long guns...

that aren't semi-automatic. Which would be the appropriate gun to hunt deer with.

10 of thousands of people die every year due to easy access to handguns, frankly circulation, private possession and distribution of handguns should be outright banned or severely restricted, to for, example shooting ranges only.

[Indygram]

17. It's the mandatory federal license and gun safety courses he wants to require that is the issue

Those cost money that many poor rural families would not be able to afford. These are the same families who most rely on hunting to feed their families. My family was like that. Adding additional costs onto poor families for them to be allowed to feed themselves is not right. Another consideration is that rural families don't live near places where safety courses would be offered. That is an additional expense for them to have to drive and pay for the gas to go 2-3 hours away. When I was growing up it was a 30-40 minute one way drive to a grocery store. The nearest DMV office was almost 3 hours away. It's already difficult for these families. And even offering an online course would not help everyone because some areas don't have internet access. Unless you live in a very rural area you take a lot of things for granted.

[dalton99a]

5. Booker's proposal is unrealistic and impractical

BTW Beto is rated "F" by the NRA

[aikoaiko]

12. Does Booker really advocate for gun registration?

That saddens me.

[LongtimeAZDem]

14. Yes, he does:

Individuals could seek a gun license at a designated local office, widely available in urban and rural areas, similar to applying for or renewing a passport. They would submit fingerprints, provide basic background information, and demonstrate completion of a certified gun safety course.

https://medium.com/@corybooker/corys-plan-to-end-the-gun-violence-epidemic-ab377d9fb112

[dalton99a]

15. That's a lot more onerous than applying for or renewing a passport

[Indygram]

18. Where I am from it's about a 3 hour drive to one of those licensing offices

which is part of why this is no better than voter ID laws or poll taxes. It's also a sure fire way to get Trump re-elected.

[Jake Stern]

13. Finally, a Dem candidate that gets it

Cory Booker's proposals are too extreme and will cost us a metric shit ton of votes.

[LongtimeAZDem]

19. I'd say Buttigieg does as well; he's called for universal background checks and Red-Flag laws,

without calling for licensing, bans, or confiscation.