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Democratic candidates for Senate offer contrasting views on guns, health care, beating John Cornyn
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| Contributor | EastTexasDem |
| Last Edited | EastTexasDem Sep 28, 2019 05:26pm |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Sep 28, 2019 03:25pm |
| Description | AUSTIN — The Democratic Party candidates for Senate offered contrasting views Saturday on curbing gun violence, providing affordable health care and how to defeat incumbent Republican John Cornyn.
During a forum at the Texas Tribune Festival moderated by The Tribune's Patrick Svitek, all five major contenders agreed that universal background checks and red flag laws should be implemented.
But activist Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez of Austin and former Rep. Chris Bell of Houston favored more aggressive gun control laws, most notable a forced buyback program to confiscate assault weapons like the popular AR-15 rifle.
State Sen. Royce West of Dallas and Houston council member Amanda Edwards said they were supportive of voluntary buyback programs.
"These are weapons of war that don't belong in the hands of civilians," Tzintzún Ramirez said. "We have to take them out of circulation to make sure our communities are safe."
Bell said making such a program mandatory was essential.
"A voluntary buyback proposal will not work," Bell said. "It must be mandatory."
Edwards disagreed. "A voluntary buyback program offers a great starting point in term of getting bipartisan support," she said.
Edwards said she supports "restrictions of sales" of assault weapons, but stopped short of calling for an outright ban on such guns.
Former Air Force helicopter pilot MJ Hegar of Round Rock doesn't support a buyback proposal, but would end open carry laws. |
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