2020 presidential candidate Michael Bennet came out against mandatory gun buyback legislation, arguing that it would be a “recipe to getting nothing done.”
Bennet made the statement Wednesday during an interview on CNN after he was asked about several other presidential candidates who have supported the idea of a mandatory buyback of assault rifles.
The Colorado senator at first deflected from the question and his response focused on expanding background checks and how Congress acted after the Sandy Hook massacre.
“Do you agree with Senator Booker and Congressman Swalwell that at this point in our country’s history and seeing the mass shootings we’ve seen, we should push for mandatory buybacks, including criminal prosecution for those who don’t sell them back?” Poppy Harlow asked again.
“Pushing for mandatory buybacks would be a recipe for getting nothing done,” Bennet answered. “I want to get something done. My kids were born the year after Columbine happened in Colorado. So for 20 years they have grown up in the shadow of not being able to go to school without worrying about getting blown up, and they’ve gone to school knowing that the Congress has never done anything to address this.”
Harlow responded, “You’re essentially saying to your party, ‘Don’t push too far, push on background checks now. Let’s get that done?’”
Bennet then reiterated her statement, “Let’s get that done.”
The issue of gun control was reignited earlier this month after two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio that left 31 people dead.
President Trump has announced his support for strengthening background checks and for implementing red flag laws.
