O’Rourke Reflects on Controversial Gun Control Remarks

Former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke appeared on comedian Hasan Minhaj’s show recently and expressed that he does not regret his bold statement during the 2019 presidential debate where he said he would “take” Americans’ AK-47s and AR-15s.

O’Rourke’s comments had made headlines during the Democratic debate at the time. Three days later, he joined NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where host Chuck Todd highlighted the controversy surrounding his statement.

In the podcast episode, O’Rourke was asked whether he regretted his “very unpopular” remarks. He replied, “No,” reiterating that in Texas, it’s all too easy for individuals—23 in his own community—to purchase an AK-47 legally.

The former representative emphasized that the AK-47 was designed for combat, saying these weapons fire rapid rounds that are significantly more deadly than other types of ammunition. He also advocated for the Red Flag Firearms Act, suggesting it could have averted the tragic mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019.

“The shooter’s mother had alerted an officer about her son buying an AK-47, but the response was chilling—there’s nothing we can do; it’s legal, good luck,” he recalled.

O’Rourke referenced the pattern of mass shootings in Texas, highlighting incidents in El Paso and Midland-Odessa as examples of the urgent need for stricter gun control. Following the Uvalde school shooting in 2022, he famously confronted Governor Greg Abbott about the issue during a press conference.

During the conversation with Minhaj, the comedian probed whether O’Rourke’s sentiments reflected the average Texan’s views or if he was merely influenced by social media. Although O’Rourke didn’t give a direct answer, he mentioned he aims to find common ground on gun control issues with Republican voters in Texas.