The series of 2019 mass shootings have intensified debates and conversations about gun control in America. As it stands, the majority of 2020 Democrats favor gun control, particularly in the form of mandatory buyback programs. This is something which candidates like Cory Booker and Beto O’Rourke remain openly supportive of.
However, the story for South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is quite different. Unlike many of his 2020 rivals, Buttigieg does not support mandatory buybacks. During a recent interview, Buttigieg dimissed mandatory buybacks as the “confiscation” of guns; Buttigieg moreover had some choice words for O’Rourke after the latter censured his candidacy for president.
Buttigieg’s remarks on mandatory buybacks also prompted Booker to chime in with his own thoughts.
A Closer Look at 2020 Democrats’ Stance on Mandatory Buyback Programs
When speaking with Good Luck America, Buttigieg shared his views on both O’Rourke and mandatory buybacks.
The South Bend mayor declared that O’Rourke’s personal attacks are simply grounded in a motivation to remain relevant. Furthermore, Buttigieg cited his differing views on mandatory buybacks as a “policy difference.”