There are gaffes galore on the campaign trail from former Vice President Joe Biden, but then there are also staged moments that can’t be laughed off. One just occurred at a rally in Dallas, Texas, when Biden called former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke up to the stage.
Sure, O’Rourke was there to endorse Biden—the Democratic Party’s establishment is gathering fast behind Biden—but then Biden surprised the audience by saying, “I want to make something clear. I’m gonna guarantee you, this is not the last you’re seeing of this guy. You’re gonna take care of the gun problem with me; you’re gonna be the one who leads this effort. I’m counting on you; I’m counting on you; we need you badly.”
O’Rourke is the failed candidate for president who said, “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” at a Democratic primary debate last year—his campaign fell apart soon thereafter.
As Americans now own an estimated 17.7 million AR-15-type rifles, O’Rourke’s “hell yes” threat meant that, if he became president or, now, if Biden does, he’ll try to get law-enforcement officers to go to peoples’ homes to confiscate millions of popular semi-automatic rifles from American citizens.
This hasn’t even happened in the states that have banned the possession of these rifles if they are not properly registered—New York, Connecticut and Maryland. Part of the reason it hasn’t happened, even in those states, is local law-enforcement officials have repeatedly said they won’t treat normal, law-abiding citizens like that. Another reason is the media circus that would take place would surely turn even more of the public against an administration that would treat everyday Americans as if they are violent criminals.
By saying he’ll put O’Rourke in charge of all of this, Biden has gone all-in against American freedom. For decades now, Americans who cherish their Second Amendment have noticed that confiscation is clearly the endgame gun-control activists and like-minded politicians have in mind. Still, gun-control proponents have long denied this and have even called anyone who says as much an extremist who is opposed to “common-sense reforms” or “gun safety.” Now, by saying O’Rourke would be his point person on the gun issue, Biden has declared he would try door-to-door-style confiscation.
Last week, Biden said on a debate stage that “150 million” people in America have been slain with guns since 2007—nearly half of all U.S. citizens. Bizarre statements like that can perhaps be treated as weird gaffes, but putting O’Rourke in charge of gun-control initiatives cannot.
