Bernie Sanders in Register interview: 'We've got to very heavily license assault weapons, right now.

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

In an interview with the Des Moines Register before a weekend sweep Iowa, Sanders endorsed a variety of measures intended to stem gun violence, including background checks, closing rules that allow anonymous trades, and banning assault weapons. He also called for heavy licensing some weapons.

"Banning the sale and distribution today won't solve that problem (of weapons already in circulation)," Sanders said, noting there are 5 million to 10 million assault rifles in the country now. "What we have to do is what was done back in 1986, when Ronald Reagan was president. What they said then, Congress and Reagan, was that we need to heavily license machine guns. Right now, very few people own machine guns as a result of that. We've got to very heavily license assault weapons, right now."

(snip)

"What the American people want now is action," Sanders said. "This is an enormously difficult issue. No one has any magical answers. As I said before, you have 300 to 400 million guns out on the streets right now. The American people want a look at a variety of approaches that can lessen the likelihood of mass killings and just gun killings in general. You have to take a look and have that discussion."

Sanders said he'll still trumpet "Medicare for All" at as many forums he can. As he started his trip in Iowa, he released a letter addressed to the heads of health insurance and pharmaceutical industry groups asking how much money they intend to spend fighting Medicare for All, and arguing that money could be used on health care costs, instead.

(snip)

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/08/09/bernie-sanders-gun-control-iowa-state-fair-soapbox-red-flag-dayton-el-paso-iowa-caucus/1969499001/

[SleeplessinSoCal]

1. a-men! and insurance to compensate families of victims.

Go for it.