Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Beto Going All-In on Confiscation

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Beto Going All-In on Confiscation

Democrat Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke continues to struggle to gain any sort of traction for his campaign. With some polls putting him in 10th place, and his average sitting around 7th, some might say that it is desperation time for the candidate who was once a darling with the far left and the legacy media while he was running his losing campaign to unseat U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.).

recent tweet from O’Rourke is just one clue that the candidate is, indeed, becoming desperate.

The former U.S. Representative from Texas called on banks and credit card companies to help promote gun control by refusing to do business with companies that produce legal products, and refusing to process legal financial transactions.

As has often been the case with Beto’s campaign, he seems to try to be provocative by rehashing old ideas.

Some banking institutions, with the urging of anti-gun extremists, have already adjusted their practices to accommodate those, like O’Rourke, who stand opposed to the Second Amendment. While this subject has been part of the anti-gun crusade for some time, it has been met with strong opposition, and others have questioned how credit card companies could stop processing certain, specific transactions without actually ceasing doing any business with companies that allow the targeted transactions, as well as others not targeted.

Beto’s most puzzling demand is that banks and credit card companies “(s)top processing transactions for gun sales online & at gun shows without background checks.” As a presidential candidate, and former U.S. Representative, O’Rourke should be aware that ALL firearm transfers through licensed gun dealers—whether they be at a brick-and-mortar store, at a gun show, or over the Internet—are required, by law, to be run through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

Of course, he knows this, but his tweet is intended to create confusion on the issue, as well as create the impression that he is proposing to address specific problems, even though they simply do not exist.

Rehashing an old anti-gun campaign isn’t his only sign of desperation, though.

On September 12, during the third debate of Democrat Presidential candidates, he tried to be even more provocative.

When asked if he supported confiscation of certain semi-automatic firearms, Beto stated, “Hell yes, we’re gonna take your AR-15, your AK47….”

And just to prove he was serious, his campaign started selling t-shirts.

Thankfully, he didn’t go so far as one former candidate who also proposed confiscation, but also made what many considered to be a rather ominous threat.

So far, Beto has tried being folksy, posting videos of him at the dentist, getting his hair cut, flipping burgers, and changing a tire. That hasn’t been successful in getting his polling numbers out of the low single digits.

Now he’s selling profanity and trying to prove he’s the most anti-gun candidate in the field in trying to lure support from Democrats in his Quixotic quest to be President. A far cry from when he faced only the Texas electorate, and assured lawful gun owners they could keep their firearms. If these tactics don’t work, which they likely won’t, can we expect O’Rourke to dive even deeper into the anti-gun end of the pool, and start promoting the repeal of the Second Amendment? As we often say, stay tuned!

TRENDING NOW
En Banc Third Circuit Strikes Down New Jersey’s “Assault Firearm” and “Large Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA Case

Friday, July 17, 2026

En Banc Third Circuit Strikes Down New Jersey’s “Assault Firearm” and “Large Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA Case

In a landmark victory for the Second Amendment and the National Rifle Association, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit today held that New Jersey’s bans on commonly owned semiautomatic rifles and magazines ...

Happy Trails: NRA Submits Comment on ATF’s FOPA Transportation Rulemaking

News  

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Happy Trails: NRA Submits Comment on ATF’s FOPA Transportation Rulemaking

Since the U.S. Congress enacted the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986, an American has enjoyed the right to travel with firearms “from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to ...

“Property Rights” Critique of Wolford Misleads on Facts and Law

News  

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

“Property Rights” Critique of Wolford Misleads on Facts and Law

On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Wolford v. Lopez. The case involved a Hawaii law that presumptively banned carry permit holders from carrying their arms onto publicly accessible private property, unless the carrier ...

Lott Op-Ed Lends Additional Support to National Right-to-Carry Effort

News  

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Lott Op-Ed Lends Additional Support to National Right-to-Carry Effort

National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity has been a popular topic lately.  President Donald Trump brought it up during an appearance at a Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pa., on June 23, proclaiming, “National Right-to-Carry, we’re working on it.” 

U.S. House Passes Legislation to Block Credit Card Gun Registry

News  

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

U.S. House Passes Legislation to Block Credit Card Gun Registry

On July 14, 2026, the U.S. House passed H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act. This important legislation, sponsored by Representative Riley Moore (R-WV-02), would prohibit credit card companies from tracking the purchases of ...

Judge Rules Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Bans Secured by NRA Applies Statewide

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Judge Rules Preliminary Injunction Against Virginia “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Bans Secured by NRA Applies Statewide

In the NRA’s challenge to Virginia’s “assault firearm” and magazine bans, Santolla v. Katz, Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell of the Washington County Circuit Court issued a letter opinion yesterday making clear that the preliminary injunction ...

Legislation Introduced to Protect Second Amendment Rights on Federal Lands

News  

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Legislation Introduced to Protect Second Amendment Rights on Federal Lands

On July 16, 2026, Representatives Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and Pat Fallon (R-TX-04) introduced H.R. 9719, the Federal Lands Lawful Carry Act. This legislation would clarify that law-abiding Americans can carry firearms on federal land and ...

Massachusetts: Committee of Conference Meeting Now on Hunting Reform Bill

Friday, July 17, 2026

Massachusetts: Committee of Conference Meeting Now on Hunting Reform Bill

House and Senate leadership have appointed members to the Committee of Conference for Senate Bill 3064, which includes, among other things, a lifting of the ban on Sunday hunting and expansions for archery hunting.

Trump Reinforces Support for the Second Amendment During National AM250 Address

News  

Monday, July 13, 2026

Trump Reinforces Support for the Second Amendment During National AM250 Address

It may not need to be said, but we’ll keep saying it: Donald Trump is the most pro-Second Amendment president in the NRA’s history of protecting the right to keep and bear arms.  While the nation ...

Grassroots Spotlight: NRA 2A Day Events

Take Action  

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Grassroots Spotlight: NRA 2A Day Events

Over recent weeks, more than two dozen “NRA 2A Day” events were held across the country and in Puerto Rico as part of a national grassroots push, ahead of the upcoming election season.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.