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
Virginia: Gov. Spanberger’s (D) Approval Tanks after Radical Anti-gun Legislative Session

News  

Monday, April 13, 2026

Virginia: Gov. Spanberger’s (D) Approval Tanks after Radical Anti-gun Legislative Session

It’s only two months into one-party Democrat rule in the Old Dominion, and Virginians don’t like what they’re seeing.

Virginia: Spanberger Bill Threatens to Ban Most Centerfire Semi-autos, Devastate Right-to-Carry!

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Virginia: Spanberger Bill Threatens to Ban Most Centerfire Semi-autos, Devastate Right-to-Carry!

As bad as the Democrat-controlled Virginia General Assembly’s ban on commonly-owned semi-automatics is, phony moderate Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is seeking to make it even worse.

Australia’s National Gun Buyback Already an “Extinct Policy”

News  

Monday, April 13, 2026

Australia’s National Gun Buyback Already an “Extinct Policy”

The ineffectual virtue-signaling that so-called gun “buybacks” represent is finally being exposed on a global level, given the massive problems with the Canadian, and now the Australian, federal government gun bans and grabs.

Maryland: Semi-Auto Ban Goes to Governor’s Desk

Friday, April 10, 2026

Maryland: Semi-Auto Ban Goes to Governor’s Desk

Today, the generally assembly passed SB 334, a ban on many common semi-automatic handguns, it now heads to the governor’s desk

Virginia: Governor Spanberger Signing Away Your Rights

Friday, April 10, 2026

Virginia: Governor Spanberger Signing Away Your Rights

Today, April 10th, Governor Spanberger met the expectations of her anti-gun allies, signing two bills into law. This action sets the tone for what may come next as she has until April 13th to render a ...

We Can Relate: Digital Culture Rues Targeting of Neutral Technology, Innocent Users

News  

Monday, April 13, 2026

We Can Relate: Digital Culture Rues Targeting of Neutral Technology, Innocent Users

The rapid expansion of regulations targeting 3D printed firearms is increasingly raising justifiable concerns apart from the Second Amendment community.

Sacré Bleu! French Gun Owners Exposed in Government Data Breach

News  

Monday, April 13, 2026

Sacré Bleu! French Gun Owners Exposed in Government Data Breach

In a development that will shock absolutely nobody acquainted with the realities of gun control, there was another security breach of firearm owner data maintained by a government agency.

Kentucky: Legislature Overrides Governor Beshear's Vetoes on Pro-Gun Bills

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Kentucky: Legislature Overrides Governor Beshear's Vetoes on Pro-Gun Bills

Today, April 14th, the legislature convened for a veto override session, and successfully overrode Governor Andy Beshear's vetoes of House Bill 78 and House Bill 312.

Virginia: Spanberger Offers Fake Adjustments, Real Infringements on Virginia Gun Rights

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Virginia: Spanberger Offers Fake Adjustments, Real Infringements on Virginia Gun Rights

Fresh off the heels of receiving one of the most abysmal approval ratings for a modern Virginia Governor, Abigial Spanberger has doubled-down and signed several pieces of anti-Second Amendment legislation.

California: Anti-Gun Legislation Scheduled for Committee Hearings Next Week!

Thursday, April 9, 2026

California: Anti-Gun Legislation Scheduled for Committee Hearings Next Week!

On Monday, April 13th at 10:00 AM, the Senate Committee on Appropriations will hear Senate Bill 948, legislation aimed at dramatically expanding the scope and requirements of California's Firearm Safety Certificate.

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.