On Monday, Hillary Clinton proposed reinstating the assault weapons ban that expired 12 years ago, telling CNN's New Day that "we've got to get back to common sense safety reform."
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban prevented the purchase of semi-automatic guns, such as the AR-15-style rifle used by Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen when he took 49 lives Sunday. The original ban, signed by Clinton's husband, President Bill Clinton, expired in 2004 after being highly criticized by pro-gun groups such as the NRA.
Clinton clarified that individuals do have the right to own guns. "I believe law-abiding, responsible Americans have the right to bear guns, but I also believe with the vast majority of Americans that there are common-sense, constitutionally permissible steps that we can take to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists while respecting the Second Amendment," she said.
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Donald Trump took the opposite position Monday, telling Today that he "absolutely wouldn't" ban assault weapons "because people need protection."
"First of all, there's millions of them out there. Millions of millions so they're already out there, number one," he said. "So the bad guys will have the assault rifles and the people trying to protect themselves will be standing there with a BB gun."
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