Bernie Sanders Stands Up For Gun Shop Owners In Flint Debate, Earns Praise From NRA

Following an increase in gun-related deaths in America, Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders faced off in Flint, Michigan, with regard to the issue. Senator Bernie Sanders pointed out that he wouldn’t end gun manufacturing in the country.

On Sunday night, both candidates earned different impressions from the public. While Clinton seemed to have grabbed the chance to use her rival’s position in her favor, Sanders stood his ground despite the reactions of the audience.

During the debate, Senator Bernie Sanders claimed that he supports the idea of limiting gun manufacturers’ liability for gun violence. According to him, gun shop owners are not accountable for any damage done by gun buyers and users.

Bernie Sanders’s vote to protect gun companies from lawsuits, explained https://t.co/Bga1U6YHoa

— Vox (@voxdotcom) March 7, 2016

“If I understand it, and correct me if I’m wrong, if you go to a gun store and you legally purchase a gun, and then three days later you go out and start killing people, is the point of this lawsuit to hold the gun shop owner or the manufacturer of that gun liable? If that is the point, I have to tell you I disagree.”

As Sanders explained his stand on the matter, Clinton rhetorically questioned her rival’s support of the gun control bill that excuses gun manufacturers from holding responsibility for gun-related crimes. This resulted in her calling him out over his stance on “corporate greed” on Wall Street. The former Secretary of State pointed out that gun manufacturers “sell guns to make as much money as they can make.”

.@HillaryClinton puts @BernieSanders on the defensive over gun votes https://t.co/wGRSVDzmwr | AP Photo pic.twitter.com/Chgg6L5Aq0

— POLITICO (@politico) March 7, 2016

Hillary Clinton indicated her support for such legislation before explaining her stand against legally giving gun manufacturers and sellers immunity from gun-related violence.

In contrast to what Bernie Sanders said about improving gun design and making guns safer, Clinton hinted that the immunity would interrupt the “very promising legal theory” to try to make guns safer by forcing gun manufacturers to be more accountable.

However, Senator Bernie Sanders pointed out that the gun manufacturers should only be held liable if they are aware that they are selling guns to criminals. Otherwise, they should be legally off the hook.

“I disagree because you hold people in terms of this liability thing where you hold manufacturers liable is if they understand that they are selling guns in an area getting into the hands of criminals, of course they should be held liable,” he indicated.

Bernie Sanders: “I Support the Ban of Assault Weapons”

Meanwhile, reports say that Senator Bernie Sanders is firmly standing in defense of his 2005 vote favoring the restricted liability of the gun manufacturers. When Anderson Cooper asked about the Sandy Hook case, Sanders showed sympathy with the need to seriously address the matter.

Bernie Sanders addressed the issues of mass killings even in previous years. According to him, what the country has gone through is a matter that cannot go unaddressed.

But on the debate stage, Sanders did not show any signs of giving up his opinion regarding gun control. Instead, he firmly implied that the bill talks about the culmination of the gun industry in the country.

“But it, as I understand it, Anderson [Cooper], and maybe I’m wrong, what you’re really talking about is people saying, ‘Let’s end gun manufacturing in America.’ That’s the implications of that, and I don’t agree with that.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders Explains His Stance on Gun Control

While others, including Hillary Clinton, believe the gun control law would make the United States safer, Bernie Sanders seemed to oppose the notion. Sanders emphasized that suing the gun makers is not the solution to the problem.

Sanders pointed out that it might not be appropriate to put the blame on law-abiding gun manufacturers for the crimes they did not commit or the crimes committed by people who legally purchased weapons from them.

Sources claim that the debate has caused a massive drop in Sanders’ supporters. However, he earned some praise from the National Rifle Association.

Point is they’re equally bad on guns, but even @BernieSanders knows @HillaryClinton is lying about liability issue! https://t.co/xRoGiHZBWT

— NRA (@NRA) March 7, 2016

Although aware of the result, Bernie Sanders confidently stood by his position of confining the sale of weapons. Notwithstanding the controversial discussion, this recent Democratic debate definitely provided a little more excitement to the audience.

The senator supports the bill with restrictions on gun manufacturers’ immunity. Could Senator Bernie Sanders’ opinion regarding gun control be the answer to America’s gun-related crimes?

[Image by Scott Olson, Getty Images]