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O’Rourke says he supports national gun licensing program

Beto O'Rourke is joining a number of his Democratic presidential rivals in support of a national gun licensing program.

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke is surrounded by reporters as he walks on an international bridge to cross into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. O’Rourke has crossed the border into Mexico for the funeral of one of the 22 people killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke is surrounded by reporters as he walks on an international bridge to cross into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. O’Rourke has crossed the border into Mexico for the funeral of one of the 22 people killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)Read moreChristian Torres. / AP
    by Associated Press, The Associated Press
    Published 

EL PASO, Texas — Beto O’Rourke is joining a number of his Democratic presidential rivals in support of a national gun licensing program.

The former Texas congressman said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that states that require gun licensing, mandate universal background checks or stop the sales of assault-style weapons are saving lives. He says it makes sense to "adopt these solutions nationally."

O'Rourke has remained in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, since shortly after a gunman killed 22 people at a Walmart store on Aug. 3. Law enforcement officials say the suspect had an AK-47 rifle and was targeting Mexicans.

Other 2020 contenders who have released plans for national gun licensing include Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sound Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.