Illinois Representative Sean Casten feels deeply that “we have too many guns.” His innovative solution to this pressing problem: a buyback. But not just any ol’ buyback.
The Daily Herald reported on it, saying:
Already an advocate of stricter gun control laws, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove this week voiced support for a national buyback program in the U.S. similar to the one implemented in Australia 24 years ago.
“If we passed all the greatest laws in the world, the guns are still out there,” Casten said Tuesday during an online endorsement interview with the Daily Herald and Shaw Media.
In other words, a mandatory “buyback,” otherwise knowns as minimally compensated confiscation. According to the Daily Herald, Casten has a long history of gun prohibition love and gun hate:
The availability of guns in the U.S. is a source of frustration for Casten, who ousted six-term Republican incumbent Peter Roskam in 2018.
Casten has called for a new ban on assault weapons to replace the one that expired in 2004. He also supports expanding federal law to mandate criminal background checks for all gun purchases, not just those involving licensed dealers as is now required.
He has a deep abiding desire for America to look more like Oz, gun rights-wise.
Casten, who has touted the success of gun buyback programs before, suggested the US follow Australia’s lead.
“They took a whole bunch of guns out of circulation, and they haven’t had a mass shooting since,” Casten said. “Why don’t we do that?”
Rep. Casten admitted he isn’t sure our American culture would work well with the cash-for-handing-over-your-guns method that Australia used (and he’s right). But hey, we need to do something about all those legally-owned firearms owned by law-abiding citizens and they aren’t going to confiscate themselves.
Because criminals aren’t the problem, it’s the tools they use. Of course not.
Casten has something of a history of resorting to insulting gun owners and he wasn’t even very imaginative about it:
Last month, the (Jean) Ives campaign criticized Casten for saying “having small genitals is not a sufficient reason to own a gun” during a recent online forum. Casten made the comment after questioning why people need to own guns and subsequently called his remark a joke “about the toxic masculinity that has infected this whole debate.”
Ah, the old “haha, I was kidding” deflection method.
It shouldn’t be much of a shock that a Democratic representative from Illinois is pushing a mandatory buyback. In some ways it’s actually nice to see anti-gun politicians boldly admit that yeah, we really are coming for your guns. At least the gloves are coming off and some honesty occasionally manages to shine through.
For those of you thinking you don’t have to worry because you don’t live in Illinois — or California, or New York, or New Jersey, or Maryland — try to remember how these things tend to happen in waves. Plus Casten reflects the views of a lot of his fellow Democrats in the US House of Representatives. It’s a never-ending fight.
Being an active Second Amendment supporter is important and whether or not gun owners get out and vote this November is more important than ever. And remember, vote on the issues, not the party. Just because someone is a Democrat or a Republican doesn’t (necessarily) mean they’re pushing for the values and laws you yourself support. Do your homework and vote accordingly.
As for those of you who do live in Illinois’ 6th congressional district in the Chicago suburbs, you’ve got an opportunity to let Casten what you think of his confiscatory views. Make yourself heard loud and clear.