Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said Wednesday that rival Hillary Clinton’s statements suggesting he supported the gun lobby were “mean-spirited and unfair.”
Clinton said earlier on NBC’s “Today” that she and Sanders disagree on some topics, including gun rights and healthcare.
“Sen. Sanders has been a pretty reliable vote for the gun lobby and I have been standing against them for a long time,” Clinton said.
Sanders responded to Clinton’s comments during an interview on MSNBC when host Thomas Roberts began questioning Sanders about her attacks on his gun record.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Sanders interrupted, noting that he has a “D-” rating from the National Rifle Association.
“In 1988 I probably lost a Congressional election because I said maybe we should not have assault weapons being sold in America,” he said. “So to say that I’m kind of a supporter of the NRA is really a mean-spirited and unfair and inaccurate statement.”
Roberts then asked Sanders if he regretted or wanted to apologize for giving gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits.
“There are things in that bill that I supported. There are things in that bill do not make sense, that are wrong,” he replied. “And as I have said for the last several months, I am willing to absolutely take a look at the onerous parts of that bill.”
