Texas native and liberal presidential candidate Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke continues to gradually inch his way further left in a crowded field of hopeful Trump opponents.

Since adding his name to a field of 16 candidates seeking the Democrat nomination, and raising a jaw-dropping $6.1 million in the process, O’Rourke has already gone to great lengths to burnish his liberal bona fides as he begins to barnstorm early presidential primary states.

In an interview made available by a D.C. political publication Sunday, O’Rourke sighted in his presidential platform, calling directly for an outright ban on AR-15 style firearms, or “modern sporting rifles” by those familiar to the platform.

A liberal measuring stick of sorts, banning falsely labeled “assault rifles,” which are merely semi-automatic rifles no different in function from those used in America for nearly a century, will be a litmus test in a field that has seen wild-eyed progressives inch closer to the nomination in a party long controlled by establishment insiders and family names.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation says that “modern sporting rifles” are among the nation’s most popular firearm platforms, with sales of the rifles accounting for more than 35 percent of all firearms sales according to industry estimates. The NSSF suggests that production of MSRs exceeded 2.3 million units in 2016.

O’Rourke is now also on the record in support of abortion after less than a week on the presidential campaign trail.

“Are you for third-trimester abortions?” asked one member of the audience at an event in Ohio. “Are you going to protect the lives of third-trimester babies? … Are you for or against third-trimester abortions?”

“The question is about abortion and reproductive rights,” O’Rourke said. “And my answer to you is: That should be a decision the woman makes. I trust her.”

O’Rourke’s answer places him in the far extreme left of the American public. According to a Gallup poll from last year, while Americans are generally split on the issue of abortion, only 13 percent of the nation supports abortion in the third trimester.

The Washington Post, Jeff Bezos’ liberal D.C. rag, recently described O’Rourke and his fledgling candidacy in the following light:

“In the first five days of his campaign, O’Rourke asked voters to shape him into the presidential candidate they want him to be, to help him draft a vision for America.”

A liberal, windsock candidate like O’Rourke can be expected to continue to march his policy positions to the far extreme of the Democrat party as he seeks to parlay his loss to Sen. Ted Cruz into a loss to President Donald Trump.

Destin Sensky

Destin Sensky serves as a Capitol Correspondent for Texas Scorecard covering the Texas Legislature, working to bring Texans the honest and accurate coverage they need to hold their elected officials in Austin accountable.

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