Story highlights Although Sanders' top aides deny that the decision is a flip-flop, Sanders' move backs away from statements he and his top aides made earlier in the campaign

"I'm pleased that this legislation is being introduced," Sanders said of Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Adam Schiff's proposal to take away immunity from gun manufacturers when their products are used in crimes

Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders backed away from a 2005 vote that gave gun manufacturers immunity from prosecution on Saturday night, announcing in a press release that he supports a proposed bill to amend that vote.

The new position is a reversal from statements Sanders and his aides have made throughout the campaign. Aides to Hillary Clinton cast the decision as a way to soften his gun position the day before Sunday's fourth Democratic debate.

"I'm pleased that this legislation is being introduced," Sanders said of Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Adam Schiff's proposal to take away immunity from gun manufacturers when their products are used in crimes. "As I have said for many months now, we need to look at the underlying law and tighten it up."

Sanders has declined to call the 2005 vote a mistake a number of times, citing the fact that he worries about the impact rescinding immunity would have on small, family-owned gun shops.

"If somebody has a gun and it falls into the hands of a murderer and that murderer kills somebody with the gun, do you hold the gun manufacturer responsible?" he asked at the Democratic debate in Las Vegas in October. "Not any more than you would hold a hammer company responsible if somebody beats somebody over the head with a hammer. That is not what a lawsuit should be about."

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