Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE, a former Texas congressman, said he supports a federal gun licensing program and would plan on implementing one if elected president.

"We should do it. We should have a national licensing program in this country," O'Rourke said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

O'Rourke has been in his home city El Paso, Texas, since last weekend's shooting that killed 22 people.

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"I have listened to my fellow Americans, my fellow Texans, my fellow El Pasoans. This makes sense. It will save lives," he said.

O'Rourke said in conjunction with red flag laws, universal background checks and closing loopholes, "we can end this epidemic of gun violence that will claim more than 40,000 lives this year, happening every single day in almost every single community."

He also pushed back on criticism that gun licensing won't stop mass shootings if criminals can access illegal guns.

“Then why pass any law, and why be a nation of laws? I think we pass those laws that we know will improve our lives, save lives, protect our fellow Americans. And then we have to vigorously enforce those laws. And, as, president I would," he said.

Some of his 2020 opponents have also backed gun licensing as part of their campaign platforms, including Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE.