Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-Texas) comments on gun control in the third Democratic presidential debate Thursday evening propelled the topic to the forefront Sunday morning, with Democratic guests suggesting his comment that “hell yes, we’re going to take” assault-style rifles could play into GOP hands.

O’Rourke, who has ramped up his rhetoric on gun control in the wake of a mass shooting that killed 22 in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, defended the remark, telling NBC’s Chuck Todd Charles (Chuck) David ToddMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Republican senator says plans to confirm justice before election 'completely consistent with the precedent' Sunday shows - Trump team defends coronavirus response MORE that concerns about how it would play politically “just [show] how screwed up the priorities in Washington, D.C., are.”

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"What's truly awful is 22 people killed in a Walmart the Saturday before schools starts that next Monday buying their school supplies, innocent of any crime or any threat to this country — in fact living in one of the safest cities in America, El Paso, Texas — hunted down by their ethnicity with a weapon that was designed for use on a battlefield," O'Rourke added.

One of O’Rourke’s Democratic presidential opponents, 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, told CNN’s Jake Tapper Jacob (Jake) Paul TapperThe media's misleading use of COVID-19 data Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 'We can't spend much time grieving' Ginsburg Pence aide dismisses concerns rushed vote on Trump nominee will hurt vulnerable senators MORE the moment could be used against Democrats by Republicans, simply responding with “yes” when Tapper asked if it could play into GOP hands.

Buttigieg added that the focus should be on more popular positions such as universal background checks and new assault weapon sales.

"This is a golden moment to do something. We've been arguing about this for as long as I've been alive," he said. "Let's get this done."

Rep. David Cicilline David Nicola CicillineClark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race Races heat up for House leadership posts The folly of Cicilline's 'Glass-Steagall for Tech' MORE (D-R.I.) told “Fox News Sunday” guest host Bill Hemmer that O’Rourke’s comment “doesn’t help” but added that no gun-related legislation in the Democratic House has included mandatory buybacks, adding that the priority should instead be universal background checks.

“We know background checks work,” he added. “We have to do something. The American people are demanding we do something. ... I grew up and we did fire drills. That was the scariest thing we did. Now young children are doing active shooter drills.”

Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwaySpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report George and Kellyanne Conway honor Ginsburg Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE, meanwhile, referenced the comment to defend President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE’s apparent backtrack on strengthening background checks.

“We’re not going to allow bad actors who should not have firearms in the first place to be the excuse for a bunch of liberals and socialists to confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens who have legally procured them,” Conway told Hemmer.

“I’m not going to allow people who are constantly maligning and deriding our law enforcement to be in charge of public safety [and] public policy,” Conway added.