Tim Kaine has pushed for more gun restrictions over time

Asked about criminal justice reforms, Sen. Tim Kaine touted improved crime statistics when he was a mayor and governor and then praised Hillary Clinton’s “comprehensive” plans for the nation, which includes one to “fight the scourge of gun violence in the United States.”

“I’m a gun owner. I’m a strong 2nd Amendment supporter, but I got a lot of scar tissue,” he said.

Kaine’s positions on gun control have become more stringent over time, reflecting his years in elected office in his home state of Virginia.

When Kaine ran for governor, he promised not to push for new restrictions on guns. But after the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech in 2007 — during his term — he worked with Republican lawmakers to bolster the state’s system for background checks, an effort the Obama administration pointed to as a model for national action.

As a U.S. senator, Kaine has backed restrictions on gun magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.

His support for tougher gun control meshes with Clinton’s platform. She’s consistently pushed for more extensive background checks and a ban on firearm purchases by people on the “no-fly” list because of suspected terrorist activity.