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 snapped back at fellow 2020 White House hopeful 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 on Sunday after Buttigieg said the former Texas congressman played into the Republican Party's hands when he said "Hell yes we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47" during the last debate.

O'Rourke retweeted a Washington Examiner article describing Buttigieg's comments from earlier in the day, writing, "That calculation and fear is what got us here in the first place."

Leaving millions of weapons of war on the streets because Trump and McConnell are “at least pretending to be open to reforms”?



That calculation and fear is what got us here in the first place. Let’s have the courage to say what we believe and fight for it. https://t.co/SSnFT600Vm — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 15, 2019

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On CNN's "State of the Union," Buttigieg agreed when host 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 asked if O'Rourke played into the GOP's hands with his support of a required buyback of assault rifles.

"When even this president and even Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' House to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Republican lawyers brush off Trump's election comments MORE are at least pretending to be open to reforms, we know that we have a moment on our hands," Buttigieg said. "Let's make the most of it and get these things done."

During last Thursday night's debate, O'Rourke pushed for a mandatory buyback program more than a month after his hometown of El Paso, Texas experienced a mass shooting that killed 22 people.

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"Hell yes we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47," he said. "We're not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore."

Opponents have argued O'Rourke's new stance is too aggressive to gain the support of gun owners, although the former congressman said he hit "common ground" in discussions with gun owners in Arkansas.