AUSTIN — The Democratic Party candidates for Senate offered contrasting views Saturday on curbing gun violence, providing affordable health care and how to defeat incumbent Republican John Cornyn.

During a forum at the Texas Tribune Festival moderated by The Tribune's Patrick Svitek, all five major contenders agreed that universal background checks and red flag laws should be implemented.

But activist Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez of Austin and former Rep. Chris Bell of Houston favored more aggressive gun control laws, most notable a forced buyback program to confiscate assault weapons like the popular AR-15 rifle.

State Sen. Royce West of Dallas and Houston council member Amanda Edwards said they were supportive of voluntary buyback programs.

"These are weapons of war that don't belong in the hands of civilians," Tzintzún Ramirez said. "We have to take them out of circulation to make sure our communities are safe."

Bell said making such a program mandatory was essential.

"A voluntary buyback proposal will not work," Bell said. "It must be mandatory."

Edwards disagreed. "A voluntary buyback program offers a great starting point in term of getting bipartisan support," she said.

Edwards said she supports "restrictions of sales" of assault weapons, but stopped short of calling for an outright ban on such guns.

Former Air Force helicopter pilot MJ Hegar of Round Rock doesn't support a buyback proposal, but would end open carry laws.

"We have to go beyond the talking points and the soundbites," Hegar said. "It's important to talk about what we're going to do legislatively. But I'm going to say we need to stop focusing on the nuances that divide us and the things that we disagree about and start focusing on the values that we share."

West said it was important to send a senator to Washington who would push legislation to curb gun violence.

"You have got to make certain that you put people in office who understands this issue," he said.

Health care

The candidates also disagreed on how to provide affordable health care to Americans.

Tzintzún Ramirez supports a Medicare for All proposal that would end private insurance. Bell supports giving Americans the option for Medicare for All, Hegar would create a Medicare buy-in for Americans who want it, while West and Edwards would add a public option to the existing Affordable Care Act.

"The richest nation in the world can absolutely provide health care for all of its people," Tzintzún Ramirez said.

But Hegar said Americans deserve a choice.

"We have to be mindful of being able to make huge strides and huge changes without taking away people's choices," she said. "We are country of freedom and a state of independent-minded thought and people do not like things being forced on them, even if they are a superior product."

Bell agreed with Hegar that some Americans want to keep their private insurance.

"I actually meet people who like their insurance policy," Bell said.

Defeating Cornyn

The most passionate exchanges came when the candidates were asked about what makes them a viable candidate against Cornyn, the Republican incumbent.

"I have worked over the last decade and a half here in this state bringing people together who have often been left out of our political process," Tzintzún Ramirez said. "I know that if we flip Texas, we're not just going to change the political outcome of this state for an election cycle, we have the power to change the political outcome for the country for a generation."

West said his endorsements from his colleagues in the Texas House and Senate reflect his ability to garner support across the state.

"It is not a sprint, it's a marathon," West said. "We need to put together that broad coalition. I've put together that broad coalition in the Legislature."

Bell joked that a San Antonio activist was reluctant to support him because he's a white male.

"I tried to hide it," he said. "I said, 'I don't disagree, but I will ask you to look at my record.'"

Bell listed his time in Congress and in Houston city government as evidence of his progressive politics.

"I told her, bottom line, I just haven't been a good white male," he said, pointing to his progressive record.

Edwards said she has represented 2.3 million Texans as an at-large member of the Houston City Council.

"Being on the ground and understanding what this race is about is imperative," she said. "This race can't be about any of us on this stage. It has to be about you and the people. ... It's important that we lead with a message that is people-focused."

Hegar said she is the fighter Texas needs. "We've got to stop putting up career politicians," she said.

"We can do this if we hire an ass-kicker who knows how to build coalitions," she said, adding that if she's on the ballot against Cornyn, voters will choose between a "spineless ... boot-licking ass-kisser or an ass-kicker."