John Cornyn picks fight with Beto, gets battle with Houston police chief instead

PHOTOS: The spat Texas Sen. John Cornyn used social media to try to lure Democrat Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke into a debate over guns. >>Here's what went down... PHOTOS: The spat Texas Sen. John Cornyn used social media to try to lure Democrat Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke into a debate over guns. >>Here's what went down... Photo: Andrew Harnik, STF / Associated Press Photo: Andrew Harnik, STF / Associated Press Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close John Cornyn picks fight with Beto, gets battle with Houston police chief instead 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Just 24 hours after Sen. Ted Cruz and Democrat Beto O'Rourke agreed to a series of debates, Texas Sen. John Cornyn wanted to draw O'Rourke into a discussion about guns over social media.

Cornyn, a Republican, on Saturday night started the exchange by Tweeting out an old clip of O'Rourke saying in February that he opposed selling AR-15s in America.

"I just don't think we should be selling AR-15s in this country," O'Rourke says in the video clip Cornyn tweeted out to his 140,000 followers.

Cornyn Tweeted out the question: "For self defense?"

For self defense? https://t.co/9YWT7OdwoR — Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) September 15, 2018

O'Rourke, a congressman from El Paso, did not respond. But Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo did.

"In 32 years policing I've yet [to] encounter a case of a community member using an AR-15 for self-defense," Acevedo tweeted. "I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but I'd bet the house they've been used many, many times to slaughter innocent Americans as opposed to self-defense."

Cornyn responded quickly.

"Chief, it isn't the gun it is the shooter. Let's focus on mental health, background checks and information sharing that can save lives."

Chief, it isn’t the gun it is the shooter. Let’s focus on mental health, background checks and information sharing that can save lives. https://t.co/N0Huw0DfqP — Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) September 16, 2018

But Acevedo proposed more.

"Let's get robust Universal background check with real teeth, red-flags for mental health; abusers, etc, close the private seller at gun-show loop-hole, & commission a study to det mine (sic) why we lead the industrialized World in gun-deaths."

Let’s get robust Universal background check with real teeth, red-flags for mental health; abusers, etc, close the private seller at gun-show loop-hole, & commission a study to det mine why we lead the industrialized World in gun-deaths. We put man on moon ER can address violence. — Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) September 16, 2018

Acevedo said he jumped into the fray, not to defend O'Rourke, but for a bigger reason.

"I'm weighing in as a practitioner on behalf of the people we are sworn to protect," Acevedo said, adding that he is part of a group of 69 police chiefs from major cities advocating for gun law reforms.

Members of the Major Cities Chiefs Association have called for a new assault weapons ban and stiffer penalties for illegal guns.

O'Rourke has walked a delicate line on AR-15s. Earlier this year at a pair of Houston town hall meetings, he made clear he did not want to take away people's AR-15s, but opposes the sale of the weapon. O'Rourke has said he believes the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution needs to be defended and talks frequently about growing up around guns and being taught about proper ownership of them.

Acevedo has shown little hesitation in getting into social media fights over guns. After the Santa Fe High School shooting, he ended up in a Twitter fight with the NRA's Dana Loesch and Grant Stinchfield.

Acevedo said he jumps into the social media battles because of how important the issue is.

"You have to stand for something," Acevedo said.

Jeremy.Wallace@Chron.com