Florida Sen. [crscore]Marco Rubio[/crscore] purchased a gun on Christmas Eve, in part, he said Sunday, so that he can protect his family against ISIS.
“If ISIS were to visit us or our communities at any moment, the last line of defense between ISIS and my family is the ability that I have to protect my family from them or a criminal, or anyone else who seeks to do us harm,” Rubio said during an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” when asked about his holiday purchase.
Rubio, who is currently trailing Donald Trump and Texas Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore] in GOP primary polling, revealed on Friday that he purchased a gun at a Florida gun store the day before Christmas. Rubio said during a campaign event that the store he visited was “packed” with shoppers, many of whom were purchasing guns out of fear that President Obama would restrict gun purchases, according to the candidate.
Gun sales have reached all-time highs during the Obama presidency. Rubio frequently says on the campaign trail that he believes that Obama would confiscate guns and dismantle the Second Amendment if he could.
“I am convinced if this president could confiscate every gun, he would,” Rubio said earlier this month. “I am convinced if he could get rid of the second amendment, he would.”
“I have a right to protect my family,” Rubio said Sunday, adding that he “was previously a firearm holder as well” and that the gun he purchased was “an additional one.”
According to The New York Times, Rubio purchased a rifle during last month’s gun store visit but has owned handguns. Rubio has said that he owns a Taurus .357 magnum and that he has a concealed carry license. He reportedly purchased the gun in Feb. 2010 when he was campaigning for the U.S. Senate.
“I’m a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” Rubio told “Face the Nation’s” John Dickerson. “I have a right to protect my family if someone were to come after us.”
Rubio explains why he purchased a fire arm recently. Explains that it is the last defense between his family & ISIS https://t.co/2AkdTHZ5yh
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 17, 2016