Democrats push for buybacks, new restrictions in gun plans

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democratic presidential candidates are releasing new gun control plans and embracing proposals to buy back military-style weapons and ammunition after three high-profile mass shootings killed 33 people last week.

Most of the Democrats running in the packed primary have routinely called for requiring background checks on all firearm purchases and banning bump stock devices that mimic automatic gunfire.

In the wake of shootings in Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, candidates are releasing more detailed plans and embracing federal gun buybacks, where the government compensates people for turning over weapons. Local governments across the U.S. have run such initiatives to get people to voluntarily give up guns.

A look at some of the plans from Democratic candidates to combat mass shootings and toughen gun control laws:

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ASSAULT WEAPONS AND GUN BUYBACKS

Almost all the candidates say they want to reinstate the 1994 ban on assault weapons, which prohibited the sale of new weapons. Some have gone further, proposing ways to reduce the number of military-style weapons owned privately. The most popular is a federal buyback program.

Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke said this week, after the shooting in his hometown, that he would be open to a mandatory buyback of guns, though he didn't specify which kinds of weapons. That's something only California Rep. Eric Swalwell had embraced before he dropped out of the presidential race last month.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders say they'd push for a voluntary weapon buyback program, in addition to reinstating the prohibition on military-style weapons.

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg stopped short this week of endorsing such a plan. First he wants to ban...