Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch (Fla.) said on Friday that the United States should treat "assault weapons" the same way it treats machine guns.
"Let's treat these assault weapons the same way we treat machine guns," Deutch said on CNN. "That ought to be something that everyone can get behind. No more manufacturing [of assault weapons]. Let's get them out of the communities."
"Assault weapon" is a political term to classify firearms that often refers to a variety of semi-automatic firearms with specific features and accessories.
CNN anchor Kate Bolduan asked Deutch about Rep. Eric Swalwell's (D., Calif.) recent op-ed that calls for an assault weapons ban, a mandatory buy-back program, and the prosecution of individuals who refuse to turn in their firearms.
"We also have fellow Democrat Eric Swalwell, for example, he is from California, he put at an op-ed yesterday arguing for reinstating the assault weapons ban. But it was not just that. He went quite a bit further and said what he also wants is 'we should buy back such weapons from all who choose to abide by the law, and we should criminally prosecute any who choose to defy it by keeping their weapons,'" Bolduan said.
"When gun advocates say 'Democrats just want to take away your guns,'" Bolduan continued, "are they now right?"
"There are gun buyback programs that exist in some communities," Deutch said. "If people choose to turn in their guns, certainly law enforcement is working with them to do that."
Bolduan pressed the congressman if individuals should be criminally responsible if they don't turn in their firearm.
"But is Swalwell going a step too far when he says people should be held criminally responsible if they don't turn over their weapons?" Bolduan asked.
"I think what's important is to stop the production of weapons of war that don't belong on our streets," Deutch said.
Deutch represents the district that includes Parkland, Florida, the city where the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting occurred.