RFK Jr. defends 2nd Amendment and remembers father’s assassination at town hall.

Fifty-five years ago, Robert F. Kennedy Sr. was assassinated after a presidential campaign speech. On June 5, his son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced his intention to run for president in the 2024 Democratic primary. Speaking at a town hall in suburban Philadelphia, Kennedy shared memories of his father and his vision for a united America.

“I intend to bridge this toxic polarization that is really destroying our country and tearing us apart.”

At the event, Kennedy recounted the night of his father’s assassination and the procession that followed. He was only 14 years old at the time and had been with his father, who was delivering a victory speech after winning the California primary. His father was shot as he left the stage and died at a hospital the next day.

Kennedy spoke about his father’s ability to unite people from different backgrounds and walks of life, and how he hopes to do the same. He called his campaign a “peaceful insurgency” that he hopes will appeal to a wide range of voters.

The Competition

Kennedy isn’t expected to get help from the Democratic National Committee, whose members voted at their winter meeting earlier this year to give Biden their full support. Kennedy was asked by town hall host Michael Smerconish whether he thinks Biden owes the American people a debate with Democratic primary candidates.

“It’s a strategic decision for him. I don’t even know if President [Donald] Trump will debate his opponents.”

Polling has shown Kennedy with as much as 19 percent support in the Democratic primary. Several political strategists have predicted that he will generate support from some independents and some conservative and moderate Republicans.

Kennedy’s Policy Views

Kennedy differs from President Joe Biden and progressive Democrats on multiple issues. He is vocal about the dangers of the COVID-19 vaccine for some in the population who were forced to take them, and of vaccines in general. He’s a vocal opponent of the pharmaceutical industry.

When asked about his stance on the Second Amendment, he said, “I believe in the Constitution, and I’m not going to take everybody’s guns away.

“We must figure out a way to deal with [gun violence], but talking about taking people’s guns away at this point in history is not a solution.”

Kennedy has a more conservative than liberal stance regarding the border crisis.

“We have to stop the crisis at the border. We have to seal our borders. No nation can exist If you don’t control [illegal] immigration.”

Meanwhile, his stance on abortion aligns with the Biden administration.

“I don’t think the government should be telling us what to do with our bodies and dictating for Americans what we can and cannot do in the first three months of pregnancy.”

Throughout his career, Kennedy has been known for his ability to reach across the aisle and engage with people from different political backgrounds. He hopes to continue this approach in his campaign.

“We need to talk. We need to have conversations with people from a wide range of views.”

He believes that Americans have more in common than the media portrays and that it’s time to bridge the toxic polarization that is tearing the country apart.