We are re-posting a story and video clip from the Democratic CNN YouTube debate on July 23rd, 2007, when an assault rifle owner asked if the Democratic presidential candidates planned on "taking away his baby."

Jered Townsend from Clio, Michigan submitted this question -- see video clip and transcript below.

To all the candidates, tell me your position on gun control, as myself and other Americans really want to know if our babies are safe.

This is my baby, [holding up a deadly, military style assault rifle] purchased under the 1994 gun ban. Please tell me your views.

Thank you

Unfortunately, only two of the candidates got the chance to answer the question, Governor Bill Richardson (NM) and Senator Joseph Biden (DE). We would have loved to hear all of the candidates articulate their position on assault weapons. Whether they stand by America's first responders and law enforcement officers or whether they cower to the extremist ideology of the gun lobby that believes criminals, gun traffickers, and terrorists should also have deadly military style weapons.

(Note: GunGuys.com does not endorse or support any presidential candidate from either party, or for any candidate for elected office).

Not to forget that one in five law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty are killed with assault weapons according to the Violence Policy Center's landmark study "Officer Down: Assault Weapons and the War on Law Enforcement."

From CNN's transcript, scroll down to the bottom:

COOPER: Governor Richardson, you have one of the highest NRA ratings.

RICHARDSON: The issue here, I believe, is instant background checks.

RICHARDSON: Nobody who has a criminal background or is mentally ill should be able to get a weapon. That is the key, and that includes gun sales. That includes gun sales at gun shows.

The key is going to be also attacking poverty, bringing people together, dealing with those kids in the ghettos that are heavy users of gun violence and they are victims of gun violence, to make sure that this country attacks the core problems of poverty, having child care, bringing parents together.

COOPER: Senator Biden, are you going to be able to keep his baby safe?

BIDEN: I'll tell you what, if that is his baby, he needs help.

(APPLAUSE)

I think he just made an admission against self-interest.

I don't know that he is mentally qualified to own that gun. I'm being serious. Look, just like me, we go around talking about people who own guns.

I am the guy who originally wrote the assault weapons ban, that became law, and then we got defeated and then Dianne Feinstein went to town on it and did a great job.

BIDEN: Look, we should be working with law enforcement, right now, to make sure that we protect people against people who don't -- are not capable of knowing what to do with a gun because they're either mentally imbalanced and/or because they have a criminal record, and...

COOPER: Time.