Hillary Clinton Attacks Bernie Sanders Over His Gun Record | HuffPost

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tried to explain his past positions on gun control when confronted about the issue during Tuesday's Democratic primary debate.

"Whether we like it or not," Sanders said, views on gun control are different in rural states, like his home state of Vermont.

The senator touted his NRA voting rating of D- before explaining how he told Vermont residents "back in 1988 when I first ran ... that I supported a ban on assault weapons." He also criticized the "terrible" gun show loophole and emphasized the need for better mental health care.

"There are thousands of people in this country today that are suicidal and are homicidal, but can't get the health care they need, the mental health care, because they don't have insurance or they're too poor," Sanders said.

Moderator Anderson Cooper specifically asked Sanders about his vote against the Brady Bill, which he has said was because he opposed the inclusion of a mandatory waiting period for gun purchases, not background checks themselves.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a simple answer when asked if Sanders' explanation was satisfactory.

"No. Not at all," she said.

"It wasn't that complicated to me. It was pretty straightforward to me," Clinton said of the bill.

For the latest updates on tonight's debate, visit our liveblog.

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Democratic Debate 2016

(01 of11)

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton appears on screens in the press room as journalists cover the Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2015. Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will finally square off with top rival Bernie Sanders in the party's first debate of the 2016 campaign as she seeks to prove she is the candidate to beat. AFP PHOTO/ FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)

(02 of11)

Democratic Presidential candidates (L-R) Senator Jim Webb, Senator Bernie Sanders, Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Maryland Gov Martin O'Malley, and former Rhode Island Gov Lincoln Chafee take the stage during the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2015. Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will finally square off with top rival Bernie Sanders in the party's first debate of the 2016 campaign as she seeks to prove she is the candidate to beat. AFP PHOTO/ FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)

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Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders (L) speaks with Hillary Clinton during the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2015. Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will finally square off with top rival Bernie Sanders in the party's first debate of the 2016 campaign as she seeks to prove she is the candidate to beat. AFP PHOTO/ FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)

(04 of11)

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton (R) gestures while standing beside Bernie Sanders during a photo spray of the candidates during the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2015. Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will finally square off with top rival Bernie Sanders in the party's first debate of the 2016 campaign as she seeks to prove she is the candidate to beat.AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)

(05 of11)

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) looks on as Martin O'Malley gestures before the start of the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2015. Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will finally square off with top rival Bernie Sanders in the party's first debate of the 2016 campaign as she seeks to prove she is the candidate to beat. AFP PHOTO/ FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)

(06 of11)

Members of the media are given a preview of the debate hall at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2015, hours before the first Democratic Presidential Debate. After ignoring her chief rival for months, White House heavyweight contender Hillary Clinton steps into the ring Tuesday to confront independent Senator Bernie Sanders in their first Democratic debate of the 2016 primary cycle. Clinton will take center stage in Las Vegas joined by Sanders and three other hopefuls, and while there is unlikely to be a dramatic clash of personalities as seen in the first two Republican debates, the spotlight is likely to be on the top two candidates. The other three challengers -- former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley, ex-senator Jim Webb and former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee -- will try to generate breakout moments to show they are electable alternatives to Clinton. AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)

(07 of11)

A pedestrian take a photograph of a screen showing Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, outside of the the Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino ahead of the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. While tonight's first Democratic presidential debate will probably lack the name-calling and sharp jabs of the Republican face-offs, there's still potential for strong disagreements between the party's leading contenders. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)

(08 of11)

A supporter stands in front of a screen showing Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, outside of the the Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino ahead of the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. While tonight's first Democratic presidential debate will probably lack the name-calling and sharp jabs of the Republican face-offs, there's still potential for strong disagreements between the party's leading contenders. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 13: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) speaks during a news conference before a Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN and Facebook at Wynn Las Vegas on October 13, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Five Democratic presidential candidates are scheduled participate in the party's first presidential debate. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Alex Wong via Getty Images)

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A sign portraying Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, as Robin Hood is pictured inside the Wynn Resorts Ltd. Las Vegas resort and casino before the first Democratic presidential debate hosted by CNN in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. While tonight's first Democratic presidential debate will probably lack the name-calling and sharp jabs of the Republican face-offs, there's still potential for strong disagreements between the party's leading contenders. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 13: A worker holds a fallen sign in the spin room before the Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN and Facebook at Wynn Las Vegas on October 13, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Five Democratic presidential candidates are scheduled to participate in the party's first presidential debate. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Alex Wong via Getty Images)

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