Robert Kennedy heckled in Oregon over gun control 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 27 1968)

Video: 'KEVU April Part 2 1968 Oregon Primary RDTV' (May 27, 1968, at 16:59)

(Monday, May 27, 1968; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy, campaigning for the Oregon’s May 28, 1968, Democratic presidential primary, was confronted by hecklers who disliked his gun control bill during a campaign stop today in Roseburg.

“I see signs about the guns,” Kennedy began. “I’m wondering if any of you would like to come and explain.”

Bud Schoon of Sutherlin presented Kennedy with a petition against his legislation, which “forbids mail order sale of guns to the very young, those with criminal records and the insane.”

“All this legislation does is keep guns from criminals and the demented and those too young. With all the violence and murder and killings we’ve had in the United States, I think you will agree that we must keep firearms from people who have no business with guns or rifles,” Kennedy said to a crowd of about 1,500.

Kennedy’s brother, President John F. Kennedy, had been killed in 1963 by a man who received the gun through mail order.

Bobby Kennedy would lose the Oregon primary the following day and would himself be fatally shot just a week later after winning the presidential primary in California.

Video: 'RFK in Roseburg, Ore. talks gun control in late May 1968'