Alexander Skarsgard on assault rifles: ‘I don’t think civilians should have them’

The man who murdered 49 people in a gay Orlando nightclub legally purchased the semi-automatic rifle he used during the June 12 massacre.

The tragedy has reignited a familiar political debate in America over gun control. Legend of Tarzan actor Alexander Skarsgard acknowledged the nuances to the issue but said his experience in the Swedish Navy makes him wary of the right to bear Army-grade arms.

“I had an AK-5 assault rifle that I used every day for a year and a half, so I know what those weapons can do and what they’re for,” he said Monday on Andy Cohen Live. “And I just have a hard time understanding why civilians should have those weapons. I don’t think they belong in the hands of civilians. I think they belong in the military and nowhere else.”

Cohen, 48, has been vocal about the need for stricter laws, and Skarsgard, 39, said the outpouring of support after a mass shooting and subsequent lack of action in Washington “feels like Groundhog Day.”

“It’s not only about banning assault rifles. You need something more comprehensive, and there are a lot of issues with mental health. It’s a very complex issue,” he said. “But to answer your question, [as] someone who served in the military and used those weapons, I don’t think civilians should have them.”

Andy Cohen Live airs every Monday at 10 am ET on SiriusXM Radio Andy (Ch. 102).

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