Kamala Harris’ admission of gun ownership has reignited a fiery debate over her stance on gun control.
At a Glance
- Kamala Harris is a gun owner and also supports stricter gun laws.
- She revealed her gun ownership during a debate to counter Trump’s claims.
- Harris has a firearm for personal safety due to her background as a prosecutor.
- The revelation challenges stereotypes and may surprise her progressive followers.
- Harris emphasizes smart gun safety laws without infringing on constitutional rights.
Kamala Harris: Gun Owner and Advocate for Gun Control
Social media recently buzzed with the news that Vice President Kamala Harris owns a gun. This announcement is especially notable given Harris’ history of advocating for rigorous gun control measures. In a surprising twist during a presidential debate, Harris disclosed her gun ownership to counter claims by Donald Trump that she aims to confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens.
Trump has repeatedly painted Harris as a threat to the Second Amendment. Harris, turning the tables, emphasized her and Governor Tim Walz’s status as gun owners. “This business about taking everyone’s guns away, Tim Walz and I are both gun owners,” she said. “We’re not taking any of these guns away. So stop with the continuous lying about this stuff.”
Kamala Harris and I are both gun owners.
We’re not going to take away your Second Amendment rights — we’re going to prevent your kids from getting shot at school.
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) September 11, 2024
Personal Safety and Professional Background
Harris’ gun ownership stems from her time as a career prosecutor, where she often dealt with dangerous criminals. “I am a gun owner, and I own a gun for probably the reason a lot of people do—for personal safety. I was a career prosecutor,” Harris mentioned during the debate.
Despite owning a gun, Harris has championed several gun control measures. She has supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which expands background checks and creates new criminal penalties for gun trafficking. The act also invests $1.4 billion in violence-prevention and intervention programs.
Balancing Gun Rights and Safety
Harris’ dual status as a gun owner and gun control advocate complicates the political landscape. She has been a vocal supporter of smart gun safety laws, going so far as to reject the narrative that such reforms infringe upon the Second Amendment. “U.S. Senator Kamala Harris has called for banning assault weapons and requiring universal background checks, and made passionate calls for action by Congress on gun control. But she also owns a gun herself, she said Thursday,” reported the Mercury News.
Her stance aims to appeal to moderates and Trump-wary conservatives as Election Day approaches. Harris’ admission of gun ownership challenges the stereotypes often associated with gun control advocates and fosters broader discourse on firearms and public safety. As we continue the national debate, Harris’ position reminds us that responsible gun ownership and robust safety laws can coexist.
Sources:
- Kamala Harris is a gun owner — but she’s still a proponent of stricter gun laws
- Kamala Harris’s crime and gun policies, explained
- Harris says she’s a gun owner during debate with Trump
- Kamala Harris reminds Americans she’s a gun owner at ABC News debate
- Kamala Harris says she owns a gun “for personal safety”
- Kamala Harris says she owns a gun during debate response to Donald Trump
- Kamala Harris talks about owning a gun: ‘I was a career prosecutor’
- Key takeaways from the Harris-Trump debate in Philadelphia
- Presidential debate highlights: Harris and Trump spar over abortion, immigration and economy in first faceoff of 2024 race
- NRA singles out Kamala Harris for ‘ridiculous’ gun reform plan