the issues: gun control
The debate over gun control in the United States has intensified over the years as mass shootings and gun violence have become more frequent. In the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump present opposing visions on how to address the issue. Harris, representing the Democratic Party, advocates for stricter gun control measures aimed at reducing gun violence, while Trump, aligned with the Republican Party, prioritizes the protection of Second Amendment rights and a more permissive approach to gun ownership. This essay explores the policies and plans of both candidates concerning gun control, using facts rather than speculation.
Kamala Harris' Position on Gun Control
As vice president and a former U.S. senator, Kamala Harris has been a staunch advocate for stronger gun control measures, reflecting her belief that reducing gun violence is a matter of public safety and human rights. Harris' gun control proposals align with broader Democratic efforts to limit access to firearms and implement reforms aimed at reducing mass shootings, suicides, and everyday gun violence. Harris has made it clear that both she and her running mate Tim Walz are gun owners; they don’t want to take everyone’s guns away—rather, they want common sense protections to curb mass shootings.
Universal Background Checks: One of Harris' key proposals is the implementation of universal background checks for all gun purchases, including private sales and gun shows. While federal law currently requires background checks for purchases through licensed dealers, loopholes in the law allow individuals to buy guns from private sellers without undergoing any screening. Harris supports closing these loopholes to ensure that all gun buyers undergo a background check, aiming to prevent individuals with criminal records or mental health issues from acquiring firearms.
Assault Weapons Ban: Harris has consistently advocated for banning assault weapons, which are often used in mass shootings. She supports reinstating the federal Assault Weapons Ban, which was in place from 1994 to 2004 but expired without being renewed. Harris believes that assault weapons, with their high-capacity magazines and rapid-fire capabilities, are weapons of war that have no place in civilian hands. She argues that banning these firearms would help reduce the lethality of mass shootings and prevent tragedies like those at Sandy Hook, Parkland, and Las Vegas.
Red Flag Laws: Harris supports the expansion of "red flag" laws, which allow law enforcement or family members to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. Red flag laws have gained bipartisan support in some states, as they provide a way to prevent gun violence without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens. Harris views these laws as a common-sense approach to preventing shootings, particularly in cases involving domestic violence or mental health crises.
Gun Manufacturer Liability: Harris has advocated for holding gun manufacturers accountable for the role their products play in gun violence. She supports repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which provides broad legal immunity to gun manufacturers and dealers in cases where their firearms are used in crimes. Harris argues that this immunity is unjust and that gun manufacturers should face legal consequences when their products are used irresponsibly or lead to deaths. She has compared this approach to holding tobacco companies accountable for the health risks of smoking.
Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions: Harris supports implementing mandatory waiting periods for gun purchases, which would require buyers to wait several days before taking possession of a firearm. This cooling-off period is intended to prevent impulsive acts of violence, such as suicides or domestic shootings. Additionally, Harris supports raising the minimum age for purchasing firearms to 21, particularly for assault weapons, aligning with proposals to restrict access to guns for younger individuals who may be more prone to impulsive or violent behavior.
Funding for Gun Violence Research: Harris has advocated for increased federal funding for research into gun violence, which has been historically underfunded due to political opposition from gun rights groups. She supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducting studies on the causes of gun violence, the effectiveness of gun control measures, and strategies for reducing shootings. Harris believes that evidence-based research should guide policy decisions to make communities safer.
Donald Trump’s Position on Gun Control
Donald Trump has positioned himself as a strong defender of Second Amendment rights, opposing most forms of gun control and advocating for gun ownership as a fundamental American right. During his presidency (2017-2021), Trump pursued policies that protected and expanded gun rights, often in response to pressure from gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA). His 2024 campaign continues to emphasize the importance of protecting gun rights and rejecting what he sees as government overreach.
Opposition to New Gun Control Legislation: Throughout his political career, Trump has generally opposed new gun control measures, arguing that they infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. He believes that gun control laws are ineffective in reducing crime and mass shootings, instead advocating for a focus on mental health and law enforcement. Trump has consistently argued that the problem of gun violence should be addressed by improving mental health services and enforcing existing laws, rather than introducing new restrictions on gun ownership.
Support for the Second Amendment: Trump has made the protection of the Second Amendment a central part of his platform. He has argued that the right to bear arms is essential for self-defense, hunting, and resisting tyranny. During his presidency, Trump repeatedly expressed his support for gun owners and gun rights groups, emphasizing that the government should not infringe on Americans' constitutional rights to own firearms. Trump’s administration worked to roll back some Obama-era regulations related to firearms, and he frequently positioned himself as a bulwark against Democratic efforts to implement stricter gun control laws.
Mental Health and Law Enforcement Solutions: Rather than supporting new gun control measures, Trump has advocated for addressing gun violence through improved mental health services and stronger law enforcement. After several mass shootings during his presidency, Trump focused on mental health as a key factor in gun violence, arguing that mental health issues are often at the root of these tragedies. He has called for better mental health screening, treatment, and facilities to prevent individuals with mental illnesses from committing acts of violence. Additionally, Trump has emphasized the importance of enforcing existing gun laws to prevent criminals from accessing firearms.
Arming Teachers and School Security: After the 2018 Parkland school shooting, Trump proposed arming teachers and increasing security in schools as a way to prevent school shootings. He argued that trained and armed teachers or school staff could stop shooters before they cause mass casualties. This proposal received mixed reactions, with supporters arguing that it could provide immediate protection in case of an attack, while critics raised concerns about the risks of introducing more firearms into schools.
Bump Stock Ban: One notable exception to Trump’s otherwise pro-gun stance was his administration’s decision to ban bump stocks in 2018. Bump stocks are devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to fire at a rate similar to fully automatic weapons. The ban came after the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, where a gunman used bump stocks to kill 58 people. While Trump’s decision to ban bump stocks was supported by some gun control advocates, it was criticized by gun rights groups as a violation of the Second Amendment. However, Trump framed the ban as a targeted response to a specific problem and not a broader attack on gun rights.
Opposition to Universal Background Checks and Assault Weapons Ban: Trump has consistently opposed universal background checks and any efforts to reinstate the federal Assault Weapons Ban. He argues that criminals do not follow gun laws and that stricter regulations would only harm law-abiding gun owners. Trump has also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of background checks, particularly for private sales, and he has stated that an assault weapons ban would not prevent mass shootings or reduce crime rates. Instead, he has suggested that "good guys with guns" are the best way to stop bad actors.
Key Differences
Background Checks: Harris supports universal background checks for all gun purchases, including private sales, to close loopholes in current laws. Trump opposes expanding background checks and believes that existing laws are sufficient if properly enforced.
Assault Weapons Ban: Harris supports reinstating the federal Assault Weapons Ban, arguing that assault weapons are too dangerous for civilian use. Trump opposes any ban on assault weapons, emphasizing the importance of protecting Second Amendment rights.
Red Flag Laws: Harris supports expanding red flag laws to prevent individuals deemed dangerous from owning firearms, while Trump has expressed some limited support for these laws but generally focuses on law enforcement and mental health as solutions.
Gun Manufacturer Liability: Harris advocates for repealing the PLCAA to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their role in gun violence. Trump opposes this, arguing that manufacturers should not be held responsible for the actions of individuals who misuse their products.
Mental Health and Enforcement: Trump emphasizes mental health treatment and law enforcement as key to addressing gun violence, while Harris focuses on gun control measures like background checks, assault weapons bans, and waiting periods.
Gun Rights vs. Gun Control: Harris seeks to implement more restrictions on gun ownership to reduce gun violence, while Trump frames his platform around protecting gun rights and resisting new gun control measures.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump offer starkly different approaches to gun control, reflecting the broader ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans on this issue. Harris supports stricter gun control measures, including universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, and red flag laws, aiming to reduce gun violence through regulation and oversight. In contrast, Trump emphasizes protecting Second Amendment rights, opposing most new gun control measures while focusing on mental health and law enforcement as the primary tools to address gun violence. The 2024 election provides voters with a clear choice between these two competing visions for gun policy in the United States.