This four-part sequence examines the candidates’ positions and coverage proposals in an effort to chop via the noise and spotlight the place Kamala Harris and Donald Trump stand on important points going through Individuals on this election. Data is sourced from marketing campaign web sites and what the candidates have stated on the path and in interviews.
The distinction between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on gun coverage highlights a big ideological divide inside American politics—with probably deadly penalties.
All through her marketing campaign, Harris has pushed again on the GOP narrative that lawmakers who help commonsense reforms truly need to take away individuals’s weapons. Trump and Republicans are clearly out of contact on this situation, with analysis displaying that six in 10 Individuals favor stricter gun legal guidelines.
Trump has little point out of weapons on his marketing campaign web site or coverage agenda. He’s a “life member” of the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation and has the group’s endorsement. Regardless of this affiliation, Trump canceled an look at an NRA occasion in October—one among many appearances the previous president bailed on within the runup to the Nov. 5 election.
Kamala Harris’ Gun Coverage
Harris advocates for proactive measures aimed toward decreasing gun violence in “schools, communities, and places of worship,” interesting to a majority of the citizens that favors stricter gun legal guidelines. Her proposals mirror a complete technique designed to handle mass shootings and sort out the systemic points surrounding gun violence throughout the nation.
Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
Assault weapons with high-capacity magazines can shoot a number of rounds in seconds and kill or injure scores of individuals throughout a violent outburst. These differ dramatically from handguns and searching rifles. Harris proposes banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in an effort to scale back the loss of life and destruction brought on by mass shootings in America.
Help pink flag legal guidelines
Purple flag legal guidelines are authorized provisions that enable regulation enforcement businesses or members of the family to make use of the court docket system to quickly take away weapons from those that are deemed a hazard to themselves or others. A couple of states have handed these laws, and Harris says she’ll help pink flag legal guidelines to “keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”
Require common background checks
These legal guidelines require all gun patrons to endure a background test, no matter how or the place they buy the firearm. This would come with non-public gross sales, gun exhibits, and on-line purchases. A key objective of common background checks is closing the gun present loophole, which lets patrons buy firearms on the spot with none background checks.
Put money into regulation enforcement to fight neighborhood gun violence
Harris helps investing in police departments, together with hiring and coaching officers and folks to help them, equivalent to psychological well being care employees. Her marketing campaign web site highlights how the vp helped ship “the largest investment in public safety ever,” which included $15 billion for native regulation enforcement and neighborhood security applications throughout the nation. She needs to construct upon confirmed gun violence prevention applications which have helped cut back violent crime nationwide.
Donald Trump’s Gun Coverage
Trump’s lack of particular gun coverage proposals indicators that he intends to take care of the establishment, interesting to his gun-loving base and aligning with the NRA. His repeated false claims that Harris seeks to “confiscate your guns” resonates with the Republicans who really feel threatened by potential modifications to gun legal guidelines.
Unspecific stance apart from to protect “the right to keep and bear arms”
In line with Trump’s 2024 Republican Platform, he and the GOP will “defend our constitution, our bill of rights, and our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms.”
Assault the opponent’s stance
Trump’s marketing campaign has stated that he’ll “terminate every single one of the Harris-Biden’s attacks on law-abiding gun owners his first week in office and stand up for our constitutionally enshrined right to bear arms.” The previous president additionally commonly declares in his stump speeches that Harris needs to “confiscate your guns”—one thing she persistently denies.
