Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has expressed her support for both the Second Amendment and assault weapon bans, acknowledging the need for comprehensive gun control measures in the face of ongoing gun violence in the U.S. During a live-streamed event with Oprah Winfrey, Harris addressed the prevalent false dichotomy often presented in the gun control debate. She asserted that the issue of gun violence has been wrongly framed as a choice between supporting the Second Amendment and taking away everyone’s guns.
“I am in favor of the Second Amendment, and I am in favor of assault weapons bans, universal background checks, Red Flag laws,” Harris stated during the conversation. She went on to share her personal experience as a gun owner, saying jokingly, “If somebody breaks in my house they getting shot.” Recognizing the potential for misinterpretation, she quickly apologized and added, “I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
Harris’s comments come amidst a pressing national concern regarding gun violence. According to CNN, there have been at least 49 school shootings in the U.S. as of September 13th, resulting in the tragic deaths of 24 people and injuries to at least 65 others. The Washington Post reports that over the past 25 years, since 1999, there have been 417 school shootings in the U.S., impacting over 383,000 students who have experienced gun violence on school grounds.
The AR-15, widely referred to as “America’s Rifle” by the National Rifle Association (NRA), stands as one of the most commonly owned firearms among U.S. civilians and has become a focal point in the gun control debate. Notably, the AR-15 has been used in 10 of the 17 deadliest mass shootings since 2012.
Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis in a comprehensive advisory, underscoring the profound physical and mental toll it inflicts on communities across the nation. Harris’s stance on gun control reflects the urgency of addressing this issue and finding solutions to prevent future tragedies.
