Kamala Harris on Second Amendment Support, Gun Law Reform: 'Somebody Breaks in My House, They’re Getting Shot'
The current VP and POTUS contender spoke at length about gun safety during a special event with Oprah Winfrey.
Like other Democratic hopefuls before her, Kamala Harris has been tasked with noting that to be in favor of inarguably sensible gun laws and safety measures is not synonymous with being what many on the right have long asserted as “anti-gun.”
During an interview as part of her and Oprah Winfrey’s Unite for America rally on Thursday, the current VP, who’s now vying for POTUS after Biden stepped aside, expressed support for what’s often called “common sense” gun laws. In the audience, notably, were several people whose families had been affected by gun violence in the U.S. One individual, for example, proposed having metal detectors added to schools across the country.
“Look, I think for far too long on the issue of gun violence some people have been pushing a really false choice, to suggest you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyone’s guns away,” Harris said. “I’m in favor of the Second Amendment and I’m in favor of assault weapons bans, universal background checks, red flag laws. These are just common sense.”
Oprah then pointed out that Harris herself has noted in the past that she is a gun owner herself, as is her VP pick, Tim Walz.
“If somebody breaks in my house, they’re getting shot. … Probably should not have said that,” Harris said in response, jokingly adding that her “staff will deal with that later.” She then reiterated her larger point about gun safety, as well as her stance as a potential president.
“I’m not trying to take everyone’s guns away,” she said, pushing back against the old hat nonsense that somehow still plagues certain political discussions. “I believe in the Second Amendment.”
Harris also said that she has spoken with numerous young people, resulting in conversations she says underscores a problem that should be agreed upon by all.
“This is not the sign of a civil society and it doesn’t have to be this way,” she said. “We need to have the courage to act.”
Certain weapons, she further pointed out, have “no place” among everyday people, as they were “literally designed” for war, not pedestrian use.
Believe it or not, the election is now mere weeks away. The latest polls show Harris putting up stronger numbers than Trump, though not by a massive margin. Another debate is expected soon, though no official date had been set as of this writing.
