This four-part collection 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 vital 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 major 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 assist commonsense reforms really need to take away folks’s weapons. Trump and Republicans are clearly out of contact on this concern, 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
Kamala Harris speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally on Oct. 28 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Harris advocates for proactive measures geared toward lowering gun violence in “schools, communities, and places of worship,” interesting to a majority of the citizens that favors stricter gun legal guidelines. Her proposals replicate a complete technique designed to handle mass shootings and deal with 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 cut back the demise and destruction attributable to mass shootings in America.
Help purple flag legal guidelines
Pink flag legal guidelines are authorized provisions that enable legislation enforcement businesses or relations 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 assist purple flag legal guidelines to “keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”
Require common background checks
These legal guidelines require all gun consumers to bear a background examine, 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 purpose 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 legislation enforcement to fight neighborhood gun violence
Harris helps investing in police departments, together with hiring and coaching officers and folks to assist them, corresponding to psychological well being care employees. Her marketing campaign web site highlights how the vice chairman helped ship “the largest investment in public safety ever,” which included $15 billion for native legislation enforcement and neighborhood security packages throughout the nation. She desires to construct upon confirmed gun violence prevention packages which have helped cut back violent crime nationwide.
Donald Trump’s Gun Coverage
Donald Trump speaks at a marketing campaign rally on Nov. 1 in Warren, Michigan.
Trump’s lack of particular gun coverage proposals alerts 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 adjustments to gun legal guidelines.
Unspecific stance aside from to protect “the right to keep and bear arms”
Based on 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 repeatedly declares in his stump speeches that Harris desires to “confiscate your guns”—one thing she constantly denies.
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