Vice President Kamala Harris recently revealed her status as a gun owner, sparking conversations just weeks before the upcoming November 5 presidential election.
In a forum hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Harris said she owns a firearm for personal protection. With a chuckle, she remarked, "If someone breaks into my house, they’re getting shot."
Harris, who has generally been quiet about her gun ownership in line with Democratic efforts to reduce gun violence, surprised many with this bold stance.
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While she did not disclose the type of weapon she owns, her comments appeared to counter Republican criticisms that she is anti-gun, a claim made repeatedly by Donald Trump. The former president, endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), has suggested that Harris would infringe upon the Second Amendment.
Contrary to these claims, Harris supports stricter gun control measures, such as background checks for firearm purchases and banning semi-automatic rifles. However, she no longer advocates for a mandatory buy-back program.
Her choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a National Guard veteran and hunter, as her running mate demonstrates her nuanced position on firearms.
Experts like Joan Burbick, author of *Gun Show Nation*, suggest that Harris’s revelation was strategic, aiming to combat perceptions that Democrats are soft on crime.
Political analyst Steffen W. Schmidt also noted that her comment may dissuade further attacks from opponents on her stance toward gun rights.
With gun regulation ranking as a top concern for many voters, Harris’s balanced approach aims to appeal to both pro-gun rights advocates and those seeking tighter controls on firearms ahead of the election.
