Vice President Kamala Harris disclosed her status as a gun owner during Tuesday's presidential debate, surprising many viewers who were unaware of this fact.
According to Daily Mail, Harris made the revelation while addressing gun control policies, stating that both she and Tim Walz are gun owners and not seeking to confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens.
Harris's announcement came as she attempted to counter claims about Democratic gun control policies. "Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. We're not taking anybody's guns away. So stop with the continuous lying about this stuff," she declared during the debate with Donald Trump.
While the debate disclosure may have been unexpected for some, Harris had previously revealed her gun ownership during her 2020 presidential campaign. In April 2019, she told Iowa voters that she owned a firearm for personal safety, citing her background as a city prosecutor.
Campaign aides at the time confirmed that Harris possessed a handgun, which she kept securely locked. Although she has not divulged the specific make or model of her firearm, Harris has asserted that she is proficient in its use.
In a 2015 interview with journalist Mike Allen, Harris spoke about her experience with firearms. When asked if she had ever fired a gun, she responded affirmatively, stating, "I'm a good marksman. Yes, I have shot a gun many, many times."
Despite her personal gun ownership, Harris has been a strong advocate for stricter gun control measures. During her 2020 presidential campaign, she proposed a series of policies aimed at reducing gun violence in the United States.
One of her more controversial proposals was support for a mandatory gun buyback program. At an MSNBC forum on gun safety in October 2019, Harris said, "We have to have a buyback program, and I support a mandatory gun buyback program."
Harris emphasized the need to address the estimated 10 million assault weapons in circulation in the United States, calling for "smart public policy that's about taking those off the streets, but doing it the right way."
Harris's campaign promises included a pledge to use executive action to implement gun control measures if Congress failed to act within her first 100 days in office. She specifically mentioned banning imports of AR-15-style assault weapons through executive order.
This approach drew criticism from then-candidate Joe Biden, who questioned the constitutional authority for such unilateral action. During a Democratic primary debate, Biden argued, "There's no Constitutional authority to issue that executive order when they say 'I'm going to eliminate assault weapons.' You can't do it by executive order any more than Trump can do things when he says he can do it by executive order."
Harris dismissed Biden's criticism, responding, "Hey, Joe, instead of saying, 'No, we can't,' let's say, 'Yes, we can.'" Biden countered by emphasizing the need to adhere to constitutional principles.
Vice President Kamala Harris's revelation of gun ownership during the presidential debate highlighted the complex relationship between personal firearm possession and advocacy for stricter gun control measures. Her disclosure aimed to counter claims about Democratic intentions to confiscate guns from law-abiding citizens. Harris's history of gun ownership dates back to her time as a city prosecutor, and she has maintained her stance on responsible gun ownership while pushing for stronger regulations.
