Vice President Kamala Harris is no stranger to controversies. But her recent comments about gun ownership have landed her in the hot seat once again. Known for her outspoken support of stricter gun control laws, Harris shocked many when she revealed that she, too, is a gun owner.
This revelation has sparked a wave of backlash from critics who accuse her of being hypocritical, given her strong stance on tightening gun laws. Harris has always been a vocal advocate for policies like universal background checks, assault weapons bans, and red flag laws.
Kamala Harris Says “I Own A Gun… But We Need Stricter Laws”
During a recent appearance with Oprah Winfrey at the ‘Unite for America‘ event, Kamala Harris made a surprising admission about her personal life. Harris dropped the bombshell while discussing her position on gun control.
“I’m a gun owner; Tim Walz is a gun owner,” she said, referring to her vice-presidential nominee. Even Oprah was taken aback, replying, “I did not know that.” But what really grabbed people’s attention was her joking remark.
“If somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot.” Harris laughed after the comment but quickly added, “I probably should not have said that. My staff will deal with that later.”
This seemingly lighthearted comment has not gone over well with her critics. Many are calling her out for owning a gun while advocating for stricter gun regulations. After all, how can you promote policies that limit gun access when you yourself keep one for personal safety?
The Debate Over Gun Ownership And Control
But Kamala Harris isn’t backing down. In response to the criticism, she doubled down on her belief that gun ownership and responsible gun control aren’t mutually exclusive.
“I’m in favor of the Second Amendment, and I’m in favor of assault weapons bans, universal background checks, red flag laws,” she reiterated at the event. Harris has also been vocal about this stance in the past. She told CNN in 2019 that she owns a gun for “personal safety.”
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According to ‘Pew Research‘, while one-third of Americans own a gun, nearly two-thirds support stricter gun laws, and almost 90 percent back measures to prevent mentally ill individuals from accessing firearms.
Harris’ critics may find her stance contradictory, but she remains firm in her belief that common-sense reforms are necessary to reduce gun violence. In her words, “For far too long on the issue of gun violence, some people have been pushing a really false choice to say you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyone’s guns away.”
