Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris: Who said what about gun violence?

The Second Amendment is a contentious issue that comes up every election cycle in the United States. While Republicans have defended the “right to bear arms,” Democrats have argued for stronger gun control. This time, however, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has taken a different approach. Although she has supported stronger gun control in the past, Gun control During her presidential campaign, the Vice President repeatedly emphasized that both she and her running mate Tim Walz are gun owners.
During her recent interview with Oprah Winfrey in Michigan, she made a seemingly off-the-cuff joke that anyone breaking into her home would be “shot.” She immediately laughed and said, “I probably shouldn't have said that. My staff will deal with it later.”
Harris's revelation is a strategic attempt to align her support for stricter gun safety regulations with the concerns of gun owners. As she and many Democrats push measures like universal background checks and assault weapons bans, they often face Republican arguments that these initiatives violate Second Amendment rights.

Harris' stance on Gun violence

During his term as Attorney General of California in July 2016 Harris emphasized California's leadership in gun safety. She stated, “California is a national leader in gun safety, and we know that smart, common sense gun safety laws save lives. No law can prevent every act of gun violence, but we must do more to keep guns out of dangerous hands.”
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Harris stressed the need for gun reform in March 2018 following the mass shootings. She said, “We cannot tolerate a society and a country living with any level of pride when our babies are being slaughtered. We need sensible gun safety laws in this country, including universal background checks, a renewal of the assault weapons law ban and a ban on high-capacity magazines.”

During the March for Our Lives rally in March 2018, organized after the Parkland school shooting, Harris expressed her commitment to gun control. She said, “We need to talk about what common sense gun safety laws look like, but that conversation can't end here. Enough is enough. We need to act to protect our communities.”
During her presidential campaign in June 2019, Harris proposed a strong gun control platform. She stated, “We need common sense gun safety laws in this country, including universal background checks and a renewal of the assault weapons ban.” She also mentioned that she would take executive action if Congress did not pass gun control measures within the first 100 days of her presidency.

Trump on the subject of gun violence

Former President Donald Trump was a staunch supporter of gun rights and the National Rifle Association (NRA). NRAAt the Great American Outdoor Show in February 2024, he declared, “During my four years, nothing has happened… We have done nothing. We have not given in” and promised that if re-elected, he will reverse “every single attack Biden has made on gun owners and manufacturers.”
At the NRA's annual meeting in April 2023, Trump criticized Democrats for linking school safety measures to their gun control agenda, making it clear: “This is not a gun problem. This is a mental health problem, this is a social problem, this is a cultural problem.”
Trump has had problems with his New York concealed carry license, which was suspended in April 2023 due to a criminal charge. He has since surrendered two of his three pistols and taken the remaining one to Florida.
In May 2022, he praised NRA members, saying they were invaluable in times of crisis. He also called for strict, bipartisan background checks, acknowledging his administration's efforts on gun safety while expressing hope for further improvements.