What is Kamala Harris/Tim Walz’ gun control plan?

KAMALA Harris and Tim Walz have made their stances on gun control clear – and have openly touted the fact that they are both gun-carrying citizens.

And they’ve made it clear at various points throughout the campaign that they have no intention of taking firearms from lawful owners, despite their calls for gun reform.

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Here, we round up the Harris-Walz campaign’s main gun control policy points, plus their individual stances and previous work in this arena.

HARRIS & WALZ BOTH OWN GUNS

Harris first revealed her gun ownership during her 2019 run for the White House.

“I own a gun for probably the reason that a lot of people do: for personal safety,” Harris said at the time.

She also shared her belief at the time that Americans “are being offered a false choice, which suggests you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyone’s guns away.”

The Democrat supported “smart gun-safety laws” then – a stance she still holds today.

Harris reshared her gun ownership during the September 10, 2024, presidential debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump.

She then opened up more on an episode of 60 Minutes, saying she’s owned a Glock “for quite some time.”

Walz, too, is a gun owner and even held an A rating from the NRA at one point.

But that grade fell to an F in 2018 when he began supporting stricter gun laws as governor in the wake of the Parkland, Florida high school shooting that left 17 students and teachers dead.

Walz has even gone so far as to go hunting while on the campaign trail, taking his Beretta shotgun out to mark the start of Minnesota’s pheasant hunting season in October.

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HARRIS AND WALZ WANT GUN REFORM

While Harris’ gun ownership status has remained unchanged, her gun control stance has wavered slightly.

During her 2019 campaign, she supported a gun buyback program.

These programs allow people to turn their guns in with few or no questions asked for some form of compensation – usually a gift card or cash.

But this election cycle, Harris changed her tune.

During the September 10 debate, she said, “We’re not taking anybody’s guns away, so stop with the continuous lying about this stuff.”

As president, Harris wants to “ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require universal background checks, and support red flag laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people,” according to her campaign site.

She notably doesn’t mention buyback programs in her policy plan.

But she does mention her intent to “build upon proven gun violence prevention programs that have helped reduce violent crime throughout the country.”

WHAT HAS HARRIS DONE FOR GUN CONTROL AS VP?

As Vice President, Harris oversees the White House Office of Gun Violence and Prevention.

The first-of-its-kind office, created by the Biden administration, looks to skirt around congressional inaction on gun reform.

Part of this role included delivering a massive investment in public safety and also working on policies that expand background checks.

Harris was also part of the enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 after the horror mass shootings that shook the towns of Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York to their cores.

That gun safety law update – the first major gun safety law in about 30 years, according to Harris’ campaign site – expanded background checks for anyone buying a gun under the age of 21.

It also provided billions in funding to mental health services and schools, and closed a loophole that previously allowed convicted domestic abusers to purchase firearms.

But the law is facing challenges from 26 states – all led by Republicans – suing to block it.

This work followed Harris’ years as a prosecutor and District Attorney where she also advocated for gun reform and safer streets.

WHAT HAS WALZ DONE FOR GUN CONTROL IN MINNESOTA?

As Minnesota governor, Walz was responsible for signing historic gun safety laws.

In 2023, Walz enacted a law mandating universal background checks and allowing law enforcement intervention in situations where someone is at a high risk of injuring themselves or others with a gun.

“As a veteran, gun owner, hunter, and dad, I know basic gun safety isn’t a threat to the Second Amendment – it’s about keeping our kids safe,” Walz said at the time.

“There’s no place for weapons of war in our schools, churches, banks, or anywhere else people are just trying to live their lives.

“Today is about taking meaningful action to create a safer future for our kids, and I am proud to sign this commonsense, life-saving legislation into law.”