Vice President Kamala Harris recently caused controversy among Second Amendment advocates by revealing that she owns a Glock handgun, despite her previous support for banning or restricting these types of firearms. Harris mentioned that she owns the Glock due to her background in law enforcement, but her history as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general show her support for bans on handguns. She has even argued at the federal level that banning handguns does not violate the Second Amendment rights of citizens, raising concerns about her stance on gun control.
Throughout her political career, Harris has been known for her anti-gun stance and support for measures that prohibit law-abiding citizens from owning handguns. She sponsored a 2005 ballot measure in San Francisco called Proposition H, which aimed to ban the possession of pistols by the city’s residents unless they were part of law enforcement, military, or private security. Although the proposition was approved by voters, it was overturned by the courts before taking effect. Harris continued her efforts to restrict handguns in 2008 by joining other district attorneys in arguing to the Supreme Court that a ban on handguns would not violate the Constitution, but the court ultimately ruled against it.
As California’s attorney general in 2013, Harris took steps to further limit the types of handguns that residents could own in the state under the Unsafe Handgun Act. She made the list of approved pistols even more restrictive by certifying “microstamping” as a requirement for all handguns in California. This move drastically reduced the number of handgun models available for purchase in the state and added to the challenges that gun owners faced in complying with state regulations. Harris also sought to uphold the state’s requirement that gun owners show “good cause” to obtain a concealed carry permit, demonstrating her continuous support for strict gun control measures.
Despite facing criticism for being a gun owner while advocating for gun control, Harris’ actions have not been seen as hypocritical by some. Clark Neily, one of the co-counsels on the Heller case, stated that owning a gun while supporting restrictions on gun ownership is not necessarily contradictory, likening it to people who support the right to abortion but do not believe it is constitutionally protected. While critics like Chuck Michel argue that Harris has consistently supported extreme gun control measures throughout her career, others believe that her ownership of a handgun does not negate her stance on gun control laws.
The controversy surrounding Harris’ ownership of a Glock handgun has reignited debates over gun control and the Second Amendment. Critics point to her past support for handgun bans and restrictions as evidence of her anti-gun stance, while supporters argue that her ownership of a handgun does not undermine her views on gun control laws. As the debate continues, Harris’ stance on gun control will likely remain a topic of discussion among lawmakers and advocates on both sides of the issue.
