Michigan, USA – In a candid and somewhat lighthearted exchange, U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris expressed her views on gun ownership and the potential use of a firearm for self-defense during a livestreamed event with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday. Speaking to an audience of around 300,000, Harris made headlines by stating, “If somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot.”
The remark, delivered in a joking tone, drew laughter from the crowd before Harris added, “I probably shouldn’t have said that, but my staff will deal with that later.” The exchange highlighted a rare moment of levity in a conversation that quickly pivoted to the serious issue of gun control and America’s ongoing debate around firearms.
Harris, who has previously acknowledged being a gun owner, used the opportunity to emphasize her support for stricter gun control laws, particularly the banning of assault weapons. “A firearm of that type was literally designed to be a tool of war,” she told Winfrey. “It has no place on the streets of a civil society.”
When asked by Winfrey to confirm whether she had been a gun owner for some time, Harris affirmed that she had. As a former prosecutor, she explained, she owned a gun for personal safety. Harris reiterated her support for the U.S. Second Amendment, which protects the right to gun ownership, but underscored the need for tighter regulations on specific types of firearms.
The discussion came in the wake of yet another mass shooting in the U.S., in which a 14-year-old boy has been charged with murdering four people at a high school in Georgia. Harris called the frequency of school shootings in America “bone-chilling” and expressed her dismay at the necessity for children to undergo active shooter drills. “It doesn’t have to be this way,” she said.
Harris’s stance on gun control has been a focal point in the 2024 presidential race, particularly after last week’s debate with Republican incumbent Donald Trump. During the debate, Trump falsely claimed that Harris would confiscate all guns if elected, a statement she swiftly denied. “Both I and my running mate, Tim Walz, have firearms of our own,” Harris pointed out.
However, her views on gun control have drawn criticism from opponents who argue that her positions have shifted over time. Harris no longer supports a mandatory buyback program for assault weapons, a policy she had once advocated. Nevertheless, she remains committed to implementing tighter regulations, including universal background checks and red-flag laws, which allow for the temporary confiscation of firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.
The livestream event, which also featured appearances from celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, touched on various topics, including immigration and the economy, as Harris continues to campaign in the lead-up to the November election. With less than two months until Election Day, gun control remains a key issue as Harris seeks to distinguish her policies from those of her Republican opponent.
As the U.S. grapples with a rise in gun violence and mass shootings, Harris’s call for an assault weapons ban and stricter regulations reflects a growing demand for change among many Americans concerned about safety in schools and public spaces.
By [Your Name], Political Correspondent