The Presidential Election is upon us again, meaning it’s time to educate yourself on the candidates’ positions. While 2020 is still over a year away, you can never start too early. As of now, there is not a Republican challenger to Trump. Meanwhile, numerous democrats have been declaring candidacy or launching exploratory committees for president throughout the past weeks.
Here are each party’s front runner candidates along with their proposed gun control:
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
Donald Trump – Trump, our current President seeking re-election, supports the idea and legislation of a 21-year-old legal age requirement and three-day wait period on the purchase of guns, and allowing the arming of some school personnel. Throughout his 2016 campaign, Trump supported ending gun free zones in schools and military bases, and also appointing Supreme Court Justices who respected and would vote in favor of the Second Amendment.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
Kamala Harris – Harris, former California attorney General, has made “common sense gun safety reform” a top priority in her campaign. Harris does not support arming teachers or personnel saying, “Arming teachers with guns would make our schools less safe.” In 2011, when Harris was AG of California, she oversaw a gun sweep of over 1,200 guns from individuals who were “mentally unstable” or were convicted of a crime that would not permit a gun. Harris supports CA Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s assault weapons ban, which would ban the sale, manufacturing and importation of 205 “military-style assault weapons” by name.
Kirsten Gillibrand – Gillibrand, a senator from New York, is known for her radical shift to the left on issues such as gun control and immigration. She accounts her previous conservative gun policy to her mother being an avid hunter. Gillibrand does not support arming teachers, stating, “[Teachers] want to be armed with books, not guns.” Gillibrand is also in favor of legislation that would prohibit a licensed concealed carrier to travel with guns across state lines.
Cory Booker – Booker, a senator from New Jersey, also does not support the arming of teachers saying the idea is “nonsensical”. Like Gillibrand, Booker also opposes bringing concealed carry guns across state lines. Booker also believes that Criminal gun runners should be stripped of their Second Amendment rights as a way to decrease illegal gun numbers. Booker once stated, “The majority of guns that we recover don’t even come from New Jersey. They come from criminal gun runners who are not law-abiding citizens who should have a Second Amendment right. They come from criminals who can walk into secondary markets & buy weapons.”
Elizabeth Warren – Warren, a senator from Massachusetts, also strongly opposes the arming of teachers or personnel. In a co-authored letter, Warren’s views are summed up in a statement, “It is the Federal government’s longstanding position to prohibit federal funds from being used to purchase weapons.” According to CC (Christian Coalition) voter’s guide, Warren supports the restriction of the Second Amendment. Warren also supports the extension of a federal assault weapons ban.
Julián Castro – Castro, former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, is a long time gun control advocate. Castro supports universal background checks, limiting high capacity magazines, and also supports the renewing of a federal assault weapon ban.
Amy Klobuchar – Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota, will campaign on common sense gun control in 2020. She supports the extension of a federal ban on assault weapons, and voted yes on an amendment that would prohibit foreign and UN aid restricting gun ownership. She also supports the banning of high-capacity magazines, and high-caliber ammunition.
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
Howard Schultz – Schultz, former Starbucks CEO, is taking a run as an Independent. Schultz believes in common sense gun regulations, such as universal background checks and preventing the mentally-ill from obtaining guns. Schultz, frequently covered by the media recently, said,“Seventy percent of the American people want the kind of policy legislation that takes the guns of war out of the American peoples’ neighborhoods.” Schultz has called out both parties for having some extreme ideologies on gun control either wanting to ban guns or dismissing preventative gun legislation. Among many Democrats, there is fear that Schultz, moderate-left in ideology, may take away substantial votes from their nominee.
