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Debate Aside, Neither Harris Nor Trump May Move Gun Policy Much

Gun violence may be a topic in the debate between Vice President Harris and former President Trump after the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, which has propelled the issue to the forefront of the presidential campaign, The Trace reports. Harris has made the prevention of gun violence a key focus of her campaign. Harris has backed gun safety regulations throughout her political career and has taken a prominent role in the Biden administration’s gun policy work. Since its launch in September 2023, Harris has overseen the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Under Harris’s leadership, the office has worked to enhance background checks for prospective gun buyers who are under 21 and accelerate implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years.


As president, Harris would likely push for expanding background checks for all gun purchases and reinstating the federal ban on assault weapons. She could also pursue tougher regulations on ghost guns, large-capacity ammunition magazines, and bump stocks. Josh Horwitz of the Center for Gun Violence Solution, said the outcome would depend on the composition of Congress and whether lawmakers can overcome a potential filibuster. Trump has taken a different stance on guns by positioning himself as a defender of the Second Amendment and aligning with the interests of pro-gun like the National Rifle Association. If reelected, experts expect Trump to resist new restrictions on gun ownership. He would likely support measures to expand concealed-carry rights, including allowing permit holders to carry their firearms across state lines without licensing. Like Harris, Trump may struggle to get enough votes in Congress to turn his proposals into law. “As a result, I think both of these candidates will be left to issue executive orders and take executive action on guns as being the primary space where they can make a difference,” said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law expert who authored “Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America.”

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