Following the recent horrific events at Apalachee High School, northern Georgia, the presidential candidates and their running mates expressed their concern. However, their stances on firearm regulations in America couldn’t be more divergent, highlighting a drastic divide between their campaigns’ positions on gun control.
The tragedy became a contentious issue amongst the political adversaries, especially between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump –including their running mates. Both parties claimed to express sincere concern about the incident involving a 14-year-old student who used an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle that resulted in the loss of four lives. Yet, the polarizing viewpoints on the gun control issue were once again emphasized.
Mr. Trump, the Republican nominee, promptly grieved for the victims, stating, ‘Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA.’ His response turned the incident into a mental health issue rather than a gun control issue, stating the culprit was a ‘sick and deranged monster.’
Mr. Trump’s opinion on gun laws has continually been motives of dispute. He has always pledged to repeal the seemingly oppressive gun regulations imposed by the Biden administration, which he considers an attack on gun owners and manufacturers. He notably insists that mass shootings are more a mental health issue than a gun ownership one.
Despite the former President’s administration having implemented a ban on bump stocks after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Mr. Trump maintains that his administration ‘did nothing’ to restrict guns. However, this strategy of blaming mental health issues without offering any substantial solutions got undermined when the Supreme Court overturned the ban this year.
On the opposite side of the aisle sits Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, who professed, ‘We have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all.’ With an overtone of denial, she insists that America’s gun violence problem cannot, and should not, be considered normal.
Harris’s stance on guns is centered around enforcing restrictive laws. She has advocated for a federal assault weapons ban, renewing the laws authorized by President Bill Clinton and expired in 2004. This law previously banned the commerce of 19 specific weapons, including semiautomatic rifles and certain types of shotguns and handguns. Ms. Harris conveniently decides to sideline the strong Republican resistance against such an idea.
The Democratic VP nominee is also a strong proponent of state-level red-flag laws, allowing the courts to confiscate weapons from deemed threats. The practical implementation of such laws, however, remains disputable, and the proposal continues to face severe criticism.
Mr. Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, joined the discussion, admitting his despondency, ‘I don’t like this. I don’t like… that this is a fact of life.’ Despite acknowledging the tragedy, Vance called schools ‘soft targets’, hinting at an administrative failure more than a lack of gun control laws.
Vance, the first-term senator from Ohio, asserts that firearm restriction is not the solution to prevent school shootings. He instead campaigns for enhanced security measures, relegating the control of firearms as a negative that would not serve the intended purpose.
Mr. Vance has not only meticulously described himself as a gun owner but also supported the abolition of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which enforces firearms regulations. His victory was celebrated by the National Rifle Association, portraying him as a stalwart defender of the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
In stark contrast, Kamala Harris’s running mate, Governor Tim Walz, defended the Second Amendment during a rally in Pennsylvania. Yet, he turns around and emphasizes that the paramount responsibility is to ensure the safety of children, framing the issue as a fight for freedom.
Mr. Walz, once a robust supporter of gun rights who received high endorsement from the N.R.A., has flip-flopped his stance since his election in 2006. He now supports restrictive bills on assault weapons and bump stocks, echoing a similar view to that of Ms. Harris, despite drawing low grades from the N.R.A.
In conclusion, the shooting incident at the Georgia high school has once again thrown into sharp contrast the divide between the Democratic and Republican views on gun control in the United States. These ongoing debates, dressed up as safeguarding the rights of American citizens and protecting their freedom, seem sadly inconsequential when innocent lives continue to be lost.