David Shields

Because Harris will address the root causes of violence, rather than its symptoms

One cannot help but note that the matter of gun control remains as pressing as ever, and the Harris-Walz ticket, while not exactly blazing a trail toward the abolition of firearms, is certainly preferable to their opponents, who seem all too eager to cozy up to the gun lobby. The Harris platform includes several ostensibly sensible positions.

First, there’s the advocacy for universal background checks. This is hardly revolutionary, but it’s a necessary step toward ensuring that all gun sales, even those in the so-called private realm, are subjected to scrutiny.

Then there’s the issue of assault weapons. Harris supports a ban on these ghastly devices and high-capacity magazines, the very tools engineered for carnage. It is beyond comprehension that such a ban remains a topic of debate; the National Rifle Association’s defense of these weapons is nothing less than a deliberate and dishonest misinterpretation of the Second Amendment, which was originally intended to apply to militia rather than private individuals.

Harris also backs red flag laws, which permit the removal of firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others, upon petition by law enforcement or family members. Furthermore, she advocates for holding gun manufacturers accountable by curtailing their immunity from lawsuits related to gun violence. This is crucial, given that these manufacturers have played an undeniable role in the proliferation of firearms.

Finally, Harris emphasizes the need for stringent enforcement of existing gun laws and the allocation of resources to bolster this enforcement. Her support for funding and initiatives aimed at community-based violence prevention is particularly noteworthy. This approach seeks to address the root causes of violence, rather than just merely treating its symptoms.

David Shields is the author of twenty-five books, including How We Got Here (forthcoming on September 24, 2024) and—with Scott Kent Jones—A Christian Existentialist and a Psychoanalytic Atheist Walk into a Trump Rally (forthcoming on October 24, 2024).