In the ongoing political discourse surrounding gun control, recent statements by former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally have sparked controversy and a subsequent fact-check by PolitiFact. The debate centers around Trump’s assertion that Vice President Kamala Harris “supports mandatory gun confiscation,” a claim that PolitiFact has labeled “mostly false.”
At the rally in Atlanta on August 3, Trump told the audience that Harris, who has been vocal on gun control issues, supports the confiscation of certain firearms. This statement prompted PolitiFact, a well-known fact-checking organization, to investigate and rate the claim. The organization concluded that while Harris has previously expressed support for stringent gun control measures, including a mandatory buyback program, the context and current stance suggest that the claim is misleading.
PolitiFact’s reasoning points to the evolution of Harris’s position over time, implying that her current stance may differ from earlier statements. However, this conclusion has been met with skepticism, particularly from gun rights advocates who cite Harris’s previous public statements in favor of such measures.
Harris’s Record on Gun Control
Harris’s record on gun control includes multiple instances where she has expressed support for policies that could be interpreted as advocating for mandatory gun confiscation. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris made several statements that align with Trump’s claim.
In September 2019, at a campaign event in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Harris told reporters that the idea of confiscating commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms was “a good idea.” She elaborated on the need for a compulsory “buyback” program, indicating that such a measure was necessary to remove certain firearms from circulation.
Further reinforcing her position, Harris appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on September 16, 2019, where she reiterated her belief in a mandatory buyback of what she described as “assault weapons.” In her remarks, she emphasized that such a program was a viable solution, provided it was implemented correctly.
Harris’s commitment to this approach was also evident in subsequent appearances, including an October 2019 gun control forum on MSNBC and a November 2019 interview with NBC Nightly News, where she called for a “mandatory buyback program.”
PolitiFact’s Assessment
In its analysis, PolitiFact acknowledged Harris’s previous statements but highlighted a shift in her rhetoric, particularly during the 2020 campaign. The fact-checking organization cited a New York Times article referencing Harris’s campaign officials, who suggested that her position had evolved. PolitiFact ultimately concluded that Trump’s characterization of Harris’s stance was “mostly false” based on this perceived change.
However, critics of PolitiFact’s assessment argue that the organization overlooked key evidence, including more recent remarks by Harris that suggest continuity in her support for stringent gun control measures. Notably, PolitiFact did not address Harris’s comments from October 26, 2023, when she praised Australia’s gun control policies during a state luncheon with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Harris’s remarks were seen by some as an endorsement of Australia’s mandatory buyback scheme, which is similar to the proposals she advocated for during her presidential campaign.
Public Trust in Media
The controversy over PolitiFact’s rating reflects broader concerns about public trust in media and fact-checking organizations. Recent polls indicate a significant decline in Americans’ trust in mass media. According to a Gallup poll from October, only 32% of Americans expressed confidence in the media’s ability to report news fully, fairly, and accurately—a record low tied with 2016.
A Washington Post article published in June underscored this distrust, noting that only 3 in 10 residents of key swing states trust the media to report political news fairly and accurately. The remaining 70% expressed little to no trust in media coverage of politics.
The decline in public trust is further exemplified by an incident on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where the audience laughed when the host suggested that CNN was objective. This reaction underscores the growing skepticism among the public regarding the neutrality of mainstream media outlets.
As debates over gun control and media credibility continue, advocates on both sides of the issue are urging Americans to seek out information from multiple sources and to remain critical of the narratives presented by the media. For gun rights activists, the ongoing discussion about Harris’s stance on gun control serves as a reminder of the importance of staying informed and engaged on issues that affect the Second Amendment and gun ownership rights.
