Where Does Each Presidential Candidate Stand on Gun Control?

Election season is just beginning to ramp up. Two weeks ago, I found myself staring at my TV, helplessly ensnared by Republican primary debates. As I watched Chris Christie unexpectedly wipe the floor with Nikki Haley on some foreign policy question, I realized that I hadn’t heard any of the candidates talk about their stance on gun rights in America. So, I looked into the issue for myself. Here are the results for each of the major candidates:

Ron DeSantis

Say what you want about Ron DeSantis, but he’s probably the only candidate in 2024 who’s actually done something to expand gun rights. In March of this year, DeSantis signedFlorida’s constitutional carry law into effect. This granted anyone in Florida the right to carry a concealed gun without a permit, provided they weren’t a prohibited person.

DeSantis is also the only candidate who has served in the military, albeit in the Navy Reserve. Listen, I’m not saying that Ron Desantis is perfect. But if you’re a single-issue voter who only cares about the Second Amendment, this is your guy.

Nikki Haley

Although she’s an openly repugnant statist who would just as soon send any of us to a CIA black site for some extended “extraordinary rendition sessions” as look to us, Nikki Haley has said that she doesn’t support gun control or banning assault weapons. I don’t really believe her, though, as she seems like a slimeball and gives me serious Hillary Clinton vibes.

Oh, and when one candidate (the next on our list) called her out for being “Dick Cheney in three-inch heels,” she replied by saying that the heels were “for ammo.” I don’t even know what that means, but it should give you an idea of how much Nikki Haley knows about firearms.

Vivek Ramamswamy

If you’re a single-issue voter who only cares about the Second Amendment, this guy looks like something out of a dream. He’s nailed the 2A talking points, saying that the Second Amendment protects all the other amendments. He’s also voiced opposition for red flag laws, saying that they can take guns away from law-abiding citizens. Instead, he says we should focus on mental health.

Vivek even goes so far as to say he wants to abolish the ATF. I’d love an unregulated SBR machine gun as much as the next guy, but I just don’t see this claim as realistic. While it would be great to see this guy get a chance at executing on his claims, that’s not going to happen.

Chris Christie

I’m not going to lie, I was amazed when I watched Chis Christie turn into Tony Soprano and whack the other debaters on stage before my very eyes. I hadn’t heard of this guy in ages, and all of a sudden he’s taking swings at Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley on national TV? I found myself agreeing with some of his talking points, but I can’t get behind him because of his stance on guns.

Christie has said that he believes the problem behind gun violence is mental health. Instead of pursuing an anti-gun strategy, he said we should be tackling the mental health crisis in America.

However, his words and actions don’t really line up. He supported the Safer Communities Act, which passed in 2022 and expanded a ton of anti-gun regulations. You can trust this guy about as much as you can a typical New Jersey mob boss.

Donald Trump

In spite of publicly calling himself one of the most pro-gun candidates ever, Donald Trump has voiced different opinions behind closed doors. In 2018, he said that the US government should “take the guns first” and “go through due process second” when talking about red flag laws.

Trump’s administration also acted to ban bump stocks in 2018, setting into motion a legal battle that’s worked its way up to the US Supreme Court. Strong words from someone who lauds himself as the “most pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment candidate” in American history.

Oh, and don’t forget he can’t even legally own a gun right now, since he’s currently under indictment for a felony and thus a prohibited person under Question 21.c of Form 4473.

Joe Biden

While it’s not official yet, Joe Biden has announced he’s running for president again, and his nomination as the Democratic candidate is all but assured. I think statements like “it’s time again to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines” and the dozens of executive actions he’s issued that affect firearms have made his stance pretty clear. A second Joe Biden term could prove disastrous for gun rights in America.

Robert Kennedy, Jr.

Joe Biden is hoping to waltz into election season with the full support of the Democratic Party, but Robert Kennedy, Jr. appears to be spoiling that plan. Originally running as a Democrat, Kennedy announced last month that he’d run as an Independent instead.

When asked about his stance on gun rights, Kennedy opened by saying that gun violence has disproportionately affected his family (both his father and uncle were killed by gunmen).

However, he said that he believes staunchly in the Constitution, including the Second Amendment. And within the laws set by the Second Amendment as they’re interpreted by the current Supreme Court, Kennedy says he believes that there’s nothing we can “meaningfully do” to stop gun violence. He further went on to say that he wouldn’t “take people’s guns away.”

Realistically, the best thing this guy can do for legal, responsible gun owners is sway moderate Democrats away from voting for Joe Biden.

Wrapping Up

Unfortunately, there aren’t many “good” choices in terms of pro-gun candidates this election. One of the frontrunners (Joe Biden) has openly said he wants to ban “assault weapons,” while the other (Donal Trump) will say anything he can to appeal to his base.

That leaves legal, responsible gun owners in pretty dire straits. Both Trump and Biden would be in their second term if elected. And second-term presidents don’t need to worry about re-election, so it’s usually a time for them to implement their less popular strategies. I firmly believe that no matter who becomes president in 2024, they’re not going to champion your right to own a gun.