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Fact check: Did kamala Harris say she was going to take guns away during her presidential campaign

Checked on August 2, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Kamala Harris explicitly denied wanting to take guns away during her presidential campaign. Multiple sources confirm that Harris stated "We're not taking anyone's guns away" and "We're not taking anybody's guns away" during debates and public appearances [1] [2] [3] [4].

Harris consistently positioned herself as both a gun owner and a supporter of the Second Amendment while advocating for specific gun control measures [1] [2] [3]. Her stated policy positions include support for:

  • Universal background checks
  • Red flag laws
  • Assault weapons bans
  • High-capacity magazine restrictions

The analyses indicate that Harris made these statements specifically in response to claims from Donald Trump that she would "confiscate everybody's gun" if elected [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important nuance about what constitutes "taking guns away." While Harris denied general gun confiscation, she did support banning certain types of firearms - specifically assault weapons and high-capacity magazines [3] [5] [6].

One analysis suggests there may be a contradiction in Harris's position, noting that she "tries to claim to voters that she 'isn't taking anyone's guns away from them' while calling for a ban and confiscation of certain lawfully made and legally purchased firearms" [7]. This viewpoint would likely benefit gun rights advocates and organizations like the NRA, who have a financial and political interest in portraying any gun control measures as comprehensive confiscation.

Conversely, gun control advocacy groups would benefit from Harris's messaging that distinguishes between general gun ownership rights and restrictions on specific weapon types, as this approach may be more palatable to moderate voters.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains potential bias by framing Harris's position as wanting to "take guns away" without distinguishing between comprehensive confiscation and targeted restrictions on specific weapon types. The analyses clearly show that Harris explicitly denied wanting to take guns away from citizens generally [1] [2] [4].

The question may perpetuate a false binary that presents any gun control measure as equivalent to total gun confiscation. This framing benefits those who oppose any gun control measures by making moderate positions appear more extreme than they actually are. The analyses demonstrate that Harris's actual stated position was more nuanced, supporting both Second Amendment rights and specific regulatory measures.

Want to dive deeper?
What were Kamala Harris' specific gun control proposals during her 2020 presidential campaign?
Did Kamala Harris ever explicitly call for gun confiscation in the US?
How does Kamala Harris' gun control stance compare to other Democratic presidential candidates in 2020?
What is Kamala Harris' current stance on the second amendment as Vice President in 2025?
How have gun rights advocacy groups responded to Kamala Harris' gun control proposals?