This week, we’re taking a closer look at Kamala Harris’s recent gun messaging.
That’s why we have Tim Miller of The Bulwark on the show. He’s a Republican strategist turned Never Trumper who wants Harris to win but isn’t afraid to be honest about whether her campaign is going in a direction that makes sense. On her recent turn to talking about owning a handgun, he argued it’s a “CYA” move designed to reassure moderate swing voters she won’t take their guns.
He argued Democrats are being too defensive on gun policy. Miller said he thinks Harris could benefit from pushing other gun restrictions that poll well, like those targeting adults under 21. But he said the campaign’s priority now seems to be not pushing away moderate or center-right voters more than pursuing left-leaning ones.
Miller said the Trump Campaign is making a similar calculation. Beyond saying Harris wants to take everyone’s guns, Trump has been mostly quiet on guns. Miller said he’s made the reasonable calculation that most gun voters are probably already backing him, and he’s trying not to alienate voters who are less enthusiastic about guns.
Ultimately, he said Harris isn’t really trying to persuade committed gun voters with talk of her Glock; otherwise, she’d probably move more to the center on gun policy. Instead, she’s just hoping to convince those on the fence that she’s not as radical as Trump or her own policy record might suggest.
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Plus, Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I recap how oral arguments over the ATF’s reclassification of unfinished firearms parts kits went this week before the Supreme Court. We also discuss the justices’ decision to take up the case over Mexico’s lawsuit against the American gun industry later this term. Then, we turn to the politics behind Kamala Harris’ decision to reveal that she owns a Glock handgun. Finally, we wrap up with a brief update on the grassroots movement to repeal Massachusetts’ new omnibus gun control law via the ballot and a discussion of The Reload’s reporting being cited in other national outlets.
