Countdown to 2020: Amy Klobuchar on Gun Safety
In 2018, voters elected a wave of candidates who prioritized gun safety like never before. No longer a third rail of politics, gun violence prevention is now a top issue heading into the 2020 presidential election. In this regular series, we delve into the gun safety platforms of Democratic presidential candidates who have released initial policy plans to address this issue. While not an endorsement of any candidate or their platform, each post looks at a candidate’s record, explains their proposals, and shares our analysis.
Amy Klobuchar’s Record on Gun Safety
Amy Klobuchar has long been a champion for commonsense gun safety legislation. Born and raised in a state with a tradition of responsible gun ownership, she understands that Second Amendment rights need to be balanced with measures to keep firearms away from dangerous people.
Klobuchar served as Hennepin County Attorney from 1999 to 2007 where she was on the front lines of solving gun crimes in Minneapolis. While serving as county attorney, Senator Klobuchar worked to couple prosecutions with community outreach to reduce violence. Klobuchar has cited her experiences with domestic violence cases during that time as the reason for her commitment to closing the boyfriend loophole in the Senate, where she serves on the Judiciary Committee and has repeatedly introduced legislation to keep guns away from abusive dating partners. The NRA has given Klobuchar ‘F’ ratings for her efforts to keep our communities safe.
Amy Klobuchar’s Plan to Address Gun Violence
Senator Klobuchar has committed to prioritizing gun violence prevention in her first 100 days as president. Klobuchar will work to close the boyfriend loophole, enact universal background checks, and fund gun violence research, among other things. We break down a few more aspects of her plan below.