I’m a Hunter, Veteran, and Gun Owner. I’m Voting for Kamala Harris, and I’m Not Alone.
I’m voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they are both gun owners who have a plan to tackle our country’s gun violence crisis.
I started using a rifle when I was a teenager, hunting deer with my uncle in Northeast Pennsylvania.
I’ve seen firsthand the damage a firearm can inflict on a living thing. But despite the record-high levels of gun violence in our country, too many Americans don’t understand the true lethality of firearms. My grandson’s friends play violent video games that show people getting shot and standing up again. Even in TV shows and movies, people get shot and get back up.
Gun Owners Must Prioritize Gun Safety at the Ballot Box
Don Barnard—Oct 31, 2024
In real life, getting shot with a gun is often fatal. Many of those who survive live with long-term consequences—like former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011 and today lives with a traumatic brain injury. As a member of GIFFORDS Gun Owners for Harris-Walz, I spend a lot of time thinking about how we can communicate the lethality of firearms—while also making sure that people understand that gun safety doesn’t mean taking guns away from law-abiding gun owners.
I’m voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they are both gun owners who have a plan to tackle our country’s gun violence crisis. I’m voting for them because I’m worried for my family, and specifically my grandchildren, who are growing up and making their way in the world. It terrifies me that gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens. None of us, no matter how old we are or where we live, are truly safe from this epidemic.
Growing up, hunting was a family activity and a community-wide event. Schools would be closed on the first day of deer season. Much like fishing gear, we considered rifles to be tools only used for a specific purpose. Today, when my grandchildren and I harvest deer or small game, we only take what we plan on consuming. Hunting remains a family tradition, a way of bringing generations together and connecting with the land.
As someone who served in the military and has held a concealed weapon permit for 40 years, I’ve sometimes encountered a misconception that gun owners are inherently dangerous or lack civility. That’s not true for the vast majority of gun owners that I know, especially my fellow gun safety advocates.
The lie that Democrats are trying to take our guns away is just that: a lie. Gun violence prevention and gun safety aren’t about taking rights away or undoing the Second Amendment. Laws enforcing waiting periods and secure storage and laws prohibiting straw purchases are meant to make sure that only the rightful owner of a gun can access it. No one’s rights are being infringed.
These laws shouldn’t be controversial. Neither should background checks on all gun sales, which are supported by 83% of Pennsylvanians. In Pennsylvania, private sellers aren’t required to conduct any background checks when selling AR-15s or other long guns. Our state also doesn’t have an extreme risk protection order law, which would temporarily remove firearm access from people who pose a demonstrated risk of violence.
These are the types of commonsense gun safety laws that Kamala Harris and the gun owners I know support. I see Harris as civil, knowledgeable, and tough. Throughout her career, she has strived to better herself and those around her. We have very different backgrounds, but I think there are some similarities in our paths: I went to college on the GI bill after serving in the military and then worked my way up. Harris has worked incredibly hard to get where she is.
I served in the Army during the Vietnam War and then the National Guard for four years. I was honored to serve my country and separated from the National Guard due to hearing loss. I respect Tim Walz’s military service and sacrifice—which is more than I can say about Donald Trump.
Trump has always been a nonstarter to me because of his bankruptcies and history of defrauding other people. He’s not an ethical or an honest man, and he has no plan whatsoever to address gun violence in our country. He even bragged to the NRA that he “did nothing” to stop gun violence as president.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will close loopholes that let dangerous people access guns. They will be forthright and honest in preserving our democracy. They can compromise with Republicans and people with different opinions rather than threatening them as the “enemy within.”
A real, healthy democracy requires all of our active participation. I’m participating by voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and encouraging other gun owners who believe in safety and responsibility to do the same.
ELECTIONS
GUN SAFETY PRESIDENT
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have demonstrated their commitment to fighting gun violence again and again, making gun safety a top priority in their campaign. We’re proud to stand with them in this must-win race, and we hope you will too.
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