Democrats and Republicans disagree about plenty, but one of their biggest points of contention
surrounds the issue of gun control.
Recent mass shootings have reignited the debate among presidential candidates.
So we wanted to know, what do the democratic candidates believe about gun control?
Well, unlike the Republican primaries, there are only three serious candidates on the Democrat
side.
They are Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley.
All three have voted for, and actively supported putting limits on gun ownership.
However, despite some strong similarities, each has a distinct position.
Bernie Sanders has long supported gun rights, and was even himself supported by the NRA
in 1990.
He has voted to let gun owners check their firearms on Amtrak trains, and voted against
a bill mandating a five-day waiting period.
He also once voted to provide immunity against lawsuits for gun manufacturers, although he
has since reversed his position.
Additionally, both Sanders and Clinton have previously questioned federally mandated gun
laws and registration, saying that those types of decisions are better left for states to
decide.
Sanders’ home state of Vermont is known for having a lot of guns, and relatively lax
gun control laws.
Meanwhile, Clinton’s gun views have aligned more towards the left over the past few years.
But even farther to the left is Martin O’Malley, who has made gun reform a cornerstone of his
campaign.
As governor of Maryland, O’Malley passed a ban on assault weapons, made it mandatory
to notify law enforcement in case a gun was lost or stolen, and and implemented strong
background checks and safety training for gun buyers.
Although the candidate has little chance of surpassing either Sanders of Clinton in the
polls, his message adds to the debate, and forces his opponents to respond to gun issues.
Many of Clinton’s ideas on gun control are more so based in common firearm etiquette
than distinct policy decisions.
Things like storing guns and their ammunition in separate places, or keeping children from
accessing dangerous firearms.
She has also touted the development of a “smart gun”, which would only operate if held by
the owner.
During the 2008 elections, Clinton actually shifted her political position towards a more
conservative view on gun control, and even reversed herself on establishing a national
gun registry.
In fact, all three candidates have pushed to make it much harder for just anyone to
buy a gun.
Sanders has said that there is a categorical difference between guns used for hunting and
self defense, and that different weapons can be appropriate in cities and the country.
Hillary is stricter but less consistent with her gun reform message, and comes from a viewpoint
of protecting children and victims of gun violence over the rights of gun owners.
Finally, O’Malley is staunchly in favor more information sharing and background checks
in the hopes of cutting gun violence in half by 2025.
While the candidates have similar views, they are certainly all coming from different places.
Unsurprisingly, the U.S. Republican candidates have different ideas about gun control.
Learn about them in this video.
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