Kamala Harris hits back at NRA after group criticizes her gun control proposals
WASHINGTON – Sen. Kamala Harris, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, hit back at the National Rifle Association who criticized her gun control proposals, as the national conversation about guns has taken center stage following two recent mass shootings and increasing concerns about gun violence and how to combat it.
In a recent online posting the gun-rights group called Harris "anti-gun" and said "her plans are ridiculous."
"Big surprise: Kamala Harris is anti-gun," the NRA wrote in a tweet Saturday. "What she doesn’t seem to realize is that most of her gun control policies either wouldn’t work, or are already law, or basically make no sense. Here’s a look at what she’s proposing, and why her plans are ridiculous."
The tweet came the same day that Harris criticized President Donald Trump's rhetoric as influencing people like the alleged El Paso shooter, who said he was targeting Mexicans, according to police. Twenty-two people were killed as a result of the El Paso, Texas, mass shooting.
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Less than 24 hours after the El Paso shooting, another mass shooting occurred in Dayton, Ohio, where nine people died as a result.
"People say to me that Donald Trump caused those folks to be killed," Harris said at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair Saturday. "Well, no, of course he didn't pull the trigger, but he's certainly been tweeting out the ammunition."
Harris earlier this year announced she would take executive action to ban the importation of AR-15-style weapons into the U.S. if she’s elected president. She also said that she would issue a background check requirement for "anyone who sells more than five guns a year."
On Sunday, Harris took part in a gun vioence presidential forum in Des Moines, Iowa, which was organized by Everytown for Gun Safety. The last minute forum, which 16 Democratic presidential candidates participated in, was put on following the recent back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.
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In a response to the NRA's tweet, Harris sent an email Sunday evening to her supporters asking for at least 997 more donations so her campaign could "have the budget to respond to these attacks."
"For the gun lobby, there is no more important mission than defeating any politician that has the courage to stand up to them and present real solutions to the gun violence epidemic," the fundraising email to Harris supporters said.
"We can’t let these attacks on Kamala and our campaign go unanswered, which is why your contribution of any amount is so important today."
Contributing: Aamer Madhani, William Cummings
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris hits back at NRA after criticism from gun-rights group
