Hard Wire

Kamala Sits Down With Oprah For Rally

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Vice President Kamala Harris stirred quite a reaction during a virtual campaign rally on Thursday when she made an unexpected comment about how she would handle a home intruder: "If somebody breaks into my house, they're getting shot." The remark, made in the presence of Oprah Winfrey during the “Unite for America Rally,” caught Winfrey off guard and sent ripples through both the political landscape and social media.

The rally, hosted by Winfrey, featured a star-studded lineup of celebrities and grassroots organizations rallying in support of Harris and the Biden administration. As the conversation turned to the topic of gun violence, Winfrey expressed surprise at learning that Harris is a gun owner, having made this revelation during a recent presidential debate. "I did not know that," Winfrey said, noting how "powerful" the revelation was. Harris’s response, though, was what truly set the tone: "If somebody breaks into my house, they're getting shot, sorry," she stated with a laugh.

Winfrey, ever the professional, responded with an understanding, "Yes, yes. I hear that, I hear that," as the two exchanged laughs. Harris then backtracked a little, adding, "Probably should not have said that," which elicited more laughter from the virtual audience.

But what might have seemed like a lighthearted exchange in the moment didn’t sit well with many who heard the vice president’s comments. Fox News quickly picked up on the story, and social media users were swift to push back, calling out Harris’s stance on gun control, which has long been a point of contention among her critics. Her earlier support for measures like mandatory gun buybacks and stronger gun control policies have earned her the reputation of being a proponent of restricting Second Amendment rights. So, her offhanded remark about shooting an intruder seemed to many like a glaring contradiction.

The conservative Twitter account "Libs of TikTok" didn’t hold back, tweeting, "Kamala says she would sh**t an intruder who enters her home then says ‘I probably shouldn’t have said that.’ Let’s be very clear. She has repeatedly called to take away your guns and she 100% will if she’s elected. Security for me but not for thee." This critique reflects a sentiment shared by many who feel that while Harris supports strict gun control for the general public, she may not hold herself to the same standard when it comes to her personal safety.

Others, like The Spectator’s contributing editor Stephen Miller, pointed out the disconnect between Harris’s current rhetoric and her past actions. He highlighted Harris’s 2007 statements as San Francisco’s district attorney, where she supported the idea of police entering the homes of legal gun owners to ensure that firearms were being stored safely. Miller questioned how Harris’s past advocacy for mandatory gun buyback programs aligns with her more recent statements about gun ownership and self-defense, urging journalists to press Harris on this apparent inconsistency.

This isn’t the first time Harris’s views on gun control have come under scrutiny. During the same debate where she revealed her gun ownership, Harris addressed the narrative that Democrats want to confiscate firearms, denying the accusations and calling the ongoing debate over the issue misleading. "I've made very clear my position on fracking and then this business about taking everyone's guns away. Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. We're not taking anybody's guns away. So stop with the continuous lying about this stuff," she said.

But her critics aren’t buying it. Many see Harris as a leading figure in the push for tighter gun regulations, with some pointing to her history of advocating for stricter measures as proof that, if given the chance, she would enact policies that could limit gun ownership. The "Unite for America Rally," meant to showcase Harris’s leadership and inspire voters ahead of the 2024 election, has instead reignited the ongoing debate over her stance on gun rights.

The rally itself, while centered around the vice president, featured prominent celebrities like Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, and Meryl Streep, as well as speeches from political figures like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Held virtually with an audience of 400 in Oakland County, Michigan, the event was a show of unity from organizations like "Latinas for Harris" and "White Women: Answer the Call." Yet, Harris’s comment about handling a home invasion has drawn more attention than perhaps anyone expected.

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