America’s Gun Culture Again Takes Toll Of Lives And This Is What Presidential Hopefuls Say

Gun violence doesn’t seem to stop in the United States. A shooting incident in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania left five killed and three injured on 10 March, adding to a growing list of mass shootings across America.

Amending America’s presently liberal gun laws has long been a cherished dream of President Barack Obama. But even as he heads into his final year in office, Obama has managed little movement on the issue, owing to pressures from America’s powerful lobby.

But what would the next US President potentially do? Here’s what the five major standing presidential candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties think about gun rights:

1) Donald Trump

Trump has been among the most vocal defendants of gun rights in the US presidential race. As early as in October last year, following a shooting at a community college in Oregon, Trump said, “If you had a couple teachers with guns in that room, you would have been a hell of a lot better off.” When terrorists struck Paris a month later, Trump reiterated his view that armed civilians would succeed in thwarting attempted shootings and terror attacks, and has continued to stick to that opinion steadfastly.

2) Ted Cruz

Cruz, the closest challenger to Donald Trump in the Republican race, has also stuck to the traditional Republican view of upholding gun rights. On his official website, Cruz writes, “When citizens cease to have the right to defend ourselves, we cease to be free. And now, more than ever, as radical Islamic terrorists seek to attack Americans on our own soil, Americans’ right to protect our families and communities is all the more critical to our safety and freedom.”

3) Marco Rubio

Rubio, presently at third in the Republican primaries, has been less vociferous about gun rights than Trump, but maintains his commitment to the Second Amendment (which guarantees the right of civilians to bear and keep arms) as well. Speaking in January to supporters in New Hampshire, shortly after President Obama contemplated executive orders to enforce gun regulations, Rubio said, “All these executive orders [Obama’s] gonna come out with tomorrow that are going to undermine our Second Amendment rights—on my first day in office, they’re gone.”

4) Hillary Clinton

Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, has been a vocal supporter of Obama’s efforts in placing regulations on gun rights. On her official website, Clinton spells out a three-pronged plan for gun control – one, strengthen background checks; two, hold irresponsible dealers and manufacturers accountable; and three, keep guns out of the hands of terrorists and the mentally ill. However, Clinton acknowledges that “gun ownership is part of the fabric of many law-abiding communities”.

5) Bernie Sanders

While Sanders backs stricter gun regulations and advocates a “ban [on] semi-automatic assault weapons which are designed strictly for killing human beings”, Sanders recently disagreed with Clinton on holding manufacturers accountable for gun violence. “What you’re really talking about is ending gun manufacturing in America,” Sanders said, “I don’t agree with that.” Sanders’ position on this issue even received a significant endorsement from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

While the Republicans are united in their unconditional support to the Second Amendment therefore, both Democratic candidates are in favor of amendments to gun rights in America but differ on the specifics.