Vice President Kamala Harris is facing accusations of hypocrisy after revealing she owns a Glock pistol, despite supporting gun control measures that could outlaw the very weapon she possesses, raising questions about whether she may have violated California’s strict gun laws.
Vice President Kamala Harris is under scrutiny after revealing in a recent interview that she owns a Glock pistol, despite her long-standing advocacy for gun control measures that could outlaw or heavily restrict the firearm she possesses. The revelation raises questions about whether Harris may be in violation of California state law, where strict regulations on high-capacity magazines and specific gun safety requirements have been in place for over two decades.
Harris, a vocal proponent of gun control, has supported legislation that would ban "high-capacity" magazines and certain semi-automatic firearms, including those commonly equipped with Glocks. According to the California Penal Code, possessing a standard-issue magazine for many Glock pistols, which often exceed the 10-round limit, is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to a year in prison. Glocks, especially those carried by law enforcement, can hold as many as 15 rounds, well above the legal limit in California.
Despite her ownership, Harris has a history of supporting strict gun regulations. In 2005, while serving as San Francisco’s district attorney, she backed Proposition H, a measure seeking to ban handguns in the city. She has continued to advocate for similar policies on a national level, calling for the reinstatement of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, which would also affect many Glock models based on their magazine capacity.
The inconsistency between Harris' personal firearm ownership and her public stance has drawn criticism, particularly given California's stringent gun laws. Under the Unsafe Handguns Act (UHA), passed in 2001, most Glock pistols are deemed "unsafe" and are prohibited for sale unless they meet specific safety standards like having a loaded chamber indicator and magazine disconnect. Not a single U.S.-manufactured Glock has been approved for sale under this law.
Mark Oliva, the director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, pointed out the irony of Harris' exemption as a former law enforcement officer, which allowed her to purchase a handgun prohibited for sale to ordinary Californians. "Why does she believe it’s appropriate for her own self-defense, yet support policies that deny the same right to others?" he questioned.
The backlash has intensified, with one California law enforcement official expressing frustration over what they see as hypocrisy. "It's another liberal politician saying do as I say, not as I do—bullshit," the official stated, reflecting a broader sentiment of inconsistency between Harris' personal actions and public rhetoric on gun control.
Harris has stated that her background in law enforcement justified her decision to own a Glock. The most common model issued to law enforcement, the Glock 22, holds a 15-round magazine, which would be illegal for ordinary civilians in California. It remains unclear whether Harris still benefits from her exemption under state law, sparking further debate over her adherence to the laws she publicly supports.
Despite this apparent contradiction, Harris continues to insist that her policies would not result in the government "taking anyone’s guns away." Yet her previous proposals, including a mandatory buyback for "assault weapons" during her 2019 presidential bid, have faced constitutional challenges, with experts suggesting they would be ineffective and likely struck down by the courts.
Harris' ownership of a firearm that could violate California’s gun laws—while promoting some of the strictest gun control measures in the nation—underscores a significant inconsistency in her stance, leaving her open to criticism as her presidential campaign unfolds.
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