Vice President Kamala Harris ignited a heated debate on Thursday with a tweet advocating for an assault weapons ban, stating that such firearms "have no place on the streets of a civil society." This strong stance quickly drew intense criticism from various groups, including political commentators and gun rights organizations.

US Vice President Kamala Harris at Home Rule Records in Washington, DC, on May 3, 2023. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Harris's tweet explicitly called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban and assured that President Biden would sign it into law. This direct approach fueled the already contentious debate surrounding gun control. Critics were quick to respond, challenging her position and invoking historical arguments about the right to bear arms.

Several prominent voices in the gun rights community responded to Harris' tweet. Dr. Mark Young questioned the definition of "weapons of war," while the American Firearms Association pointed to the military equipment left behind in Afghanistan. Patrick Parsons of the American Firearms Association sarcastically responded that he would be purchasing more firearms in response to Harris's tweet. Dana Loesch argued that the republic was founded by individuals using "weapons of war" and asserted that Harris and Biden would not succeed in banning them.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at an event in Colorado.

The debate also touched upon the Second Amendment and the right to self-defense. Kostas Moros argued that a civil society requires "weapons of war" as a defense against tyranny. The Firearms Policy Coalition emphasized the right to self-defense and refused to negotiate on the issue. Some critics highlighted what they perceived as hypocrisy, pointing to Harris's security detail and questioning why they should be entitled to firearms while ordinary citizens are not. Rep. Thomas Massie suggested that Harris's true aim was to disarm citizens while government agencies retain access to these weapons. Steve Cortes echoed this sentiment, questioning why Harris's protection team should have access to firearms if regular citizens shouldn't.

AR-15 style rifles on display at a gun store. (REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo)