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In the wake of recent mass shootings, the Democrat Party has renewed their calls for gun control. This is a subject matter which is being widely discussed on the 2020 presidential election field. Various candidates have expressed where they stand on gun control and what they view as appropriate solutions to halt mass shootings.

As of late, mandatory buyback programs are gaining a lot of traction. Several Democrats have openly come out in favor of thse programs; Cory Booker and Beto O'Rourke were some of the first left-wing contenders to stand behind this reform proposal. Last night, Kamala Harris also joined the ranks of 2020 Democrats who support mandatory buybacks.

A Closer Look at Harris' Stance on Mandatory Buybacks

Last night, Harris appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. As the interview approached the end, Harris answered various questions from members of the audience. One of the questions from an attendee pertained to whether or not Harris supports mandatory buyback programs, and furthermore, if Harris believes said programs infringe upon Second Amendment rights.

The 2020 candidate responded to the inquiry by confirming that she does, in fact, support mandatory buyback programs. Harris' exact answer to the question reads as follows:

"Great question. I do believe that we need to do buybacks and I'll tell you why. First of all, let's be clear about what assault weapons are. They [were] designed to kill a lot of human beings quickly. They are weapons of war with no place on the streets of a civil society. I've seen assault weapons kill babies and police officers."

She then wrapped up her answer by stating that mandatory buybacks ought to provide an equal amount of value to Americans in exchange for their "assault weapons."

Controversy Surrounding Mandatory Buyback Programs

As many Americans know, mandatory buyback programs are highly controversial. Conservatives oppose these programs and moreover claim that they're unfair to law abiding citizens. Others have additionally questioned how buying back firearms from lawful Americans will stop criminals who don't care about laws or mandatory buybacks.

Despite the backlash, many of the 2020 Democrats continue to favor these buyback programs. The few candidates who don't have expressed support for voluntary buybacks or opposition to buybacks altogether.