2024 Republican Platform Drops Gun-Rights Promises
BY Herschel Smith
5 months, 2 weeks ago
In its first official platform since 2016, the Grand Old Party (GOP) slashed all mention of its gun policy positions.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) Platform Committee voted 84-to-18 on Monday to adopt the new 2024 platform language after skipping the process entirely in 2020. The finalized document leans into former President Donald Trump’s “America First” outlook and parrots many of his stances on issues ranging from immigration to trade. However, it also minimized the party’s emphasis on gun policy compared to its previous platform.
The entire platform discusses gun rights just once, in a preamble statement about the party’s dedication to defending “our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms.” The final product omits any discussion of tangible gun policy ideas.
The Republican Party platform’s downplaying of Second Amendment issues comes as the gun-rights movement finds itself in a precarious position politically. As guns have become increasingly polarized along party lines, gun-rights supporters have found themselves reliant on Republicans for political support. President Joe Biden has made gun control a fixture of his tenure in office and is already campaigning on even more sweeping proposals, including a ban on sales of the popular AR-15, in a potential second term. At the same time, while the GOP’s current standard-bearer has continued to seek the support of the National Rifle Association and make promises in speeches to the group, he has been fickle on gun policy at times. His felony convictions also mean he can no longer legally own or possess firearms.
The 2024 platform’s cursory discussion of gun policy priorities marks a significant departure from the party’s 2016 platform. The party previously dedicated an entire section to the Second Amendment. In it, the GOP listed specific pro-gun policies it wanted to enact, as well as gun-control measures it opposed.
“We support firearm reciprocity legislation to recognize the right of law-abiding Americans to carry firearms to protect themselves and their families in all 50 states,” the 2016 document reads. “We support constitutional carry statutes and salute the states that have passed them.”
“We oppose ill-conceived laws that would restrict magazine capacity or ban the sale of the most popular and common modern rifle,” the section continues. “We also oppose any effort to deprive individuals of their right to keep and bear arms without due process of law. We condemn frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and the current Administration’s illegal harassment of firearm dealers. We oppose federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners, registration of ammunition, and restoration of the ill-fated Clinton gun ban.”
[ … ]
The Trump campaign celebrated the final draft of the platform and emphasized the former President’s personal influence on its contents.
This is excellent reporting and a very informed writeup at The Reload.
They’ve also dropped their vocal support of pro-life policies.
I’m not making this up. It’s in the platform. Of all the people the GOP cannot afford to lose, gun owners are at the top of the list. But this is a “win at all costs” platform focused on soccer moms in the suburbs.
Combine that with support for the bump stock ban, red flag laws, alignment with the ill-fated and obscene NRA, and the GOP has miles to go before they can make up for this failure.
Of course, it’s not as if Cornyn or Tillis paid any attention to the last platform.
On July 10, 2024 at 12:11 am, Dan said:
Justin case you were unaware….the GOP is a wholly owned subsidiary of the DNC.
On July 10, 2024 at 5:33 am, jrg said:
Not a good development. But not surprising either. The Left is attacking the Right anyway they can attacking Trump and violence by individuals using firearms has long been a weapon by the Left.
They are probably considering no pro-gun advocates would be voting for Democrats anyway, as the Left is FAR WORSE than the Right when it comes to pro-gun rights and legislation. Any pro-gun Democrats are quickly be put to the stake by the Rabid Left, either by MSM or their counterparts.
The Uni-Party to me are the worst. People falsely advertise how or would vote.
On July 10, 2024 at 6:27 am, Wes said:
“I like take the guns first; do due-process later.” Donald J. Trump (on Red Flag laws)
That was all people should’ve needed to hear.
On July 10, 2024 at 7:42 am, Don't mind me. said:
The GOP will do what AIPAC tells it to do.
On July 10, 2024 at 8:03 am, JB said:
Politicians lack any core beliefs other than winning and power. And they will make a deal with the Devil if it benefits them.
This is one definition of Politics which the Internet conjured up:
“Politics is the social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by certain individuals or groups.”
I see this definition most fitting.
On July 10, 2024 at 8:47 am, scott s. said:
I am in Milwaukee with a delegate who was on platform. The Trump campaign strong-armed the committee. The campaign wrote the platform and didn’t allow any amendments. This delegate does like that the platform is more succinct compared to 2016, but agrees that the delegates, representing the grass roots, should not have been dissed.
So now instead of meeting we’re killing time this week.
On July 10, 2024 at 9:10 am, dad29 said:
It’s useful to remember that one must be ELECTED to get anything done, whether on gun or abortion issues.
You also notice that there is not one word about “deficit spending”, nor “national debt”? Frankly, Trump will be a lot better on the 2A than on spend/debt/deficit. So the US will go BK, but we’ll be pretty well-armed.
On July 10, 2024 at 9:24 am, Herschel Smith said:
Part of getting elected is not losing your base. Take a gander some time at what the boys at reddit/Firearms think about both parties and gun rights.
Then ask yourself how many gun owners live in America.
On July 10, 2024 at 9:30 am, Rick said:
Should cease calling it gun rights. Should call it American’s rights.
If guns are simply tools (they are) and are inanimate objects (they are), then guns do not have rights. I know the term is a euphemism. But let’s change it up.
I think it would also go a long way in getting non-gunnies to hop onboard. After all, what true American could be against the people having rights? Too, it would force the gun haters into a defensive position of having to define why Americans should not have rights.
The narrative then becomes, Which right are YOU willing to surrender?
On July 10, 2024 at 10:02 am, Rick said:
For what it’s worth, it is not necessary to be elected to get things done.
For fifteen years I conducted my personal campaign to engage in regular comms with elected state legislators and members of Congress. I used mostly typed letters but often phone calls and occasionally e-mails. (the latter is the least effective means)
It was so very frustrating. I devoted much time in reading on the issues, formulating my communications, being careful to be clear on my position but succinct. The typical response was an acknowledgement of receipt. Usually a form letter or a curt reply which grossly misinterpreted my position. (Ex:
thanking me for a Yay when I clearly stated Nay). Phone calls were like chasing my tail. Just when I got to know a staffer, they were replaced by some other dimwit, Usually quite rude in temperment. If anything I am tenacious. Very frustrating but I kept at it. Until I didn’t. I had accepted defeat and it felt terrible.
So imagine my consternation when I found that by signing on to a mass e-mail from an org I saw great response. Strength in numbers, I guess. But it surely violated the purpose of representation in government of the individual.
Gordon Klingenschmitt, former USN Chaplain fired for his Christian belief) is one mass e-mail I sign. Another is American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). Both are very effective in moving the congresscritters.
On July 10, 2024 at 10:14 am, Herschel Smith said:
Gordon Klingenschmitt is a good and honorable man.
On July 10, 2024 at 12:17 pm, LZ said:
Since all of you know voting for the Obama/Biden team your/our Second Amendment Rights will be in great jeopardy. The GOP is mute on the subject. I will vote for Donald Trump as I view him and the GOP the lesser of two evils.
On July 10, 2024 at 3:15 pm, PGF said:
Well, good; they’re not pretending anymore. My problem has always been the honesty of the communists and the dishonesty of the crypto-commies. Now everyone is without an excuse for voting.
On July 10, 2024 at 5:20 pm, Alex said:
Ahh, the milquetoast platform.
Treason is treason.
On July 11, 2024 at 5:18 am, Joe Blow said:
This is reason 5,346,346 I feel that voting no longer matters.
The Republic is dead.
It is owned by oligarchs, politicians, and lobbiests.
Voting is merely a charade to keep the sheep in line and believing they matter.
Congrats! Hook, line, and sinker!
On July 11, 2024 at 7:46 am, dad29 said:
Herschel, you misunderestimate the Trump base. And you are probably misoverestimating the (remaining) Biden base.
While I’m not a raving MAGA guy, I cannot allow Biden, an un-indicted traitor to prevail. I think we agree there.
Biden’s base is evaporating. Trump’s is not; he still has the momentum, despite the fact that he is an LBJ-style Democrat masquerading as a Republican for purposes of getting on the ballot.
Granted, it’s possible that he will try some stupid 2A thing like his bump-stock ban again. It will FAIL again in court, too.
On July 11, 2024 at 8:03 am, dad29 said:
Something else to consider is the Biden rush to ‘digital dollars’ vs. the Trump promise to protect bitcoin. (It is disturbing that Trump has not denounced the ‘digital dollar’ thing.)
See: https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2024/07/10/based-orange-president-trump-will-speak-at-bitcoin-2024-conference/#more-262017
On July 11, 2024 at 8:25 am, george 1 said:
@dad29.
It is disturbing that Trump has not denounced many things. Covid mandates and his “Bootiful” vaccine anyone to name one.
Col Macgregor when asked if Trump might be able to stop the wars in Ukraine and the ME/Israel:
“Considering the people he is listening to now I am not optimistic that anything will change.”