Guns and Gun Violence in 2028
Firearms policy, mass shootings, and the ongoing debate between gun rights and gun safety measures.
The United States experiences far higher rates of gun deaths than other high-income countries, a combination of homicide, suicide, and mass shootings. The gun debate involves deeply held constitutional, cultural, and empirical disagreements about the causes of and solutions to gun violence.
Congress passed a modest bipartisan gun safety bill in 2022, the most significant federal firearms legislation in decades. It expanded background checks for younger buyers and provided funding for state crisis-intervention programs, but left unaddressed many measures sought by gun safety advocates.
The debate continues over assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines, universal background checks, red flag laws, mental health resources, and the extent to which the Second Amendment constrains legislative options.
Why it matters in 2028
Mass shootings remain a persistent political flashpoint. The 2028 race will force candidates to stake out positions on specific measures - particularly in primary contests where gun rights and gun safety advocacy both carry significant weight - while navigating a Supreme Court that has read the Second Amendment expansively.
How each party frames guns and gun violence
A neutral summary of each party's general governing approach. Individual 2028 candidates will differ - no nominee has been chosen yet.
Democratic approach
Democrats broadly favor expanded federal gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws that allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from people deemed a danger, and restrictions on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. Many in the party frame these as reasonable regulations that do not infringe on responsible gun ownership. There is some internal variation on how aggressively to pursue federal action versus supporting state measures.
Republican approach
Republicans broadly defend strong Second Amendment rights and tend to oppose new federal firearms restrictions. The party typically argues that existing laws need better enforcement and that mental health resources are a more effective response to mass shootings than new gun regulations. Many Republicans also emphasize that self-defense is a legitimate and important use of firearms. Some are open to modest measures like improved background check databases.
What voters ask about guns and gun violence
- Would candidates support a ban or restrictions on assault-style weapons?
- What would candidates do to reduce mass shootings at schools and public places?
- Do candidates support universal background checks for all gun sales?
- What is a red flag law and do candidates support them?
- How do candidates balance Second Amendment rights with gun safety?
Other 2028 issues
How 2028 candidates plan to manage economic growth, consumer prices, and the cost of living.
Border enforcement, legal immigration pathways, and the future of undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.
Federal and state abortion policy after the Supreme Court returned the issue to state legislatures in 2022.
Health insurance coverage, drug prices, and the long-running debate over the structure of the American health system.
Federal tax policy, including the expiring provisions of the 2017 tax law and disputes over who pays what.
Employment levels, minimum wage, union rights, and the future of work in an era of automation and AI.