Newsletter: The 2024 Race Solidifies

We noticed some important developments within the 2024 presidential election this week.

Trump was targetted by one other murderer, who, fortunately, didn’t get so far as the primary. Harris did an extended interview on gun coverage, the place she doubled down on what she’s been saying. Then we bought some polling that confirmed a little bit of motion on weapons but in addition confirmed voters aren’t that within the matter.

Contributing Author Jake Fogleman wrote about that development in an evaluation piece. I constructed off of that to clarify why the race seems to have fallen into a spot it’s more likely to keep till election day.

We additionally check out a brand new “crimson flag” proposal within the Senate that’s distinctive. Maine’s two senators are concerned and it doesn’t create a brand new nationwide system, which can give it some legs.

Plus, Semafor’s Dave Weigel joins the podcast to dissect the talk. We’ve additionally bought massive tales within the hyperlinks on the finish of the e-mail, together with some newly unearthed gun feedback from Harris. And The Dispatch is providing free trials to all Reload subscribers.

Ballot: Harris Leads Trump on Dealing with of ‘Gun Violence,’ Which Ranks Low Amongst Voter PrioritiesBy Stephen Gutowski

People belief Kamala Harris to deal with gun violence higher than Donald Trump however nonetheless don’t prioritize weapons very extremely in a brand new batch of post-debate polling.

An ABC Information and Ipsos ballot launched this week reveals Harris main Trump by 5 factors on the query of who’d deal with gun violence higher. 66 p.c of respondents mentioned the problem was extra essential to their vote, with 26 saying it was one in all their single most essential points. That put weapons above points like abortion and the conflict in Gaza, however solely seventh on the general record of People’ considerations.

The newest Fox Information ballot tells the same story however with a more in-depth divide. It discovered voters favored Trump on the problem of weapons by a single level, although that was down two factors from when the outlet requested in August. Fox additionally discovered voters gave the subject little consideration in comparison with different points. Solely three p.c of voters mentioned weapons had been their prime concern, tied for final with overseas coverage and crime.

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Evaluation: The 2024 Combat Over Weapons Has Stagnated [Member Exclusive]By Stephen Gutowski

The presidential marketing campaign’s debate over gun coverage and the emphasis (or lack thereof) on it’s unlikely to alter from this level via November.

Over the previous month, we’ve seen a high-profile mass taking pictures and a second assassination try towards Donald Trump. We’ve additionally seen Kamala Harris give an prolonged interview on gun coverage. But, there hasn’t been any motion on weapons from both candidate, and People haven’t moved the problem up their precedence record.

The race has stagnated and, barring an excessive occasion, will in all probability keep proper the place it’s on weapons.

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Kamala Harris Doubles Down on Gun Restrictions, Backs Group Violence Intervention ApplicationsBy Stephen Gutowski

The Democratic presidential nominee detailed a few of her gun coverage imaginative and prescient in a wide-ranging Tuesday interview, emphasizing her help for an “assault weapons” ban and speaking a few new coverage for the primary time since taking excessive of the ticket.

Kamala Harris defined what sort of gun restrictions she’d pursue if elected president throughout a prolonged sitdown with the Nationwide Affiliation of Black Journalists. She introduced up her help for a ban on the sale of in style firearms, such because the AR-15 rifle, and common background checks. However she additionally talked for the primary time in a high-profile interview about funding for much less controversial insurance policies like neighborhood violence interruption packages.

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Senators Collins, King Introduce Invoice Requiring Army to Use State ‘Pink Flag’ Legal guidelinesBy Jake Fogleman

The army might quickly be accountable for initiating so-called crimson flag orders underneath a brand new invoice launched by a bipartisan pair of Senators.

Susan Collins (R., Maine) launched the “Armed Forces Disaster Intervention Notification Act” on Monday. Co-sponsored by Angus King (I., Maine), the invoice would require army branches to make the most of state excessive danger safety order legal guidelines the place relevant when a service member is deemed by a commanding officer of posing a severe risk to themself or others. It could additionally require them to offer any related data or documentation to regulation enforcement and judicial personnel to help the execution of an excessive danger safety order continuing.

“This invoice would facilitate efficient communication and coordination between state companies and army service branches,” Collins mentioned in an announcement, “thereby serving to to maintain our communities secure and guaranteeing that service members in disaster get the help they want, with out infringing upon the rights of law-abiding gun house owners.”

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Podcast: Semafor’s Dave Weigel on the Debate and Harris’s HandgunBy Stephen Gutowski

This week, we’re reacting to the talk. That’s why I’ve bought one of many prime political reporters within the nation on the present.

Dave Weigel is a author for Semafor, who runs their Americana publication. He has been masking nationwide politics throughout main shops for many years now. He is among the best-sourced reporters on the market.

You possibly can hearken to the present in your favourite podcasting app or by clicking right here. Video of the episode is accessible on our YouTube channel.

Plus, Contributing Author Jake Fogleman and I focus on my time in Texas masking the NRA’s newest board assembly, the place the group got here to an settlement on a reform plan however didn’t overhaul its authorized technique after a marathon govt session. We additionally focus on new corruption allegations towards the group in a just lately filed lawsuit from a former worker, in addition to the group’s first massive election advert purchase of the cycle. Lastly, we cowl new proof of a modest bump in help for stricter gun legal guidelines within the aftermath of the Georgia taking pictures.

Audio right here. Video right here.

Evaluation: Are Voters De-Prioritizing Weapons? [Member Exclusive]By Jake Fogleman

Gun coverage has performed a reasonably restricted position within the 2024 election in comparison with years previous. Voters might have largely tuned out.

A new ballot from The Economist/YouGov final week recognized a modest uptick in help for sure gun-control measures within the aftermath of the Apalachee Excessive Faculty taking pictures in Winder, Georgia. Regardless of a horrific mass taking pictures clearly being contemporary on the minds of respondents to the survey (90 p.c mentioned they had been acquainted with the incident), they nonetheless listed weapons as a bottom-tier concern. Solely 4 p.c mentioned it was their most essential concern, putting it squarely within the backside third of the choices listed.

That discovering continues a latest development. A Fox Information ballot final month confirmed that the problem is much from top-of-mind for many voters. Simply three p.c of respondents mentioned weapons could be crucial concern in deciding their vote for President, the least cited concern polled. An NBC Information ballot launched earlier this month of Gen Z voters, who have generally prioritized gun legal guidelines greater than different generations, additionally discovered that gun coverage ranks lifeless final amongst points that matter most to their vote.

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Outdoors The Reload

Kamala Harris as soon as mentioned police might pay shock visits to authorized gun house owners’ properties for secure storage checks | Fox Information | By Alec Schemmel

Solely One State Will Have a Gun-Associated Initiative on the Poll This Fall | The Hint | By Jennifer Mascia

The Nationwide Crime Victimization Survey 2023 Is Out | Jeff-alytics | By Jeff Asher

Gun management teams announce new partnership with state lawmakers | Huffington Submit | By Roque Planas

Suspected Trump Gunman Had Rifle With Scratched-Off Serial Quantity | Wall Avenue Journal | By Sadie Gurman

US Authorities Had been Warned About Suspected Trump Gunman | Wall Avenue Journal | By Jane Lytvynenko, Deborah Acosta, and Vera Bergengruen

How Boston turned the most secure massive metropolis in America | The Economist

That’s it for this week in weapons.

If you wish to hear professional evaluation of those tales and extra, be sure you seize a Reload membership to get our unique evaluation publication each Sunday!

I’ll see you all subsequent week.

Thanks,Stephen GutowskiFounderThe Reload