Stacey Abrams on Gun Control

	Stacey Abrams on Gun Control Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger (GA); 2020 Veepstakes contender

Opposes constitutional carry; supports background checks

[GOP Gov. Brian] Kemp signed "constitutional carry" earlier this year allowing Georgians to carry a gun without a license to carry permit. He campaigned on the measure in 2018 and his former primary election opponent David Perdue said the move was a political ploy.

Abrams and opponents of the new law say they believe it will lead to increased gun violence and she plans to repeal the law. She also plans to push for a new law that requires background checks for gun sales through private purchases and gun shows, as background checks are currently only required if purchased from a licensed dealer.

Source: The Hill on 2022 Georgia Gubernatorial race , Oct 8, 2022

AR-15s are not necessary on our streets

Q: When you were a state lawmaker in 2016, you co-sponsored House Bill 731 that would have allowed state authorities to take away so-called assault weapons from current gun owners. Most similar bans would grandfather in existing semiautomatic rifles.

ABRAMS: In Georgia, you introduce legislation to start conversations. I am happy to work with the legislature to figure out how we make an assault weapons ban work. But what I fundamentally believe is that we have to have commonsense gun safety legislation. I am someone who supports the Second Amendment, who knows how to shoot, who knows how to hunt, but I believe that our responsibility is to make certain that the most vulnerable in our society do not face those who are irresponsible with their weapons. AR-15s are not necessary on our streets. Semiautomatic weapons have to be put under a certain level of responsible control. And I believe that I can work with Democrats and Republicans to come up with commonsense gun safety legislation.

Source: CNN interviews 2018 on Georgia 2016 voting records HB731 , Nov 4, 2018

Gun-carry license doesn't apply to "campus carry"

HB 280: Current version of "campus carry." HB 280 would allow for any weapons carry license holder to concealed carry a firearm on public university campuses. Athletic areas, student housing, and fraternity and sorority houses are not covered under the proposed exception. Carrying is also prohibited on up to three on-campus pre-school spaces. MY VOTE: NO Source: 2018 campaign website on Georgia voting record HB 280 , Mar 30, 2017

State should enact reasonable restrictions on guns

[After series of shootings in July 2016] "Georgia must have a thoughtful conversation about the national epidemic of gun violence and racially discriminatory policing," said Abrams. Georgians "face the failure of our state to implement reasonable restrictions to keep guns out of the wrong hands." The House Democratic Caucus, she said, will explore a package of proposals that will include gun restrictions and wider access to mental health care via expansion of Medicaid. Source: Macon Telegraph on 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial race , Jul 18, 2016

Voted NO on "campus carry;" it won't make students safer

Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed legislation that would allow college students to carry concealed guns onto campuses after lawmakers defied his personal request for changes that would make exceptions to the gun rights expansion.

House Bill 859 would legalize firearms at all public colleges in Georgia. "If the intent of HB 859 is to increase safety of students on college campuses, it is highly questionable that such would be the result," Deal wrote in his veto message.

The gun measure, known as the "campus carry" bill, was long sought by conservatives and Second Amendment activists who cast it as a crucial safety measure for students, faculty and administrators to protect themselves.

Deal [had requested the legislature] to exempt on-campus child care facilities & office space in a separate measure, but they declined to make changes.

Rep. Abrams voted NO; passed Senate 34-17-5 Mar.11; passed House 113-59-8 Feb.16

Source: AJC on Georgia legislative voting records: HB 859 , Mar 11, 2016

Rated 7% by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record.

Abrams scores 7% by NRA on pro-gun rights policies - NRA Candidate Positions on Gun Rights

While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America`s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs.

The following ratings are based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionaire sent to all Congressional candidates; the NRA assigned a letter grade (with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest).

A+: A legislator with not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment.
A: Solidly pro-gun candidate including voting record.
AQ: A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record.
B: A generally pro-gun candidate; may have opposed some pro-gun reform in the past.
C: A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions.
D: An anti-gun candidate who usually supports restrictive gun control legislation. Regardless of public statements, can usually be counted on to vote wrong on key issues.
F: True enemy of gun owners` rights. A consistent anti-gun candidate.
?: Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners` rights.

Source: NRA website 10-NRA on Aug 11, 2010

Click here for definitions & background information on Gun Control. Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Stacey Abrams. Click here for a Wikipedia profile of Stacey Abrams. Click here for a Ballotpedia profile of Stacey Abrams. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Stacey Abrams. Click here for issue positions of other GA politicians. Click here for GA primary archives. Click here for GA secondary archives.
*Other governors on Gun Control:*			*Stacey Abrams on other issues:*
*GA Gubernatorial:* David Perdue Kandiss Taylor Shane Hazel Vernon Jones *GA Senatorial:* Allen Buckley David Perdue Derrick Grayson Doug Collins Ed Tarver Gary Black Herschel Walker Jason Carter Johnny Isakson Jon Ossoff Kelly Loeffler Latham Saddler Matt Lieberman Raphael Warnock Shane Hazel Ted Terry Teresa Tomlinson Tom Price Valencia Stovall	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); vs. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. County Exec. Matt Meyer (D) vs. State Rep.Mike Ramone (R) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); vs. Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Eric Doden (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Attorney General Curtis Hill (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): vs. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. State Senator Bill Eigel (R) vs. Lt.Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D) vs. State Rep. Tanner Smith (R, lost June 4 primary)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); vs. Lt.Gov. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Attorney General Josh Stein (D) vs. Treasurer Dale Folwell (R, lost March 5 primary) vs. Justice Michael Morgan (D, lost March 5 primary) vs. State Senator Andy Wells (R,withdrew) vs. Rep.Mark Walker (R, withdrew) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R, retiring) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) vs. U.S.Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) vs. State Sen.Merrill Piepkorn (D) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. U.S.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Mayor Joyce Craig (D) vs. Acting Gov.Chuck Morse (R) vs. Exec.Councilor Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) vs. Minority Leader Brian King (D) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) vs. Lt.Gov.David Zuckerman (D, withdrew) vs. Selectman Peter Duval (D) vs. Commissioner Esther Charlestin (D) WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); vs. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) vs. U.S.Rep.Dave Reichert (R) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. Hilary Franz (D, withdrew to run for U.S.Rep.) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R, lost May 14 primary) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R, lost May 14 primary)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]