Kamala Harris didn’t say ‘take the guns first, go through due process second.’ That was Trump

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris has taken a strong stance on gun control and she’s often misquoted on the subject.

Now, another false Harris quote about guns — this one about taking firearms from individuals first and having due process come second — is circulating on Facebook.

The post features a photo of Harris and quotes her as saying: “Take the guns first. Go through due process second, I like taking the guns early.”

But she’s not the candidate who said those words. It was President Donald Trump.

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) 

Weeks after the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Trump met with lawmakers at the White House to discuss gun control measures.

At one point during the meeting, Trump said: 

“It takes so long to go to court to get the due process procedures. I like taking the guns early, like in this crazy man’s case that just took place in Florida … to go to court would’ve taken a long time … so you can do exactly what you’re saying, but take the guns first, go through due process second.”

Harris, the former attorney general of California, supports stronger gun legislation, including stricter regulations for manufacturers and closing gun purchasing loopholes, but we’ve seen no evidence that she has suggested that due process should be bypassed in an effort to confiscate people’s guns.

Our ruling

A Facebook post claims Harris said “take the guns first. Go through due process second, I like taking the guns early.”

There’s no record of Harris ever saying this.

In fact, the comments were made by President Trump during a meeting at the White House in 2018.

This is Pants on Fire!

By

Samantha Putterman

Staff Writer

September 18, 2020

Truth-o-meter Ruling

Pants on Fire!

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

• Sen. Kamala Harris didn’t say this. The comment was made by President Trump in 2018.

Statement

Quotes Kamala Harris as saying “Take the guns first. Go through due process second, I like taking the guns early.”

Context

a Facebook post

Speaker/Target

Speaker: Facebook posts

Statement Date

August 31, 2020