Ronald Reagan's record on gun control is complex, showing different approaches at various points in his career. He did support certain gun control measures at both the state and federal levels, including restricting access to assault weapons and supporting the Brady Bill, while also being a strong proponent of gun rights.
As governor of California
As governor, Reagan signed the Mulford Act in 1967, which is a clear example of his support for certain gun control measures.
The context: The law was a direct reaction to members of the Black Panther Party openly carrying loaded weapons while patrolling the streets of Oakland.
The result: The bill outlawed the public open carrying of loaded firearms. When asked about it at the time, Reagan stated, "there's no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons".
As president and former president
As president and even after leaving office, Reagan's views continued to evolve and were not uniformly pro-gun-rights.
The Brady Bill: In a 1991 op-ed for the New York Times, Reagan publicly backed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which required federal background checks for firearm purchases. He explained his support by referencing his own experience with gun violence after being shot in a 1981 assassination attempt.
Assault weapons ban: In a 1994 letter to Congress, Reagan joined former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter in endorsing the ban on "semi-automatic assault guns". The ban was cited by supporters as a key factor in its narrow passage.
Support for gun rights: At the same time, Reagan was a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and gave speeches where he championed gun ownership rights for hunting, sport, and self-defense. His support for gun rights, however, was framed around the responsible use of firearms, not the unfettered ownership of all types of weapons.
Apparent contradiction
Reagan's different stances are not necessarily a contradiction, but rather reflect a nuanced position that many Americans hold. He supported the rights of "law-abiding citizens" to own firearms for sport and protection, but saw a clear difference between that and the public or criminal use of assault weapons. His support for gun control evolved significantly after he was shot in 1981, leading him to support the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban in the following years.
I'm tired of looking at news sites that only bash Trump, which is almost all of them.
Posted by boaz at 2025-09-13 08:28 PM | Reply
Well he deserves it. Sorry you refuse to see it.