United States Vice President Kamala Harris made a significant revelation on Friday during her first solo sit-down interview since she became the Democratic nominee, stating that she is a gun owner.
During her solo interview with a local news station in Philadelphia, in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania, Harris appealed to moderate voters as she emphasised that she is "not taking anybody's guns away".
Although she also discussed other policies in the interview, she said that she is a firearm owner who wants to preserve Americans' gun rights while maintaining "reasonable" gun safety laws, AFP reported.
"We're not taking anybody's guns away. I support the Second Amendment (of the US Constitution) and I support reasonable gun safety laws," Harris told ABC affiliate WPVI.
Analysts believe her recent interview to be the point where her race for the White House against Republican Donald Trump could hinge.
Guns rights have been a contentious issue in American politics for decades. Meanwhile, Trump has riled up supporters on the campaign trail by saying Harris wants to "confiscate your guns."
Harris in the interview cited her raw experience as a prosecutor and how it brought her intimately close to the victims of gun violence.
"I have personally prosecuted homicide cases," she said. "I have personally looked at autopsies. I have personally seen what assault weapons do to the human body.
"And so I feel very strongly that it is consistent with the Second Amendment and your right to own a gun to also say we need an assault weapons ban. They're literally tools of war."
Polls show most Republicans are opposed to a ban on semi-automatic rifles, known by some as assault weapons, including popular AR-15 style rifles that have been used in many mass shootings.
But Harris said she also backs more popular policies including universal background checks on gun purchasers. "The majority of NRA members support that," she said, referring to the powerful lobbying group, the National Rifle Association.
The White House hopeful surprised many during this week's debate with Trump when she identified herself and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as gun owners.
She reiterated that again during her 11-minute interview on Friday, while also repeating her campaign pitch of unity and a new direction for the country.
"Most Americans want a leader who brings us together as Americans, and not someone who professes to be a leader who is trying to have us point our fingers at each other," she said, referring to Trump. "I think people are exhausted with that to be honest."
