(Reuters) – Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday issued a warning to any potential home intruder: “If somebody breaks in my house, they’re getting shot.”
The Democratic presidential candidate and gun owner made the seemingly unguarded comment in an interview with Oprah Winfrey before a live studio audience when the conversation turned to gun laws.
“I probably should not have said that. But my staff will deal with that later,” Harris said, laughing.
Harris, who has robust protection from the U.S. Secret Service, made the statement amid heightened concern about political violence after a second potential assassination attempt against her opponent in the Nov. 5 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump.
Trump favors few restrictions on arms and ammunition while Harris supports a ban on assault weapons, stricter background checks for gun buyers, and “red flag” laws that can temporarily take guns away from those deemed dangerous.
Harris told Winfrey she supported the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to gun ownership.