“The Second Amendment is a true cornerstone of my conservative political beliefs. Without the right to keep and bear arms, the freedoms in this country we hold so dear would never have been won,” said the co-host on the daytime talk show “The View.”
“In my view, we should focus on keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and those with mental issues that could cause them to be a threat to our society. The government should not punish or harass law-abiding citizens in the exercise of their Second Amendment rights and it’s that focus on protecting communities and preserving our constituents constitutional rights that will be my guide.”
McCain is a gun-owner and has been shooting for sport since she was young.
In the Pew survey, 41 percent of all American adults say they own or live with someone who owns a gun, 67 percent say they own a gun for protection, 38 percent for hunting, and 31 percent for sport shooting.
“As a woman I feel strong and empowered owning guns, knowing how to protect myself and my ability to fire different types of guns accurately,” McCain wrote.
Just over half of the people surveyed think there need to be stricter gun laws.
Support for gun control policies continue to be divided along party lines; Eight-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (80 percent) say gun laws should be stricter while only a quarter, (28 percent) of Republicans and conservatives say the same.
John McCain was also a staunch supporter of second amendment rights.
The majority of Republicans agreed with McCain in that only 22 percent of Republicans said making it harder to own a gun would curb mass shootings, while 67 percent of Democrats felt it would help.
Former senator John McCain advocated research into the factors that produce violent youth who resort to gun violence.
John McCain said that while people point to gun control as the solution to gun violence and mass shootings, he thinks we need to look at the neglect of our children and try to build better relationships with them.
“Again, I urge all Americans to get involved in their kids’ lives. Ask questions; listen to their fears and concerns, their hopes and their dreams. Childhood is a time of innocence, a time to teach discipline and values. Our children are our most precious gift, and we must work together to preserve the sanctity of childhood.”
Republican and Democrats working together to implement gun safety legislation has been a historic challenge in the United States, and according to the Pew survey, there are only a few points the two sides agree on. Nine-in-ten Republicans and Democrats (both 89 percent) say people with mental illnesses should be prevented from buying guns.
Majorities of both Democrats (91 percent) and Republicans (79 percent) favor background checks for private gun sales and sales at gun shows.
Megan McCain ended by saying, “Today, the gravity of gun ownership and use should be taken extremely seriously and responsibly. There are millions of Americans just like me who are responsible gun owners who know a gun can be a force for great evil or good, depending on who wields it.”
