Trump and Clinton's policies on immigration, gun control and gay rights

Hillary Clinton (L) and Donald Trump (R)
Hillary Clinton (L) and Donald Trump (R)

The United States elections have reached a turning point: the primaries have finished and America has now entered into the final leg of the presidential race. Donald Trump will be running for the Republican side, taking on Hillary Clinton for the Democrats.

As they continue to battle it out, here's a comparison of their stances on key issues.

This wasn't easy to put together; the continuously changing campaign rhetoric means many of the candidates' policies and positions aren't clear-cut.

Trump and Clinton's policies on immigration, gun control and gay rights

Mr Trump wants to build a wall across the US' southern border with Mexico, and wants Mexico to pay for it. He wants to end a birthright law that allows children of illegal immigrants to get US citizenship.

"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people," he said when launching his presidential bid in June 2015.

"For many years, Mexico's leaders have been taking advantage of the United States by using illegal immigration to export the crime and poverty in their own country," Mr Trump said on his website.

Ms Clinton says some fences and other border protection is necessary, but says the US-Mexico border is already secure. She wants immigration reform that will create a "pathway to citizenship" and opposes deporting any illegal immigrants except violent criminals and terrorists.

"We have to finally and once and for all fix our immigration system—this is a family issue. It's an economic issue too, but it is at heart a family issue," Clinton said.

Muslims:

In December Mr Trump also called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" until the country can understand the threat Islam poses to Americans.

Ms Clinton claims she wants to become "a president for all Americans", including Muslims. "Let's be clear: Islam is not our adversary. Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism," she tweeted in 2015.

Trump and Clinton's policies on immigration, gun control and gay rights

When he announced his candidacy for the presidency, Mr Trump said he fully supports the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

His website also says: "Here's another important way to fight crime – empower law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves."

Ms Clinton is in favour of "common sense reforms" including "comprehensive background checks and closing loopholes" that allow guns to fall into the wrong hands.

"I don't know how we keep seeing shooting after shooting, read about the people murdered because they went to Bible study or they went to the movies or they were just doing their job, and not finally say we've got to do something about this," she said in August 2015.

Trump and Clinton's policies on immigration, gun control and gay rights

Mr Trump has not committed to a position on gay rights. While he says he has "many fabulous friends who happen to be gay", some of his comments make it seem as though he is uncomfortable when it comes to the marriage of those friends.

In March 2011, Mr Trump told Bill O’Reilly, “I just don’t feel good about it. I don’t feel right about it. And I take a lot of heat because I come from New York,” according to Queerty.

Then, at the Republican convention in July, he said: "I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens."

Ms Clinton has become a supporter of gay rights.

"We should ban discrimination against LGBT Americans and their families so they can live, learn, marry and work just like everybody else," she said in June 2015.

However, some have questioned that, with reports Ms Clinton's lifelong church requires gay clergy to remain celibate and closeted.

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