Matthew McConaughey Made His Views About Gun Law Reform Known at the White House

One of the things that makes Matthew McConaughey such a unique film presence is how skilled he is at playing a very specific type of old-school, southern man. Throughout his career, McConaughey has used his accent and his charm to his advantage, playing characters that likely have a wide range of political views.

It’s always been less clear, though, what the star actually believes about politics. So, what do we know about his views? Keep reading to find out.

Matthew’s political affiliation has never been shared or made public. Despite hailing from a predominantly Republican state (Texas), there is no clear information regarding which party he is registered with. When he spoke with Jimmy Fallon during an interview about why he didn't campaign for Texas governor, Matthew gave some insight into what led him to fall back from his political aspirations.

"At this point in my life with the things I've got — a 13-year-old, an 11-year-old, an 8-year-old — the life I'm living right now, the storytelling I want to keep doing, it's not the category for me at this point in my life," he told the talk show host.

When pressed on if he was ruling out a future in politics entirely, he quipped, "I'm not until I am," jokingly adding, "Someone told me that was a very McConaughey answer."

In a 2021 Instagram post about his move to not pursue office, Matthew also highlighted some of the issues that he has with the U.S. currently.

"What have I learned? A lot. That we have some problems we need to fix. That our politics needs new purpose. That we have divides that need healing. That we need more trust in our lives. That we've got to start shining a light on our shared values … the ones that cross party lines. The ones that build bridges instead of burn them," he said at the time.

In the wake of the horrifying mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022, that claimed the lives of 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School, Matthew, a Uvalde native, went to the White House to speak out in support of gun control.

"You know what every one of these parents wanted, what they asked us for? What every parent separately expressed in their own way to Camila and me? That they want their children’s dreams to live on. That they want their children’s dreams to continue, to accomplish something after they are gone. They want to make their loss of life matter," he said during the passionate speech.

The former political hopeful said that the government has a clear "window of opportunity" to enact meaningful gun reform laws. He called specifically for universal background checks, raising the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 from 18 to 21, instilling a mandatory waiting period before being able to purchase an AR-15, and utilizing red flag laws to keep potentially dangerous people away from weapons.

"These are reasonable, practical, tactical regulations to our nation, states, communities, schools, and homes. Responsible gun owners are fed up with the Second Amendment being abused and hijacked by some deranged individuals. These regulations are not a step back — they’re a step forward for a civil society and, and the Second Amendment," Matthew said, addressing the concerns of lawful gun owners.

Matthew made a particularly horrifying comment when he said, "Due to the exceptionally large exit wounds of an AR-15 rifle, most of the bodies so mutilated that only DNA test or green Converse could identify them. Many children were left not only dead but hollow. So, yes, counselors are going to be needed in Uvalde for a long time."

Later, the actor added, "Enough with the counterpunching. Enough of the invalidation of the other side. Let’s come to the common table that represents the American people. Find a middle ground, the place where most of us Americans live anyway. Especially on this issue. Because I promise you, America, you and me, we are not as divided as we are being told we are."