Walz-Vance debate updates: VP candidates tangle on abortion, immigration and Jan. 6

The candidates talked about their own children as the debate turned to gun violence and Vance was asked if parents being held responsible could curb mass shootings.

"I want to just sort of speak as a father of three beautiful little kids, and our oldest is now in second grade," he said. "Like a lot of parents, we send our kids to school with such hope and such joy and such pride at their little faces on the first day of school, and we know, unfortunately, that a lot of kids are going to experience this terrible epidemic of gun violence."

Vance said he thinks part of the answer is to increase security in schools.

Walz said his 17-year-old son, Gus, witnessed a shooting in a community center playing volleyball and spoke about how meeting with the parents of Sandy Hook victims impacted his views on banning assault weapons. He also mentioned how he and Harris are gun owners.

"We understand that the Second Amendment is there, but our first responsibility is to our kids -- to figure this out," he said.

Walz is writing quite a lot during the debate.

Right off the bat, during first question to him, Walz took a few notes. Then, during Vance’s first and second answers, Walz continued to take additional notes during each of Vance's answers.

Vance did not seem to pick up his pen until about 45 minutes in, but he has faced Walz almost continuously while Walz has been speaking.

When it comes to body language, Walz is rocking his weight back and forth on his feet, side to side. He speaks with his hands, sometimes his hands are on the podium, and sometimes his hands are closed with his arms down.

Vance, in contrast, has hardly moved his hands from both sides of the podium and is standing very still.

-ABC News' MaryAlice Parks

Fact-check: [False.](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/sep/18/tony-perkins/no-legal-protections-for-born-alive-babies-in-some/)

Infanticide, the crime of killing a child within a year of its birth, is illegal in all U.S. states. In May 2023, Walz, as Minnesota governor, signed legislation updating a state law for "infants who are born alive." This change did not alter the fact that under state law, these babies are protected.

Previously, state law said, "All reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice, including the compilation of appropriate medical records, shall be taken by the responsible medical personnel to preserve the life and health of the born alive infant."

The law was updated to instead say medical personnel must "care for the infant who is born alive." The law's updated version also kept the provision that said, "An infant who is born alive shall be fully recognized as a human person, and accorded immediate protection under the law."

Every person who is born has legal protections under federal and state laws, experts told PolitiFact.

—PolitiFact's Sara Swann

Just before cameras started to roll for the next section of the debate, Walz entered the stage again with about 45 seconds to go.

Vance, though, cut it close and rushed back onstage right before the end of the break. As the stagehand announced, "10 seconds." He was smiling.

The two men smiled at each other as the break ended.

-ABC News' MayAlice Parks