President Donald Trump said in a series of tweets Friday that he is discussing with Congressional leaders about introducing “meaningful” background checks when purchasing weapons, as well as that he has also spoken with the NRA to ensure that their views are represented, too.
In the tweets, Trump said he has talked with top lawmakers and the National Rifle Association “so that their very strong views can be fully represented and respected.” The President said previously that he wanted to keep guns away from “mentally ill or deranged people,” although he failed to specify what measures in particular he would stand behind.
“I am the biggest Second Amendment person there is, but we all must work together for the good and safety of our Country. Common sense things can be done that are good for everyone!” he tweeted.
Later in the day, the President told reporters outside the White House that he wanted “intelligent background checks,” stressing that he had spoken to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is “totally on board.”
In the wake of the two deadly shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, Congress has found itself under increased pressure to act and pass gun control measures. However, CNBC writes, despite such calls, lawmakers on Capitol Hill rarely pass legislation to change anything.
Earlier this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on President Trump to bring the Senate back from its recess to vote on the House-passed universal background check legislation.
In a joint statement Thursday night, Pelosi and Schumer said they had discussed gun control with Trump and that he assured them he would review the House background check plan. McConnell said the same that he would not bring the chamber back from recess but that senators would seriously look into options regarding gun control.
President Trump likewise voiced support for red flag laws that would take guns away from people believed to pose dangers to themselves or others. The NRA has publicly opposed such laws, saying that they “unfairly infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens.”
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