Gun control advocates are wielding more influence than ever in the aftermath of last week’s horrific high school shooting. President Trump, an adamant defender of the Second Amendment, indicated that he’s willing to support legislation to beef up the country’s background check requirements for gun purchases.
Lapses by federal agencies have led to devastating consequences. Nikolas Cruz, the shooter who killed 17 Florida high school students and teachers during last week’s massacre, should never have been able to get his hands on a rifle. In January a concerned individual warned that FBI that Cruz was unhinged, a warning that went unheeded.
Trump blamed the agency for its mishap.
“Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign – there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!” Trump wrote over the weekend.
The president doesn’t agree with people who want to ban assault rifles or otherwise curtail the rights granted by the Constitution. He’s not flip-flopping, he’s being responsible. Gun control activists are right that Congress can do more to protect us without impinging on our rights.
“While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system,” press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders explained.
President Trump’s support of stricter background check regulations comes as a relief to Democrats. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced a bill last November that would force the government to be more proactive in reporting offenses that might prohibit the perpetrator from purchasing firearms.
Republicans have also indicated a willingness to support a bump stock ban.
(Source: New York Post)