Of course Trump’s sycophants immediately took to Twitter to defend his latest “plans”, the idea being that this policy would’ve prevented the frightful terror attack in Orlando.
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Another Republican, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, is already working on a bill that would keep guns from people on such terrorism “watch lists”, a gun control group said. The legislation would make sure the Federal Bureau of Investigation is alerted when someone who was, or now is, on a terror watch list buys guns or ammunition. And he sends a strong message to all those who seek to restrict our Second Amendment freedoms: “Make no mistake-the NRA will fight without apology to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves”. Omar Mateen, an American citizen inspired by some combination of radicalism, hate and despair to kill 49 people at a gay nightclub, was not on a terrorist watch list.
Mateen was added to a government watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers. Democrats have blasted Congress over their inability to address gun safety and demand that legislation be passed that would bar people on terror watchlists from buying firearms.
Trump has portrayed himself as staunchly pro-gun rights throughout his campaign.
But his suggestion to prohibit those on the lists from getting the guns, though out of step with many leading Republicans, is not entirely new for the celebrity businessman.
The FBI maintains two terrorism “watch lists”, a smaller “no fly” list barring people from flying to and from the United States and a larger one that subjects travelers to greater scrutiny at airports and border crossings. Donald Trump also previously told CBS that he was open to those alternatives.
Trump frequently boasts of his endorsement from the NRA, which he said came earlier for him than any other Republican presidential candidate.
Earnest responded, “I’m not going to rule out that the president may at some point in the future take steps…But I think we made pretty clear when the president announced a series of executive actions back in January, that he had asked his team to consider every available option for using his executive authority”.
But a day before the tweet, the NRA appeared to dismiss such a move.
On Capitol Hill, Democrats are determined to force a tough election-year vote on Sen.
The U.S. Senate failed to pass a similar measure last December. Under that proposal, the transaction could be halted permanently if federal officials could persuade a judge to do so during that waiting period.
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Not that he would be meeting with Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, or even with GOP Texas Sen. Some Democrats and gun-control advocates have criticized it for not going far enough.
