The measure has not been supported by many Republican lawmakers nor the NRA. At one point, he accused lawmakers of being “scared of the NRA”.
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Trump followed up that tweet with his own: “Good (Great) meeting in the Oval Office tonight with the NRA!”
Of course, the president has a history of adopting popular opinions and speaking to the polls, and then subsequently reversing his position and reverting to a more traditionally conservative attitude, as he did with his initial support for a bill that would protect DACA recipients from deportation.
White House officials declined to provide a readout of the meeting, but one official did say that chief of staff John Kelly and Short, Trump’s top legislative aide, were both in the room.
The White House convened the opioid summit to highlight administration efforts to address drug abuse.
During a serious policy debate, this is obviously a problem – especially with reports that Congress is looking to Trump for guidance on guns.
GREENE: Seemed in very good spirits compared to what we thought the NRA was feeling just a day before. But two weeks after the massacre in Parkland, Florida, where a gunman killed 17 people, it has nothing to show for its concerns beyond a promised Senate hearing later this month. He endorsed all sorts of legislation.
“Take the guns first, go through due process second”, Trump said.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called new gun laws an “ongoing process” during Thursday’s press briefing. He’s also supported the Stop Gun Violence Act.
Republican Senator Pat Toomey downplayed some of Trump’s comments, saying he thought the meeting showed Trump wants to get legislation done. There might be people coming to the table saying what if they pass certain kinds of competency tests.
In remarks Thursday at a White House summit on the opioid epidemic, Trump said drug dealers and pushers kill hundreds of people but majority don’t go to jail.
Trump continued. “So we’re going to have to be very strong on penalties”. A broad number of studies have also debunked supposed connections between video games and violence.
The NRA’s PAC or super PAC spent $42.3 million in ads and other forms of electioneering supporting Trump in 2016.
Some Republicans are “petrified” of the NRA, Trump said, calling for lawmakers to put up an all-in-one gun bill to beef up background checks, arm school staffers and up the age for gun purchases while keeping guns away from the mentally ill and other potentially risky owners. Add all kinds of other stuff into it and let’s do something comprehensive.
“You know why? Because you’re afraid of the NRA, right?”
Toomey had told reporters before the meeting he believes the response to the Parkland, Fla., shooting has been different, though he wasn’t yet sure if that will translate into momentum to get legislation to the president’s desk. It was – it was wild. Seated next to the president, Cornyn said it was “unacceptable” for lawmakers to leave Washington “empty-handed”.
KEITH: Not necessarily. There’s just not that much clarity.
“Strong leaders don’t automatically agree with the last thing that was said to them”.
A bill banning them was introduced in the Senate yesterday. “The White House has to send a proposal to Congress”. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Angus King (I-Maine) that the White House fought against received 54 votes.
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That didn’t take long. Tam, thanks. We appreciate it.
