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Donald Trump supports 'improved gun background checks', White House announces Donald Trump supports 'improved gun background checks', White House announces
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump supports efforts to improve the federal background check system for gun purchases, the White House has said.  President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve the federal background check system for gun purchases, the White House has said, less than a week after a school shooting in Florida resulted in the deaths of 17 people. 
Mr Trump spoke to Republican Senator John Cornyn about gun legislation on Friday, two days after a shooting at a Florida school killed 17 people. Mr Trump spoke to Republican Senator John Cornyn about gun legislation on Friday.
They discussed the bipartisan bill Mr Cornyn and Democratic senator Chris Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. During the conversation, they discussed the bipartisan bill Mr Cornyn and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
“While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system,” Ms Sanders said.“While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system,” Ms Sanders said.
While running for president, Mr Trump has tied himself to the National Rifle Association and received the most gun lobbying funding of any presidential candidate ever.  While running for president, Mr Trump tied himself to the National Rifle Association and received the most gun lobbying funding of any presidential candidate ever. 
Last April, Mr Trump declared to members of the NRA: “The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end.” Last April, Mr Trump declared to members of the NRA: “The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end.” 
He also assured association – which donated more than $30m to his presidential campaign – that it now has “a true friend and champion in the White House.”He also assured association – which donated more than $30m to his presidential campaign – that it now has “a true friend and champion in the White House.”
His comments came after he signed a resolution in February blocking an Obama-era rule that would have prevented an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from buying guns.  His comments came after he signed a resolution in February blocking an Obama-era rule that would have prevented an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from buying guns.
The rule was part of former President Barack Obama’s push to strengthen the federal background check system following the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut shooting – the deadliest school shooting in US history The rule was part of former President Barack Obama’s push to strengthen the federal background check system following the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut shooting – the deadliest school shooting in US history.
More follows… In his speech last week following the school shooting in Florida, Mr Trump called for action but did not mention the issue of gun control. Instead, he promised to prioritise school safety and “tackle the difficult issue of mental health”. He did not say the word “gun” or discuss AR-15s, which have repeatedly been used in mass shootings. 
  A 19-year-old gunman, armed with a legally purchased AR-15-style assault rifle, attacked Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, about 45 miles north of Miami. 
Several student survivors have called on Mr Trump and members of Congress to take action on gun control, appearing on news programmes to announce they will lead a nationwide demonstration next month to bring further attention to the issue. 
Any politician on either side who is receiving money from the NRA “is responsible for events like this”, said high school junior Cameron Kasky, referring to the Parkland shooting. 
“At the end of the day, the NRA is fostering and promoting this gun culture,” he told ABC.