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Trump: Lawmakers 'afraid' of NRA gun lobby group Trump at odds with Republican lawmakers over gun reforms
(about 1 hour later)
US President Donald Trump has told a group of lawmakers not to be so "petrified" of the powerful gun lobby the National Rifle Association (NRA). US President Donald Trump has stunned lawmakers from both parties by telling them in a live broadcast not to be so "petrified" of the powerful gun lobby the National Rifle Association (NRA).
In a break from his party's stance on gun control, President Trump urged lawmakers to come up with a comprehensive bill on gun reform. In a break from his party's stance on gun control, Mr Trump urged lawmakers to come up with a "strong" reform bill.
He suggested expanding background checks for gun buyers and raising the legal age to buy rifles to 21 from 18.He suggested expanding background checks for gun buyers and raising the legal age to buy rifles to 21 from 18.
He held the meeting in the wake of a school shooting that left 17 dead. His comments come in the wake of the deadly school shooting in Florida.
Mr Trump's change of tack on gun control has taken many lawmakers and commentators by surprise. The New York Times said the president had "stunned lawmakers", while CNN reported that Republicans were "a bit unsettled" by his remarks. "I want you to come up with a strong bill - and really strong on background checks," Mr Trump told lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday, pushing them to work together on bipartisan legislation.
The Republican party supports the right of individuals to own guns, seeing most restrictions as an infringement of the second amendment to the US constitution. He said the NRA has "great power over you people", but that the lobby has "less power over me".
"They have great power over you people," the president said of the NRA to his fellow Republicans on Wednesday. "They have less power over me." Mr Trump's change of tack on gun control left Republicans "a bit unsettled", CNN reported.
"Some of you are petrified of the NRA," he added during the televised bipartisan summit on gun safety. The Republican party supports the right of individuals to own guns, seeing most restrictions as an infringement of the second amendment to the US constitution, which governs the right to bear arms.
During the meeting, the president seemed to back: What does Trump want?
Mr Trump's statements on gun control have changed before - in the 1990s and early 2000s he expressed support for a ban on so-called assault weapons, but as he approached the nomination of the Republican party as its candidate for presidency, he fell more within the fold of the party's views. "Take the guns first, go through due process second," Mr Trump said, suggesting police officers be given the power to seize guns from anyone who could pose a threat, including the mentally ill, without a court order.
He was endorsed by the NRA in his 2016 presidential campaign. "We can't wait and play games and nothing gets done," he added.
He met NRA leaders over the weekend after speaking to students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where an alleged gunman used an AR-15 rifle to kill 17 people two weeks ago. He called for tighter restrictions on gun sales to young adults and for background checks to be expanded for all weapons purchases, including at gun shows and online.
Wednesday's meeting came as students at the Florida school returned to classes. The president repeatedly stated his support for increasing armed security at schools, arming teachers and reducing "gun-free zones".
"You won't have to worry about bump stocks," he said. Earlier this month the president signed an order pushing for a ban on bump stocks, which can enable rifles to shoot hundreds of rounds per minute. "It would be so beautiful to have one bill that everybody can support, as opposed to - you know - 15 bills, everybody's got their own bill," Mr Trump said.
Seventeen Democrats and Republicans, some who want more gun restrictions and others who are against it, were invited by the president to the hour-long summit about potential ways to address school safety. He also warned lawmakers against proposing a bill that included concealed carry across the US, a provision that Republicans and the NRA have aimed to include in any gun legislation.
"It would be so beautiful to have one bill that everybody can support, as opposed to - you know - 15 bills, everybody's got their own bill," Mr Trump said on Wednesday. Mr Trump has already signed an order to ban bump-stock devices, which enable a rifle to shoot hundreds of rounds a minute.
His latest comments at the hour-long summit with Democrats and Republicans are at odds with a president who has been vocal about protecting the second amendment and has received campaign support from the NRA.
How have Republicans reacted?
Many Republican lawmakers distanced themselves from Mr Trump's comments.
"We're not ditching any constitutional protections simply because the last person the president talked to today doesn't like them," said Republican Senator Ben Sasse, who was not at the meeting.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio said the proposed reforms might not have prevented the school attack in his state in which 17 people were killed, which was not "conducted by someone who bought a gun at a gun show or parking lot".
John Cornyn, the top Senate Republican who sat next to the president at the meeting, said he thought it was "fascinating television" but that it was "surreal to actually be there".
Mr Trump's statements on gun control have changed before.
In the 1990s and early 2000s he expressed support for a ban on some automatic weapons. But as he approached the nomination of the Republican Party as its candidate for presidency, he fell more within the fold of the party's views. He was endorsed by the NRA in his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump leaves heads spinningTrump leaves heads spinning
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, WashingtonAnalysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington
The man who suggested that if his opponent had been elected "you'd be handing in your rifles" endorsed taking guns away from people of questionable mental fitness and worrying about due process later.The man who suggested that if his opponent had been elected "you'd be handing in your rifles" endorsed taking guns away from people of questionable mental fitness and worrying about due process later.
The man who received $30m in support from the National Rifle Association during his presidential campaign scorned Washington politicians for being afraid of the NRA and said it had "less power" over him.The man who received $30m in support from the National Rifle Association during his presidential campaign scorned Washington politicians for being afraid of the NRA and said it had "less power" over him.
After a bipartisan meeting with congressional legislators, Donald Trump left heads spinning. Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein, a fierce gun-control advocate, clapped in joy, while some gun-rights Republicans wondered whose side the president was on.After a bipartisan meeting with congressional legislators, Donald Trump left heads spinning. Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein, a fierce gun-control advocate, clapped in joy, while some gun-rights Republicans wondered whose side the president was on.
"We're not ditching any Constitutional protections simply because the last person the president talked to today doesn't like them," Nebraska Republican Senator Ben Sasse said."We're not ditching any Constitutional protections simply because the last person the president talked to today doesn't like them," Nebraska Republican Senator Ben Sasse said.
Of course, we've seen this film before. In a January meeting with a similar group of congressional leaders, Mr Trump expressed support for any comprehensive bipartisan agreement on immigration. In the following days and weeks, his administration did everything it could to undermine the most popular compromise bill.Of course, we've seen this film before. In a January meeting with a similar group of congressional leaders, Mr Trump expressed support for any comprehensive bipartisan agreement on immigration. In the following days and weeks, his administration did everything it could to undermine the most popular compromise bill.
Gun-control supporters may feel they made progress in Wednesday's White House meeting, but the NRA surely will have another chance at the president's ear.Gun-control supporters may feel they made progress in Wednesday's White House meeting, but the NRA surely will have another chance at the president's ear.
Mr Trump also accused Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin, who have worked on a bill to strengthen background checks for gun purchases, of being too "afraid" to stand up to the NRA. Are lawmakers 'afraid' of the NRA?
Mr Trump accused Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin, who have worked on a bill to strengthen background checks for gun purchases, of being too "afraid" to stand up to the NRA.
Mr Toomey's spokesman Steve Kelly said in a statement the senator "has not received a dime from the NRA since joining the Senate.Mr Toomey's spokesman Steve Kelly said in a statement the senator "has not received a dime from the NRA since joining the Senate.
He also suggested the alleged Florida gunman, who police say raised several red flags before the tragedy struck, should have had his guns taken away, regardless of law.
"I think they should have taken them away, whether they had the right or not," the president said.
He added: "Take the guns first, go through due process second."
Many Republican lawmakers later distanced themselves from Mr Trump's comments.
"We have the Second Amendment and due process of law for a reason," said Republican Senator Ben Sasse, who was not at the meeting.
"We're not ditching any constitutional protections simply because the last person the president talked to today doesn't like them."
Mr Trump also warned lawmakers against proposing a bill that included concealed carry reciprocity among states, a provision Republicans and the NRA have aimed to include in any gun legislation.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre occurred, told the president that previous efforts to pass bills requiring strong background checks have been met with opposition because of the NRA.Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre occurred, told the president that previous efforts to pass bills requiring strong background checks have been met with opposition because of the NRA.
"The reason that nothing's gotten done here is because the gun lobby has had a veto power over any legislation that comes before Congress," Mr Murphy said."The reason that nothing's gotten done here is because the gun lobby has had a veto power over any legislation that comes before Congress," Mr Murphy said.
Mr Trump deflected the warning and said he had previously told NRA officials: "It's time. We've got to stop this nonsense. It's time."Mr Trump deflected the warning and said he had previously told NRA officials: "It's time. We've got to stop this nonsense. It's time."
On Thursday, two major US retailers announced new restrictions on gun sales.
Dick's Sporting Goods said it would no longer sell automatic rifles and Walmart announced it was raising the minimum age for anyone buying guns or ammunition to 21 years.