President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for expanding background checks for gun buyers, but said he wants to avoid the “slippery slope” of eroding citizens’ second amendment rights.
President Trump mentioned that he is considering all sides weighing in on gun control including Democrats, Republicans, the NRA, and gun owners. “We’re dealing with everybody. And I think we’re going to have something, hopefully, that’s meaningful.”
When questioned by a reporter if the president of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, had influenced his decision to abandon background checks, he responded, “No, I didn’t say anything about that.
“We had a great talk with Wayne yesterday. We just talked about concepts. Wayne agrees things have to be done also. And we have areas where we can close—for instance, we did fix NICS last time.”
At present, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is used for background checks involving sales to licensed firearms dealers, which make up the majority of firearm sales.
House Democrats have pressed for federal background checks on the sale of guns, and the expansion of existing background checks to include the sales of weapons at gun shows and online.
Democrats have said that the president is not doing enough to curb gun violence.
Up to this point, conservatives have been unwilling to sign on to Democrat-backed gun control bills that passed the House, saying doing so would endanger the Second Amendment without stopping the criminals who carry out mass shootings.
The Department of Justice reports that 77 percent of criminals in state prison for firearm crimes get firearms through theft, on the black market, from a drug dealer or on the street, or from family members and friends, while less than one percent get firearms from dealers or non-dealers at gun shows.
President Trump has acknowledged the fact that gun rights groups are an important part of his voting base and that he will uphold their right to bear arms.
“We have background checks, but there are loopholes in the background checks. That’s what I spoke to the NRA (National Rifle Association) about yesterday. They want to get rid of the loopholes as well as I do,” he said. “Then all of a sudden we’re talking about, Let’s take everybody’s gun away. People need weapons, unfortunately, for the protection. Don’t want to take away people’s Second Amendment rights.”
NRA president LaPierre wrote on Twitter, “I spoke to the president today. We discussed the best ways to prevent these types of tragedies. President Trump is a strong #2A President and supports our Right to Keep and Bear Arms!”
Gun Rights groups and gun owners say banning certain types of weapons and expanded background checks would do little to solve gun violence and mass shootings because the assailant would find an alternative way to obtain the weapon.
