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Trump says he wants gun background checks; also reassures NRA

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By ZEKE MILLER and DEB RIECHMANN

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federal background check laws 

That's a start. One of the first thing needing checking while considering an applicant's background is how many guns the person already has in their personal arsenal, how many are semi-automatic, what caliber the guns are, and what sizes of magazines they own.

To me if it's any of the above that should warrant a red flag, a clear statement the applicant is mentally and emotionally unstable and therefore should not be allowed to have any guns at all.

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….mentally ill or deranged people. I am the biggest Second Amendment person there is, but we all must work together for the good and safety of our Country. Common sense things can be done that are good for everyone!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2019

Common sense? The Dayton shooter was dead from police fire within 32 seconds after the first shot was fired. Common sense says that the response time could not have been much better. And yet it was enough time for the shooter to leave 9 people dead and 27 wounded. Common sense says the problem is the weapon that can fire this many shots in so little time.

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Until gun supporters tell us what they're willing to do, the conversation is a complete waste of time. They can challenge and stop most attempts at changing the law so asking others for solutions is meaningless

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Agree with both posters above. It's a start. I'll give Trump credit for saying this. I only hope he can actually do something about it. He's realized how sick America is. It won't be easy for him though.

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It's a start. But how to heal a nation suffering PTSD, where every car backfire creates mass panic?

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I have no faith that Donnie or the Repubs will do anything except talk a good game. The Red Line laws being proposed are just "suggestions" that the states establish such laws.

We need an Assault Weapons Ban like we had from 1994 to 2004, and 100% background check for any firearm purchase - and that's just a start.

Will the spineless Repubs step up? History would say no....

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I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but I don’t think it will stop any attacks, I’m for Red Laws with some conditions, but even when Democrats had a super majority they did nothing to change gun laws. This is a real tiring and exhausting issue to go around with liberals. The majority of gun owners liberals and conservatives are not going to support it. So I think gun owners and anti gunners should come together, but as long as there this jihad to attack all gun owners as well as the 2nd amendment, zero change will happen, I bet my life on that.

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but as long as there this jihad to attack all gun owners as well as the 2nd amendment, zero change will happen, I bet my life on that.

Likewise, if there is zero support for any change from gun rights advocates, you may one day lose that bet.

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McConnell. He could risk losing support as he seeks reelection in Kentucky if he were to back restricting access to firearms and ammunition. 

The NRA and its US and 'foreign' backers will ensure Moscow Mitch gets huge campaign contributions.

And given how successful the NRA's 'foreign' backers have been at manipulating media of all sorts and pushing alt facts and outright fake news (Pizzagate anyone?) Mitch and his fellow establishment swamp members will be tough to defeat.

Especially given Mitch's wife's family connections to China.

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Likewise, if there is zero support for any change from gun rights advocates, you may one day lose that bet.

That will never happen, that’s an absolute promise. Liberals will never get guns out of our society and out of the hand of law abidIng citizens, never. Having said that, I think we can meet with the anti-gunners and talk.

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I’m for Red Laws with some conditions, but even when Democrats had a super majority they did nothing to change gun laws. 

Yes, because Republicans did everything to stop them passing any bills.

Eight months after Democrats toasted their victories, they have learned the limits of power during the Oregon Legislature's most acrimonious session in memory: Republican lawmakers boycotted the Senate — twice — even fleeing the state after Democratic Gov. Kate Brown ordered police after them.

That Supermajority early in Pres. Obama's presidency helped Americans to get Obamacare. When he lost it in 2010, he was still able to come out with laws, but they were not as strong because like now, the party of "No" is choosing themselves over the people and their wishes!

It is always the criminals in the GOP who try to block any attempts of reducing gun violence!

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The NRA and its US and 'foreign' backers will ensure Moscow Mitch gets huge campaign contributions. 

Can you prove that? Please share with us what evidence you have to support that assertion. Personal feelings don’t count.

And given how successful the NRA's 'foreign' backers have been at manipulating media of all sorts and pushing alt facts and outright fake news (Pizzagate anyone?) Mitch and his fellow establishment swamp members will be tough to defeat. 

ROFL!

Especially given Mitch's wife's family connections to China.

We should also check into Obama, Feinstein’s and Biden’s with China

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Ok so will liberals stop falsely screaming “racist! White supremacist! Russia!” at the man so that he can get this done?

Unlikely, right?

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The NRA and its US and 'foreign' backers will ensure Moscow Mitch gets huge campaign contributions. 

@bass4 Can you prove that? Please share with us what evidence you have to support that assertion. Personal feelings don’t count.

Of course I can't PROVE it, just like you can't PROVE Moscow Mitch and the NRA do NOT have Russian connections. But because you've previously said the Guardian is 'objective', here's an article. There are many more like it, but given your disdain for media not supporting your perspective, I don't expect you to read it.

NRA in crisis: how the gun group became ensnared in the Russia inquiry

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/01/nra-russia-investigations-gun-lobby

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@blacklabe Ok so will liberals stop falsely screaming “racist! White supremacist! Russia!” at the man so that he can get this done?

I don't identify as a liberal, and no I won't. I've worked against white supremacists all my life. I don't think any foreign nation should be involved in another foreign nation's politics, especially a nation like Russia with a political system akin to those had by Germany and Italy in the 1930s. I'll continue to oppose white supremacists and fascism. And the authoritarian state Trump's trying to establish.

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That will never happen, that’s an absolute promise. Liberals will never get guns out of our society and out of the hand of law abidIng citizens, never.

I never suggested that. That's always the first thing that supporters spout, but that is not what I said at all. I'm pretty sure that although some people (probably very few) would love to ban all guns, nobody is actually trying to do that.

Having said that, I think we can meet with the anti-gunners and talk.

That would actually be one of the required changes I'm talking about. Stronger support for background checks would be another. Stringent mental health checks another. These are things that should be absolutely enforced, but every time it's pointed out how intrusive all of this will actually be, nothing happens. People often say it's about mental health but an individual's mental health can change like the weather so the checks need to be regular and frequent. Point that out to people and all of a sudden they go back to "you'll never take our guns"

It's just so stupid

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Still waiting to hear from gun supporters about what they're willing to do about the problem since you hold all the cards. Nothing? And when the next one happens....nothing?

They should be asked that after every mass shooting. Make them get up in front of the world and say they refuse to do anything at all. Tell us that mass shootings will be a regular part of life in America.

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@bas4f if these laws are implemented, there is definitely room for abuse.

I'm unclear what you're saying here, but it sounds like once again the gun rights extremists argument is there are no perfect solutions so let's continue doing nothing. Of course there are no perfect solutions: to any social problem.

Mentally ill individuals, and even those some might call stable, are going to continue to commit violent acts. The best we can do is mitigate against the serious problems. To me one of the best ways do that is stop allowing people - sane or not - to possess weapons sane countries only allow their militaries and police to own.

Start with large caliber (e.g. 50 caliber) semi-automatic hand guns and rifles, in fact all semi-automatic weapons. High capacity magazines, too.

Of course criminals and crazies will continue to have them. The problem cannot be fully eliminated. The problems must be mitigated. But if gun extremists continue to try to stop any mitigation measures, expect the problems to get worse. The blood's on their hands.

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You know what, you are right, but here is why gun supporters don’t trust liberals on this issue, let’s say they ban the sales of all AR-15, I don’t really care, don’t really need it, not an important gun to own, at least in my opinion. But the bigger question is, after that, then what? Now mass shooters will use another gun or try to modify it or let’s say they use a rifle? Take your pick, first it’s AR-15 then it’s something else, that’s how it starts. It won’t stop with one gun, liberals over react and they will chip away but by bit until all guns are banned. This is why we don’t trust the intentions of liberals when it comes to guns.

But that's just it. Not saying all liberals, but most are not as anti gun as you try to portray them to be. There are guns which have validity... guns for hunting a specific example. But there are some guns which are 100% unjustifiable and even your fears about them being just the start doesn't justify them.

One reason if, if these laws are implemented, there is definitely room for abuse. Look at the bill that Pelosi proposed, under her bill, let’s say for example there is woman getting attacked physically and brutally by her partner and she in desperation gets a gun from her neighbor to defend herself and has to use the weapon, under Pelosi’s bill she would go to prison, in other words, she would not be able to defend herself even in that dire situation. So again, liberals skeptic about this because we know that liberals will find loopholes to make it harder for us to keep or own guns and gun owners want No part of that.

So talk about it and iron those loopholes out. Don't just shut up shop.

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For the safety of Americans not wanting to become dead people in a shooting or robbery or break in or wild animals attacking or killing my livestock.

Or as he said yesterday, to protect himself and his property from the "government" - you know, our law enforcement professionals, military, fire fighters, ICE personnel, and all those other members of government, to include those "black helicopters" that hover over our homes...

They cling to their weapons because they are afraid - afraid the "gument will come take our guns"...

It's clear that if mental health checks were required, these folks wouldn't be allowed to own a toy pistol.

Maybe that's why they oppose background and mental health checks so vociferously...

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But that's just it. Not saying all liberals, but most are not as anti gun as you try to portray them to be.

I agree, but you have a lot of libs that are proud gun owners, but are more reluctant to speak out because they’re afraid of political and social repercussions.

There are guns which have validity... guns for hunting a specific example. But there are some guns which are 100% unjustifiable and even your fears about them being just the start doesn't justify them.

I won’t disagree with you, but what I am saying is, even if you take them off the streets and ban them, crazy psychotic people will find something else to achieve their objective or it will all go underground. So while I do to a point agree with you, I just can’t see that being the solution in the end. As I have said before, there needs to be a better system to weed out people that have problems with mental instability another factor we desperately need to look into.

So talk about it and iron those loopholes out. Don't just shut up shop.

Well, I agree, something does need to be done just exactly how and what is the real question.

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Well, I agree, something does need to be done just exactly how and what is the real question.

Rocket launcher. It would have taken out the Las Vegas hotel shooter and saved lives. What do you think? Because the LV shooter had ZERO red flags. Also, the NRA is discussing pushing for laws that allow reliable high school students carry just like adults can. This would work if a group of teens are hanging out and no adult is around to supervise their safety. As long as the teen has no juvenile record it should work.

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but approaching the issue emotionally won’t solve anything

But rocket launchers and arming teens would. No? More ways to protect yourself. What is emotional about that? The NRA agrees.

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Straw men getting ridiculous. No one is talking butwhatabout teens and rocket launchers.

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No one is talking butwhatabout teens and rocket launchers.

Words of a Liberal gun grabber. What does 2A say?:

"...shall not be infringed..."

A laser guided rocket launcher would have saved lives in Las Vegas and neutralized the problem in less than a minute. Also, teens have rights to defend themselves too.

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The NRA don't even trust their own elected government - what a sick society.

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We don't want mentally ill people owning guns but neither does the world want a mentally ill reality TV celebrity as POTUS.  I still cannot understand how people voted to make this deranged man President.

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That’s why when the Japanese government does anything they want to you, nothing you can do about it but come here and complain.

Are you in Japan?

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As I have said before, there needs to be a better system to weed out people that have problems with mental instability another factor we desperately need to look into.

Sorry, at work and can't reply so promptly.

My earlier comment suggested more stringent checks on mental health, regular and frequent for all gun owners without exception. Not you or I or anybody else is immune to a mental breakdown. Not saying it will happen but it could and if mental health is the number one factor then it absolutely needs to be done as a preventative action. Nothing will work 100% but as part of a range of measures it would definitely help.

The amount of gun violence in the States really is a serious problem, and something must be done about it. So America.. talk, and keep talking, and listen, and don't just stop when you hear something you don't like.

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Trump has been talking about background checks for the past 3 years now. Trump is not just Putin's and Kim's puppet. He's also the NRA's puppet. The man has no spine except when he's bullying anybody he perceives as weak.

Actions speak louder than words, until then it's all tongue in cheek.

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the ACLU and 23 disability groups supported Trumps decision.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/06/politics/obama-trump-mental-illness-gun-rule-fact-check/index.html

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Wait. You just used CNN as a fact checker? What the heck is going on? Is the world coming to an end?

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It’s the only media outlet liberals will listen to and accept.

Well except when they prove my point.

it also has a link to the ACLU source document. so it’s not only CNN, it’s actually factual this time too.

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It’s the only media outlet liberals will listen to and accept.

Not even remotely true. In fact, almost every time I see CNN mentioned or cited it comes from one of you guys.

Well except when they prove my point.

And that wouldn't be very often.

it also has a link to the ACLU source document. so it’s not only CNN, it’s actually factual this time too.

So when Snopes do it it's ok now? The tune has changed from yesterday already?

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And just because those groups agreed doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do either.

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This is a mess. Trump has once again put himself in the impossible position, telling the people he will do background checks, while at the same time telling the NRA he won't screw them. The problem is that these two positions are at opposition, as the NRA is fundamentally opposed to background checks.

Basically Trump is telling everyone what he thinks they want to hear. The question is when it actually comes time to show one or the other that he means it. I predict at least a few more flips, followed by a bunch of flops.

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Trump is a Business man - not a Politician, and it shows. Politicians use lots of dirty tricks, and muck throwing at each other in order to convince the rest of us - the voting Public that they are better than the others., but in reality when it comes to getting things done, little really happens that we the Public want, and what we do want, takes seemingly forever to arise.

I think the biggest danger now for Trump, is an Assassination attempt.

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As for Gun control in the US... It's not the Politicians but the US Public who should be blamed. They support the NRA, they go out and buy Guns, and they go around shooting each other... The US cites itself upon Freedom of rights... Freedom to buy a gun and shoot thy neighbor.

If it became was a Social taboo to arm yourself with weaponry, then ... we'd see a change. However the change has to happen within the Public, not the Government.

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