US mass shootings: Trump calls for gun background checks


Washington, Aug 10 (IANS): US President Donald Trump has called for "intelligent background checks" on gun buyers in response to recent mass shootings.

"Frankly, we need intelligent background checks," Xinhua quoted Trump as saying to reporters on Friday.

"This isn't a question of NRA, Republican or Democrat," the US President said. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is the most influential gun right lobby group in the country.

Trump said he had spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi about gun legislations.

"I think we can get something really good done. I think we can have some meaningful background checks," Trump said, adding that he believes there is stronger support for the issue now than following the Parkland high school shooting in 2018.

Two mass shootings killed 31 people within 13 hours over the weekend in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, invoking pain and anger at the country's leadership for its inaction after the repeated attacks.

"We're going to have these bipartisan discussions and when we get back (from the Senate summer recess), hopefully, (we'll) be able to come together and actually pass something," McConnell said in an interview with Kentucky radio station WHAS on Thursday.

"Background checks and red flags will probably lead the discussion," said McConnell. "Those are two items that for sure will be front and center as we see what we can come together on and pass."

The Democratic-led House passed two gun bills in February. One is aimed at closing loopholes that have allowed some sales over the internet and at gun shows to be finalised without background checks, and the other would extend to 10 business days, from the current three, the amount of time for background checks if information on a gun sale application is incomplete.

In a joint statement on Thursday, Pelosi and Schumer said Trump called them individually earlier on the day, assuring them that he will review the House-passed gun bills.

  

Top Stories


Leave a Comment

Title: US mass shootings: Trump calls for gun background checks



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.