An Epidemic We Can Control: Mcconaughey On School Carnage In His Hometown
Former President rejected tighter gun control after a Texas school shooter killed 19 children and two teachers, telling a National Rifle Association meeting that solutions include mental-health care and training teachers to carry concealed weapons.
The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens who know how to use their weapon, Trump said in a speech in Houston. The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens.
He also took swipes at Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a fellow Republican, for dropping out of the NRA convention and Democratic mayors whose cities are suffering from gun crime.
Trumps stance meshed with the defiant mood of the meeting, held days after the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that has renewed anger and political recriminations over Washingtons paralysis on gun control. Several hundred protesters rallied outside the meeting venue earlier Friday.
While President Joe Biden suggested after Tuesdays shooting that Americans should stand up to the gun lobby, Trump said hed keep his commitment to the NRA, one of his major supporters. The group was the largest outside financial backer of his 2016 campaign, spending $31 million to help elect him, and it spent $16.6 million on his re-election campaign in 2020, according to OpenSecrets.
Unlike some I didnt disappoint you by not showing up, Trump said.
Biden to Visit
Is There A Mood Change
In Florida, survivors of the shooting poured into the state capital to demand lawmakers restrict sales of assault rifles.
Florida students have lobbied for tighter gun control measures
It was the first organised protest of the youth-led anti-gun movement that has swept the US since the attack in Parkland, Florida.
Other students in Chicago, Illinois Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Phoenix, Arizona walked out of classes in solidarity.
US students walk out to demand firearms control
The issue formed a main part of a “town hall” debate staged by CNN on Wednesday night, where Florida Senator Marco Rubio felt the articulate anger of a bereaved parent.
Mr Rubio was repeatedly booed and later said banning semi-automatic weapons was “a position well outside the mainstream”.
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in Parkland shooting, to Sen. Marco Rubio: âLook at me and tell me guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids … and you will work with us to do something about gunsâ #StudentsStandUp
CNN
Banning all semi-auto weapons may have been popular with the audience at #CNNTownHall, but it is a position well outside the mainstream
Marco Rubio
States Act Where Feds Fear To Tread
After the Uvalde shooting, gun control policy is again in the spotlight, but few seem to be discussing one of the simplest reforms available: raising the age limit to buy a gun.
In the absence of national action on gun control reform, Florida enacted its own law changing the minimum age for gun purchases to 21. It is now one of five states including California, Illinois, Hawaii and Vermont where the minimum age to purchase any firearm is 21, according to research by Everytown for Gun Safety.
Washington state established a minimum age of 21 for semiautomatic assault rifles but not necessarily all long guns. Other states are mulling changes: In New York, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday that she planned to work with lawmakers in the state on increasing the minimum age for certain long guns.
A state-by-state patchwork approach is better than nothing, advocates say, but is obviously weaker than a national measure to raise the buying age for firearms. You cant put borders up, speaking of borders, to a neighboring state where you can buy this damn stuff legally, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in 2019 after a 19-year-old shooter killed three people at a festival using a semiautomatic AK-47-style rifle he had purchased legally in Nevada.
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Trump Wants ‘meaningful Background Checks’
Trump has previously expressed support for implementing more gun restrictions, most notably after the February 2018 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla. Trump seemed to endorse strengthened background checks but backed down after opposition from theNRA and fellow Republicans.
But the nations politics have shifted since then, argued Robin Lloyd, managing director of Giffords, a group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords after she was shot and gravely wounded. Lloyd noted that several House members, including Democrats Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, Lizzie Fletcher of Texas and Andy Krug in Minnesota, won swing elections after campaigning on gun control.
The exit polling show this is a really important issue to voters, she said. If he wants to get reelected, he needs to do something on gun safety.
Yet the president has remained a cipher on the subject in recent weeks. While at first he said there was a great appetite for tightening background checks, he has more recently stressed the fact that the U.S. already has very strong background checks and emphasized the need to address mental health issues.
Some advocates chalk up the apparent waffling to the presidents tendency to parrot the views of the people he spoke to last.
I dont want to over-read this, said Michael Hammond, legislative counsel for Gun Owners of America, which opposes new gun restrictions. He likes to make the person hes speaking to happy, so he says what they want to hear.
Donald Trump: ‘sometimes’ I Carry A Concealed Handgun Because ‘i Feel Much Better Being Armed’
In an interview with CBS’ Face The Nation on Sunday, host John Dickerson asked Trump if he ever carried a concealed weapon.
“Sometimes,” Trump responded, according to a transcript.
When asked about if more people should carry concealed guns in the wake of violent mass shootings, the current Republican presidential front-runner said that while it was up to people to make their own decisions, he takes comfort in carrying his weapon.
“I will tell you, I feel much better being armed,” Trump said.
Trump has doubled down on his support for gun rights following a mass shooting at an Oregon community college earlier this month that left 10 dead. At a campaign rally last week, the real-estate magnate suggested that the victims may have survived if teachers were armed.
“If you had a couple of the teachers or somebody with guns in that room, you would have been a hell of a lot better off, Trump said.
Despite favoring popular gun-control proposals in the past, Trump has throughout his presidential candidacy been one of the most vocal opponents of gun-control efforts. Trump’s gun policy platform contains no measures tightening access to guns and suggests that the federal government should allow concealed carry permits to cross state lines.
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Can A Us Citizen Carry A Gun
The laws requiring permits to carry a gun vary by state. However, most require concealed carry permits as well as open carry permits. There are some states that allow residents to carry guns without permits while on the hunt. A license is typically not required to carry a rifle or shotgun in virtually no states.
I Am Against Gun Control
In his CPAC speech, Trump sounded many themes popular with Republican conservatives. “I am pro-life,” he said. “I am against gun control.”
And in one of his biggest applause lines,Trump vowed to end the nation’s health care law: “I will fight to end Obamacare and replace it with something that makes sense for people in business and not bankrupt the country.” Trump also pledged not to raise taxes if elected.
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A Look At Trumps Armored Suv And Why That Photo Op Was A Bad Idea
President Donald Trump drives past supporters gathered outside Walter Reed National Military Medical … Center in Bethesda, Md., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. .
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump gave his supporters a boost, but seems to have otherwise puzzled and infuriated just about everyone else by leaving the Presidential Suite at Walter Reed Medical Center where he is being treated for COVID-19 to take a ride in a presidential armored vehicle for what amounted to a photo op.
While it wasnt the official Cadillac presidential limousine dubbed the beast, he rode in one of the heavily modified Chevrolet Suburban SUVs that are typically part of the presidents motorcade. Most likely it was a Secret Service unit or perhaps what is used as a lead vehicle. It probably isnt equipped with the official limos 007-esque armaments that reportedly include smoke screens, oil slicks, pump-action shotgun, and a tear gas cannon, but it is heavily modified with, among other enhancements, extra-thick doors and windows designed to withstand armor piercing bullets.
As Trump waved from the back seat with windows closed, but wearing a mask, Secret Service personnel in the vehicle could be seen wearing personal protective equipment that included a full medical gown, respirator, and a clear face shield.
Gun Owners Protesters And Donald Trump Converge On Houston For Nra Event
Thousands of gun owners, throngs of protesters and some prominent Republican politicians gathered in Houston for the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting Friday, just three days after 19 children and two adults were shot to death at an elementary school in South Texas.
The speaking portion of the NRA convention got underway Friday afternoon with speeches from Wayne LaPierre, the groups powerful executive vice president, and recorded video remarks from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who decided to skip the gathering at the last minute. It was capped off by former President Donald Trump, who started his remarks by saying, “Unlike some, I didnt disappoint you by not showing up.”
The event, which is being held in the George R. Brown Convention Center and will last through Sunday, “will showcase over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear,” the NRA said on its website, describing it as “a freedom-filled weekend for the entire family.”
About 70,000 people are expected to attend. Admission is free for NRA members and their immediate family members, including children under 18, the group’s site says.
Some Democratic politicians and gun safety advocates had urged the gun group to postpone or move the event, which is taking place about 270 miles from the site of Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, given the timing.
Others speaking Friday included South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
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What Happened To Trump’s Promise On Gun Control
President Trump says he wants mandatory background checks for gun purchasers
US President Donald Trump said after recent mass shootings that he wanted the country to have stricter gun laws. Now the issue has gone quiet. Here is what happened to the president’s plan to end America’s gun violence.
Lateria Moran, 16, was inside her grandparent’s house when she heard gunshots. Running outside, she found her cousin Jaquarrious Roberson, also 16, with a bullet in his head.
Moran stayed with him until the ambulance arrived. The memory, she says, is searing.
“Like a video,” she says. “When you go to bed at night, it keeps replaying.”
On Wednesday, the president visited Moran’s hometown of Monroe, Louisiana, to campaign for the Republican challenger in the race for governor.
Manufacturing is one of the town’s main industries, but Monroe is better-known for its violent crime. It is one of the nation’s most dangerous cities, with a violent crime rate of 724.6 per 100,000, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.
That’s nearly twice the national average of 368.9, and higher than bigger cities like Baltimore and New Orleans.
“Homicides and gun violence – it’s kind of like in your backyard”, says Nathaniel Ward, who works for a local oil company.
After school, Moran went to hear the president speak, hoping that he would address the issue.
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677 violent crimes in 2018
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2xthe national violent crime rate
It was a marked shift in tone from just a few weeks earlier.
Confusion On Arming Teachers
An attack has lasted, on average, about three minutes. It takes 5 to 8 minutes for responders, for police to come in. If you had a teacher who is adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly, Trump said.
Feb. 22, 2018: Trump tweeted the next day, I never said give teachers guns like was stated on Fake News @CNN & @NBC. What I said was to look at the possibility of giving concealed guns to gun adept teachers with military or special training experience – only the best. 20% of teachers, a lot, would now be able to.
Dec. 18, 2018: President Donald Trump’s federal commission on school safety released a report suggesting that schools consider arming themselves and provides guidelines for schools who may wish to equip highly trained school personnel with firearms to protect students in the event of a shooting — including teachers, custodians and extracurricular staff.
April 10, 2019: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appeared before the House Education and Labor Committee where she was pressed by Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., on the departments stance regarding states using Title IV-A funds from the Every Student Succeeds Act to train and arm teachers. DeVos told the committee that she did not believe it was the departments responsibility to decide if arming and training teachers was a proper use of the funds, and only said that officials had not advocated for nor against it.
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Trump: I Carry A Gun On Occasion
Republican candidate Donald Trump said Wednesday night he might feel more comfortable if his employees brought guns to work despite the fact that several Trump resorts have a policy against firearms.
“I have a permit, which is very unusual in New York,” Trump said. “It’s a permit to carry. I carry on occasion, sometimes a lot. I like to be unpredictable.”
Trump said gun-free zones are “target practice for the sickos” and a “feeding frenzy for sickos.”
Trump made his comments in response to a question about gun control in light of this month’s shooting rampage in at a rural community college in Oregon.
In a televised press conference after the deadly attack, President Barack Obama condemned how “routine” the pattern of mass shootings has become in America. He asked “the American people to think about how they can get our government to change these laws, and to save these lives and let these people grow up.”
In the first nine months of 2015, there have been 294 mass shootings, according to Shooting Tracker. Those shootings have claimed 375 lives and wounded more than 1,000.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates. What’s going on in the debate? Watch live and weigh in.
Can You Carry A Gun In Florida During A State Of Emergency
There are no laws in Florida that would allow the government to confiscate your guns during a state of emergency. Furthermore, subsection 790 deals with insurance coverage. As long as a mandatory evacuation order is served before the declared State of Emergency is activated, the provision of Unlicensed Carry of Firearms Act, 01, may only apply.
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Nra Bans Firearms During Donald Trump’s Speech At Texas Event
The National Rifle Association told attendees they will not be able to carry firearms during an event with former President Donald Trump at its Texas conference that will be held just days after a deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in the state.
On its website, the pro-gun organization declared that people would not be able to bring their firearms into the General Assembly Hall during its upcoming Annual Leadership Forum in Houston on Friday, May 27. In a notice, the NRA said firearms, toy guns and “weapons of any kind” would not be allowed inside the hall. It also listed several other items, such as laser pointers and signs among things that were prohibited.
The NRA described its annual leadership forum as being “one of the most politically significant and popular events in the country.” But a shadow has been cast over the conference after 19 children and two adults were fatally shot at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday.
The NRA said the hall was under the jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service as Trump would be speaking during the event. Trump is one of several speakers who are slated to attend the conference this week. Others include Texas Governor Ted Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz, both Republicans and fierce pro-gun advocates.
The organization also banned guns from its event where Trump gave a speech in 2018, according to NPR.
Trump Endorses Guns For Teachers To Stop Shootings
President Trump met pupils and parents affected by several US school shootings.
US President Donald Trump has said arming teachers could prevent school shootings like that which left 17 people dead last week in Florida.
Teachers carrying a concealed gun could end attacks “very quickly”, he said.
Mr Trump floated the proposal – long-championed by the powerful NRA gun lobby – as emotional survivors of the 14 February massacre urged him to take measures to stop similar attacks.
The US leader called for improved background checks on gun buyers.
“It’s not going to be talk like it’s been in the past,” he said.
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