Trump's sensible, center-right position on guns reflects the views of the vast majority of Americans and a majority of gun owners. I dare say a sizable number of NRA members agree with the sensible precautions and measures that Trump is talking about.
An 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old kid has no need to buy a hunting rifle, much less an assault rifle. If he wants to go hunting, let his dad buy or loan him a rifle--and get it back from him when the hunting is over. Ditto for handguns. Just because a young man can join the military at 18 does not mean he should be allowed to buy a gun at that age. In the military, his use of guns is severely restricted and tightly controlled.
If the police and parents and/or friends believe that a person is mentally ill and poses a threat, as in the case of Nikolas Cruz, then for heaven's sake, give the police the power to seize his guns and hold them until the person has been carefully examined and investigated. If he passes a careful evaluation, and if investigation turns up no evidence of intent to commit violence, then give him back his guns.
Expand the reporting rules on convictions and mental illness diagnoses for the national database (NICS), and require all states to report fully. This is just common sense. A background check doesn't do much good if the database is incomplete.
There is no infringement on anyone's gun rights to require that all gun sales include a background check.
Trump does support a national concealed-carry law, but not as a part of the gun control legislation now under discussion, because including that provision would blow up any chance of passing something meaningful. Plenty of states and localities already allow concealed-carry.
I admire and respect the NRA, and I've donated to the NRA, but the NRA is making itself look very bad by refusing to support limited, common-sense measures like raising the minimum age to 21 and requiring all gun sales to include a background check. The NRA had a golden chance to get ahead of this issue and to come out looking reasonable and sensible. I hope the NRA leadership changes course on these sensible measures before they do more damage to their image.
An 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old kid has no need to buy a hunting rifle, much less an assault rifle. If he wants to go hunting, let his dad buy or loan him a rifle--and get it back from him when the hunting is over. Ditto for handguns. Just because a young man can join the military at 18 does not mean he should be allowed to buy a gun at that age. In the military, his use of guns is severely restricted and tightly controlled.
If the police and parents and/or friends believe that a person is mentally ill and poses a threat, as in the case of Nikolas Cruz, then for heaven's sake, give the police the power to seize his guns and hold them until the person has been carefully examined and investigated. If he passes a careful evaluation, and if investigation turns up no evidence of intent to commit violence, then give him back his guns.
Expand the reporting rules on convictions and mental illness diagnoses for the national database (NICS), and require all states to report fully. This is just common sense. A background check doesn't do much good if the database is incomplete.
There is no infringement on anyone's gun rights to require that all gun sales include a background check.
Trump does support a national concealed-carry law, but not as a part of the gun control legislation now under discussion, because including that provision would blow up any chance of passing something meaningful. Plenty of states and localities already allow concealed-carry.
I admire and respect the NRA, and I've donated to the NRA, but the NRA is making itself look very bad by refusing to support limited, common-sense measures like raising the minimum age to 21 and requiring all gun sales to include a background check. The NRA had a golden chance to get ahead of this issue and to come out looking reasonable and sensible. I hope the NRA leadership changes course on these sensible measures before they do more damage to their image.
