Trump gets weak on guns. Sad.
Two weeks ago, President Donald Trump seemed to embrace comprehensive gun control in the wake of the Florida high school shooting.
How do we know this?
Because he used those actual words, “comprehensive gun control,” in a meeting with Republicans and Democrats.
He even mocked those who are “afraid” of the National Rifle Association and fiercely spoke of “taking” firearms first and then “going to court.”
Yet, strangely, GOP leaders in Congress and NRA officials didn’t make much of a fuss.
Instead, the NRA had a private meeting in the Oval Office and emerged content.
Now, the country finally knows why.
On Sunday, the White House released specifics of what Mr. Trump wants to do about guns, and Sen. Chuck Schumer’s description of the proposal as “tiny baby steps designed not to upset the NRA” is, if anything, a generous assessment.
At the heart of the plan (aside from endorsing pending legislation that marginally improves the National Instant Criminal Background Check with incentives for reporting such crimes as domestic violence) is a commission.
That’s right a commission.
After all that fuss, Mr. Trump is willing to have a bunch of people sit around a table and talk about school safety.
Not even a commission to talk about gun control.
Not even a commission to talk about gun violence.
A commission to talk about school safety.
That is, to talk about turning schools into forts and school personnel into gunslingers.
Noticeably missing from the proposal was the one area where Mr. Trump had earlier seemed to completely part company with the NRA — his plan to raise the age at which young people could purchase assault weapons from 18 to 21.
Ms. DeVos said it might come up during commission meetings as “everything is on the table.”
That’s a far cry from President Trump’s February 22 tweet: “I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue — I hope.”
. . . .
Now, it’s clear that even the most foolish part of his proposal — arming teachers — isn’t really all that meaningful.
Mostly, he’s calling on states to take action with some money tossed their way to help train school personnel.
Is anyone surprised by President Trump’s turnabout?
Probably not.
Like DACA, it’s part of his shtick to leap on popular issues, draw praise and then back off and retreat to his base.
He now leaves the heavy lifting to GOP governors like Florida’s Rick Scott who made good on his promises and signed legislation raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21.
Of course, the NRA immediately filed suit in federal court, calling that an affront to the Second Amendment.
Gun sales advocates recognize a genuine crack in the armor when they see it.
The president’s gun control advocacy was fake news all along.
No comments:
Post a Comment