Donald Trump suggests he can persuade National Rifle Association to drop opposition to gun laws after mass shootings
- Lobby group should have input, president says, but may come around to supporting tighter background checks on buyers
- He notes that many past attempts to restrict gun ownership have stalled in Congress, ‘but there’s never been a president like President Trump’
The NRA – one of the most powerful lobbies in the United States and a frequent donor to Republican politicians – has for decades rejected gun control efforts. It indicated in a statement on Thursday that it still opposed further gun restrictions.
But Trump told reporters at the White House the NRA should have input on the issue and might come around to supporting tighter background checks on gun buyers or at least not be so strident in its opposition.
Following attacks last weekend that killed 31 people in Texas and Ohio, Trump said the United States needs significant background checks on gun buyers “so that sick people don’t get guns”. He spoke to NRA chief Wayne LaPierre by phone.
“I think, in the end, Wayne and the NRA will either be there or maybe will be a little bit more neutral and that would be OK, too,” Trump said. “You know, it’s a slippery slope. They think you approve one thing and that leads to a lot of bad things. I don’t agree with that. I think we can do meaningful, very meaningful background checks. I want to see it happen.”