President Trump held another one of his open discussions with lawmakers Wednesday at the White House. This time, the topic was guns. The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is still painful, especially as students and faculty returned for classes for the first time today. Seventeen people at the school were murdered by a mentally ill young man who fired on them with an AR-15 on Valentine's Day.
Republicans and Democrats alike have offered preventative measures in the wake of the mass shooting. For Democrats, they want the AR-15 and other "assault weapons" banned. For Republicans, many determine that the first issue to address is mental health. In his meeting Wednesday, Trump fielded all these suggestions, while reiterating some of his own.
He said a bump stock ban will happen, even if he has to do so through executive order. He also noted that gun-free zones don't work and shared that he is considering banning them on military bases.
The president politely listened to each legislator's suggestions, especially Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), himself a shooting survivor. Yet, Trump informed the congressman that even though he's his "biggest fan," he cannot support his suggestion of including concealed carry reciprocity in the bill they're currently drafting.
This exchange is just, wow.
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) February 28, 2018
KLOBUCHAR: We need domestic violence check in background check.
TRUMP: "I'm all for it."
CORNYN (winking): Let's let Steve Scalise speak.
SCALISE: What about adding concealed carry reciprocity to the bill?
TRUMP: Not in this bill. pic.twitter.com/RFtkn6jG6f
Concealed carry reciprocity allows someone with a permit to have the same carry rights across state lines. Scalise said the provision deserves consideration because "by and large" the individuals with concealed carry permits are "helping stop crimes."
It is a provision the NRA has been supportive of, but Trump, as you can see, flat out opposes it as being included in the legislation.
"You'll never get it passed," Trump told Scalise.
He also distanced himself from the organization in terms of raising the age limit for buying certain firearms, something he is "seriously considering."
When the meeting adjourned, Trump seemed pleased with their progress.