Posted on 02/21/2018 7:55:31 PM PST by TBP
In the wake of last weeks tragic shooting at a Florida high school, the national narrative has centered on guns. Democrats mostly argue for increased gun control measures, while Second Amendment advocates mostly oppose any new restrictions.
The debate usually dies quickly after a shooting, but it has remained strong over the last week. Now, even President Donald Trump is reportedly considering new restrictions on firearms.
No. 1: Raising the purchase age for certain firearms Axios reported Wednesday that Trump has privately discussed supporting a measure that would raise the purchase age for semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.
Currently, any 18-year-old who is lawfully able to purchase and possess a firearm can purchase a rifle or shotgun, including the controversial AR-15. Federal law requires a citizen to be 21 before purchasing a handgun.
According to the Washington Post, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Tuesday the option is on the table for us to discuss.
Whats not clear is if Trump would advocate for new age restrictions at the federal level or if he would encourage state legislators to make the change.
No. 2: Increased background checks On Tuesday, Trump tweeted his support for strengthening the background check system.
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Replying to @realDonaldTrump and 2 others Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!
8:18 PM - Feb 20, 2018 73.3K 37.3K people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Currently, federal law stipulates that any person purchasing a weapon from a federally licensed firearms dealer must have their background checked through the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which takes just minutes. The system merely checks a persons legal eligibility to purchase a firearm and no mental health evaluation occurs.
However, for private transactions in most states, which are a small share of all gun sales, no background check is required for long guns or handguns. Still, many states like North Carolina require a pistol permit or concealed carry license for private handgun transactions.
Its not clear what improvements would be made to the NICS system.
No. 3: Ban bump stocks A bump stock is an inexpensive device that helps a shooter fire a standard semi-automatic rifle more rapidly, which makes the firearm behave more like a fully-automatic weapon. A bump stock was reportedly used in the Las Vegas massacre last year. The devices dont actually make semi-automatic rifles fully-automatic, but they use recoil to increase the rate at which the trigger is pulled.
Trump said at the White House on Tuesday that he has instructed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to pursue legislation that outlaws the devices.
We cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make a difference, Trump said, according to the New York Times.
Why is this time different? America has seen more than a dozen tragic mass shootings over the last few years and little has been done to prevent the next one. But this time appears to be different.
Most people are split over what to actually do and whether or not increased gun restrictions would prevent the next mass shooting remains to be seen. But the difference this time appears to lie with the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who have been very outspoken about the need for gun control since the shooting.
Their dialogue has even sparked a CNN town hall, which will include the Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch.
Even Trump, seems to agree with the kids sentiment. We have to do something. Weve got kids dying, he reportedly said during a private meeting on guns, according to Axios.
None of it will have any effect anyway, but theregulators will feel good adn we'll be a little less free.
Trump is being political. He has no idealogy to draw from. He will declare winning as he signs gun control legislation. 4D strategery and all that.
GET A GRIP...
None of what he's proposed will pass Congress.
His recommendations to the DoJ is more cheese in the maze to say that he's taking the lead while Democrats continue to play politics off the lives of the victims (which they are).
He's already came out and supported arming teachers and administrators, and removing those horrible gun-free school zone signs
I’m shocked.
It’s always some master strategy. Yet, somehow, the progressives of the Uniparty seem to win.
Both sides know words on paper do not stop the hands of those with evil intent. We have thousands of gun laws. We still have murders of all kinds with a wide array of devices and methods. Beyond guns.
Regardless of the fact murder laws exist, violence laws exist.
The people that want more laws are legitimately insane for believing that more laws will solve the problem.
The only other reasonable alternative is they too realize this, and just want more gun laws to bind and restrict more law abiding citizens from gun ownership. Easier to control unarmed people. They are the ones who beg for the police srate to protect them from the criminals who remain armed as well.
That’s the problem.
No. It won’t be enough. It will never be enough for these people.
Over 20,000.
ok. Let’s raise the age to own a rifle to 26. And the drinking age. And the driving age. And the voting age. And the age for marriage, for that matter. Out after dark? not if you’re under 26!
We’ve already sent a message to kids they can’t be trusted any more to pay for their own medical care before age 26. So if we’re going to send a message to all youth that they can’t be trusted with yet another issue, then let’s do it the whole way and settle on that age 26.Never mind the boy was also looking up bombmaking.
But if all we talk about is guns, and look outward for a national daddy to do something instead of inward at our own communities who failed to do something, who set the stage on a local level, then we’re just doing the work islamists don’t want to be noticed doing - disarming America.
What part of considering dont you get....
I can consider until the cows come home
Really? You shouldnt be. This the from the Never Teump Blaze.
Considering dont mean crap
What part of “well regulated militia” don’t you understand?
Gun control is kinda like trying to solve drunken driving by making it harder for sober people to own cars.
You havent been paying attention
We are winning and will continue to
Dont go wobbly on us
Exactly. He’s turning art of the deal into masterpiece of the deal
Really? What have the won so far?
Trump wants National Reciprocity, he may be offering up a deal to get it. Probably knowing they will not take it, then he can decry their intransigence and ignore them, as with DACA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.