NRA-OWNED TRUMP TELLS LAWMAKERS ‘WHAT SURPRISES ME MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS THAT NOTHING’S BEEN DONE FOR ALL THESE YEARS’
Exactly as he did on DACA, President Donald Trump just held an amazing nationally televised meeting on gun violence with a bipartisan group of lawmakers from Capitol Hill. He made promises liberals will love, and the NRA will hate. He promised to sign any piece of legislation lawmakers bring him. And exactly as he did with DACA, he will reverse his position on practically if not every promise he just made.
Trump told Republican lawmakers to drop their attempts to pass a national concealed carry reciprocity bill because it will never pass. The NRA desperately wants this bill, as do many GOP lawmakers. Basically, it would allow the gun laws in the state you reside to apply to any state you travel. In short, it would make the state with the weakest gun laws in the country the standard for all states, and that’s incredibly dangerous, especially in metropolitan areas like New York City and Los Angeles.
Trump also told lawmakers people who are mentally ill should never be allowed to have guns. The NRA opposes this, and one year ago Trump signed an order making it easier for mentally ill people to have guns.
The president also said he supports raising the age to buy assault weapons to 21, and expanding background checks nationwide – both of which the NRA staunchly opposes.
“You have to be very very powerful on background checks. Don’t be shy. Very strong on mentally ill. You have to be very very strong on that.”
Perhaps the most amazing moment of the meeting came when Trump – who was elected with $30 million of support from the NRA – said “what surprises me more than anything else is that nothing’s been done for all these years.”
For decades the NRA has made it impossible to pass any legislation that restricts the use or purchase of any firearms.
Astonishingly, Trump became the biggest advocate of gun-brabbing, telling lawmakers, “I like taking the guns early,” when people are mentally ill. “Take the guns first, go through due process second.”
At one point when arguing to raise the age limit to purchase some rifles and assault weapons to 21 Trump actually disagreed with a Republican Senator who opposes raising the age limit.Â
“I know where you’re coming from,” the president said, totally disagreeing with him. “It’s, it’s a position.”
And while many viewers and participants no doubt left feeling enthusiastic and optimistic, Trump repeatedly has proven he will say one thing and do the exact opposite.Â
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes summed it up:
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