‘Take The Guns First’: Trump Voices Support For Seizing Guns In Some Cases

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, during their joint press conference, in the East Room of the White House, on Friday, February 23, 2018. (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto)
U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, during their joint press conference, in the East Room of the White House, on Friday, February 23, 2018. (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPh... U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, during their joint press conference, in the East Room of the White House, on Friday, February 23, 2018. (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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President Donald Trump on Wednesday voiced his support for allowing law enforcement officers to seize guns from people they think pose an immediate public threat or are dangerously mentally ill.

“Number one, you can take the guns away immediately from people that you can adjudge easily are mentally ill, like this guy,” he told a bipartisan group of legislators durning a televised meeting.

The President was referring to Nikolas Cruz, who allegedly murdered 17 people during a Valentine’s Day mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Vice President Mike Pence said later that “the focus is to literally give families and give local law enforcement additional tools if an individual is reported to be a potential danger to themselves or others.”

“Allow due process so no one’s rights are trampled but the ability to go to court, obtain an order and then collect not only the firearms but any weapons in the possession—”

Trump cut him off: “Or, Mike, take the firearms first and then go to court, because that’s another system.”

“Because a lot of times by the time you go to court, it takes so long to go to court, to get the due process procedures, I like taking the guns early, like in this crazy man’s case that just took place in Florida,” he continued. “He had a lot of firearms. They saw everything. To go to court would have taken a long time. So you could do exactly what you’re saying but take the guns first, go through due process second.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Right into the buzzsaw.

    The NRA…and his base…will NOT like this comment. Look for a quick walkback.

    It’s precisely the wrong language to use for them, even if they grudgingly agree with the notion.

  2. Avatar for sanni sanni says:

    How quickly will those in the deep intersection of Trumpioid Addition and Gun Ammophilia find a way to blame this statement on Obama and the deepstate throw in some FEMA camp lockups during the mass gun confiscations by the DEEP STATE! Rmember Jade Helm!

  3. Avatar for jmacaz jmacaz says:

    Well, Mr LaPierre hasn’t weighed in on this yet… Plenty of time to flip.

  4. Avatar for j.dave j.dave says:

    You want to know what we should take away from people that we can adjudge easily are mentally ill?

    Security clearances.

    Twitter accounts.

    Public office.

    Freedom of movement.

    Just for starters …

  5. Avatar for 1gg 1gg says:

    Oh my God, Trump’s coming for our guns!
    I guess these are ones the r/w was always accusing Obama of taking. s/

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