Trump Tells NRA President Not To Fear: Background Checks Are Off The Table

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 28:  President Donald Trump is applauded by Wayne LaPierre (L),  executive vice president and CEO of the NRA, during the NRA-ILA's Leadership Forum at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 28, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The convention is the largest annual gathering for the NRA's more than 5 million members. Trump is the first president to address the annual meetings since Ronald Reagan.  (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 28: President Donald Trump is applauded by Wayne LaPierre (L), executive vice president and CEO of the NRA, during the NRA-ILA's Leadership Forum at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits ... ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 28: President Donald Trump is applauded by Wayne LaPierre (L), executive vice president and CEO of the NRA, during the NRA-ILA's Leadership Forum at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 28, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The convention is the largest annual gathering for the NRA's more than 5 million members. Trump is the first president to address the annual meetings since Ronald Reagan. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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President Trump called National Rifle Association executive Wayne LaPierre on Tuesday to reassure him he wasn’t hedging on background check legislation anymore: the whole ordeal was off the table, according to a new report in the Atlantic.

In the immediate aftermath of mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio earlier this month Trump told reporters that he wanted to work with Congress to pass bipartisan legislation on “meaningful” background checks. While a White House official told the Atlantic that “meaningful” background checks — as opposed to universal — were still being considered, Trump reportedly told LaPierre not to fret about the issue.

“He was cementing his stance that we already have background checks and that he’s not waffling on this anymore,” a former senior White House official told the Atlantic. “He doesn’t want to pursue it.”

Trump also reportedly told LaPierre that he would focus instead on “increasing funding” for mental health care and pushing attorneys general to prosecute gun violence as a federal crime, according to the ex-White House source.

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  1. Avatar for noonm noonm says:

    100% not surprised.

  2. Avatar for iamwil iamwil says:

    Make Another Gun Already

  3. The usual: Killings occur, promise to do “something” about it, let a period of time pass, and then just forget about doing anything. Collect campaign contributions from gun lobbyists and NRA.
    Phase two of the retreat will occur when McConnell comes back from break.

  4. Nothing will ever happen on gun control while the Republican Party has any say in the matter.

    Keeping terrorists armed is an important intimidation tool in their toolbox for retaining power.

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