BY JADEN MOUNT
The Gun Control Debate is back in full throttle after the Valentine’s Day mass shooting in Florida. Like previous incidents, the two main political parties have taken their sides of the debate; Democrats in the pro-gun control ring with Republics closely defending the 2nd Amendment. You would expect every member of the party to fall in line. However, one important Republican figure isn’t exactly following his comrades; United States President Donald Trump.
Where most of Trump’s stances and statements have caused uproar, concern, and disapproval amongst Liberal and most Independent Americans as well as the rest of the world, the president has shown considerable support towards specific pieces of gun control that has spurred mixed emotions from all sides.
In a tweet released on Thursday, February 22, he stated:
“I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue – I hope!”
Background checks have been one of the main focuses’ of the pro-gun control argument. Polls released during the Obama Presidency suggested anywhere from 85% to 95% of American supported increased background checks.
“Raise age to 21…” is a direct reference to raising the age requirement for rifle sales. Individuals can currently purchase rifles at age 18.
Where Trump has taken the gun control side on these specific items, fellow Republicans and other Conservatives aren’t as willing. The National Rifle Association (NRA) has already rejected raising the age requirement to buy rifles whilst Conservatives, such as Anna Khait, a former contestant on CBS Survivor and an Outspoken Trump Supporter, are not happy with the move.
She responded to Trump’s tweet with:
“Please reconsider bump stock legislation; it doesn’t turn a gun into a machine gun, that’s not true. And the legislation that is proposed makes it a felony to fire more than once in a certain amount of time.. are we banning fast fingers?”
Only time will tell if the Republican-controlled Congress will be able to pass any form of legislation, especially with midterm elections on the horizon.
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