Trump endorses higher age for guns
WASHINGTON — U. S. President Donald Trump on Thursday endorsed a higher minimum age for buying certain firearms and tighter background checks, saying “there’s nothing more important than protecting our children,” amid a public outcry for action after the Florida school shooting.
Trump said he spoke Wednesday night with many members of Congress and “they’re into background checks.” The president commented as he opened a school safety discussion at the White House with state and local officials from around the country.
Early Thursday, Trump tweeted his strongest stance on gun control one day after an emotional White House session where students and parents poured out wrenching tales of lost lives and pleaded for action.
Trump said on Twitter, “I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks!” The president did not immediately offer more details.
Trump’s focus on gun violence came as leaders of the National Rifle Association offered a vigorous defence of gun rights during the Conservative Political Action Conference, urging enhanced — and armed — security at schools.
“Evil walks among us and God help us if we don’t harden our schools and protect our kids,” said NRA executive vice- president and CEO Wayne LaPierre. “The whole idea from some of our opponents that armed security makes us less safe is completely ridiculous.”
The NRA officials didn’t address whether the federal government should raise the age limit for young adults to buy weapons, accusing Democrats and media outlets of exploiting the Florida shooting.
The current federal minimum age for buying or possessing handguns is 21, but the limit is 18 for rifles, including assault- type weapons such as the AR- 15 used by a former student in last week’s attack on a Florida high school that killed 17 students and staff members.
A White House official said the president was not endorsing or ruling out any specific policy.
In another tweet, Trump repeated his urgent call for trained teachers or others in schools to carry guns as a deterrent to attacks.