Dems to Trump: Background checks needed
WASHINGTON» Congressional Democratic leaders warned President Donald Trump on Sunday that any proposal on gun control must include a Housepassed bill to expand background checks for gun purchases — or else risk no legislation at all.
In a joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said they spoke Sunday morning by phone with Trump, who planned to announce as soon as this week what measures he supported.
Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer, D-N.Y., said they made clear that any proposal lacking the House legislation “will not get the job done” by leaving dangerous loopholes.
“We know that to save as many lives as possible, the Senate must pass this bill and the president must sign it,” they said.
A White House spokesman, Judd Deere, confirmed that Trump spoke with the Democratic leaders at their request and indicated to them a desire to find a “bipartisan legislative solution” but made no commitments.
“The conversation was cordial,” Deere said. “The president reiterated his commitment for his administration to continue work on these issues.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has declined to hold a vote on the bill, which was approved by the Democraticcontrolled House in February. He says it’s not clear the Senate would be able to pass the legislation or that Trump would sign it into law.
The bill would expand background checks to cover private sales such as one that allowed a Texas shooting suspect to purchase his weapon before killing seven people last month.
Trump and White House aides have discussed a number of gun-control measures with members of Congress, including steps to go after fraudulent buyers, notify state and local law enforcement when a potential buyer fails a background check, issue statelevel emergency risk protection orders, boost mental health assistance and speed up executions for those found guilty of committing mass shootings.
Pelosi and Schumer said they promised Trump that if he endorses the House legislation on background checks and gets McConnell to act on it, they would join the president “for a historic signing ceremony at the Rose Garden.” Their call with Trump lasted about 10 minutes, according to a Democratic aide.