Trump’s empty promises on gun safety

The lack of moral leadership on this American epidemic is disheartening, and infuriating.

When the country saw three mass shootings in a matter of days — at a garlic festival, in a Walmart and outside a bar — President Donald J. Trump indicated a change of heart. He would now support expanded universal background checks for gun purchases. And he would get Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, RKentucky, who for years refused to bring such legislation up for debate, on board.

But not even three weeks since 31 people were killed in Gilroy, California; El Paso, Texas; and Dayton, Ohio; Trump is backing down from his word.

Though few would be surprised with the turnabout, the lack of moral leadership on this American epidemic is disheartening, and infuriating.

Does the president think we will forget his words: “Frankly, we need intelligent background checks, okay? This isn’t a question of NRA, Republican, or Democrat. I will tell you, I spoke to Mitch McConnell yesterday. He’s totally onboard,” Trump said the morning of Aug. 9 on the South Lawn of the White House before departing on Marine One.

He elaborated: “We don’t want insane people, mentally ill people, bad people, dangerous people — we don’t want guns in the hands of the wrong people. I think that the Republicans are going to be great and lead the charge along with the Democrats.”

He restated: “I think we can get something really good done. I think we can have some really meaningful background checks.”

But just nine days later, he reversed: “People don’t realize we have very strong background checks right now.” The week before at a rally in New Hampshire he echoed the NRA trope: “It’s not the gun that pulls the trigger, it’s the person holding the gun.”

We’ve seen this sidestep from Trump before. After the Feb. 14, 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 and activated students to seek change, the president was supportive. It didn’t last long.

Asked by a reporter Aug. 9 what is different this time, Trump responded: “Time goes by. I don’t think I’m different, but I think the Senate is different. I think other people in the House are different. I think that people that maybe had their arm up a couple of years ago, maybe they feel differently.”

“I think with a lot of success that we have, I think I have a greater influence now over the Senate and over the House.”

That “influence” did not translate to McConnell calling the Senate back from recess to take up the expanded universal background check bill approved in a bipartisan vote by the House in February. The bill extends the checks to include sales at gun shows. That does not infringe on anyone’s Second Amendment rights and, according to a Quinnipiac poll, 97 percent of Americans support it.

With President Trump going back on his word, it is up to the people to demand common sense gun violence prevention laws. Empty promises do nothing to stop mass shootings.