USA TODAY International Edition
Trump’s gun advisory group yet to get its shot
Coalition has yet to convene, and its status is unclear
“We’re as interested as you are in what role we’re going to be able to play.” Michael Kassnar of IWI US, a subsidiary of an Israeli small- arms manufacturer
WASHINGTON Days before the November election, Donald Trump announced the formation of a coalition of gun enthusiasts to advise him on Second Amendment issues. And he hasn’t mentioned them since.
The coalition hasn’t formally convened, and it’s unclear when, or whether, that will happen.
“I suspect there’s more things on the president’s plate of higher urgency,” said coalition co- chairman Michael Kassnar, an executive with IWI US, a subsidiary of an Israeli small- arms manufacturer. “We’re as interested as you are in what role we’re going to be able to play.”
The White House now says the group is a “campaign coalition.” But a handful of co- chairs said they expect — or at least hope — to play some role in advising the White House.
John Boch believes Donald Trump Jr., an outdoorsman, will be a conduit between the advisory group and the White House. He and National Rifle Association lobbyist Chris Cox were tapped to co- chair the group.
“As it was explained to me, this whole thing is about providing policy and legislative recommendations for the new administration through Donald Trump Jr.,” said Boch, executive director of the non- profit Guns Save Life Inc.
Co- chairs’ personal goals for the administration vary. But several said the Trump administration should pursue legislation to nationalize concealed carry permits, a top priority for gun advocates that Trump has said he supports. Another priority is legislation to make it easier to buy firearms suppressors, or silenc- ers. While critics say that’s dangerous, Trump Jr. has said, “It’s about safety and it’s about hearing protection.”
Rep. Tom Emmer, R- Minn., one of the group’s 62 co- chairs, wants the group’s help to push his legislation to set deadlines for action on appeals when gun buyers’ purchases are denied.
Trump’s Nov. 3 announcement that the coalition had been created said its leaders would continue to advise Trump and then- Indiana governor Mike Pence “as they protect our Supreme Court and our right to keep and bear arms.”
But the White House has not launched the coalition in an official government capacity and it referred queries to a Trump campaign official, who did not respond to emails.
There are legal implications for the group’s status and Donald Trump Jr.’ s role in it.
A campaign coalition would be expected to advise Trump as a candidate. But other rules may apply if the group advises Trump as president. The Federal Advisory Committee Act, for example, could require it to have a charter, open its meetings to the public, maintain records, have procedures for public input and be subject to a number of regulations.
“The purpose of ( FACA) is to ensure that those groups that are advising the president are open and transparent and accessible by the public,” said Larry Noble, general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center. “But it applies to groups that are really formally established by the president or an executive branch agency.”
Trump’s son’s leadership of an official advisory committee, and any advice he might give to the president, could be problematic, since he has been put in charge of the family’s business.
“It would be a somewhat questionable move, given the separation the president claims from his sons because of business dealings,” Noble said. “It would raise issues with ethics laws.”