Clinton, Trump disagree on guns, fighting terrorists

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump vowed Monday to impose a broad ban on immigration from areas of the world with a history of terrorism and suggested some Muslims in the United States are turning a blind eye to unfolding plots, as he outlined an aggressive response to the deadly attack in Orlando.

Hillary Clinton, Trump’s presidential rival, was more measured in her own remarks, warning that demonizing all Muslims for the actions of a few would only benefit extremist groups.

Clinton, a former secretary of state, pointedly blamed American partners in the Middle East — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar — for not stopping terror funding emanating from their countries and called for tougher gun control legislation in the U.S., including outlawing assault weapons like one used by the Orlando shooter.

“I believe weapons of war have no place on our streets,” the Democrat said. Though she drew implicit contrasts with Trump, she never mentioned him by name, saying, “Today is not a day for politics.”

Trump clearly disagreed, criticizing Clinton harshly and often.

Though the Orlando shooter was born in the U.S., the Republican continued to propose sweeping changes to the nation’s immigration rules as the cornerstone of his antiterror plan.

He redoubled his previous call for a temporary ban on Muslims coming to the U.S., saying that policy would stay in place until the government can “properly and perfectly” screen immigrants.

Going further, he also said he would use presidential discretion to “suspend immigration from areas of the world where there’s a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe and our allies.”

Clinton said such proposals would only make it more difficult for law enforcement to work with Muslim communities.

“Inflammatory antiMuslim rhetoric and threatening to ban the families and friends of Muslim Americans, as well as millions of Muslim business people and tourists from entering our country, hurts the vast majority of Muslims who love freedom and hate terror,” she said.

The Orlando shooter — 29-year-old Omar Mateen — was born in the United States, but Trump said he was “born to Afghan parents who immigrated to the United States.” He said Muslim communities must turn over to law enforcement “people who they know are bad,” adding “they do know where they are.”

In some morning television interviews, the Republican suggested that Obama may sympathize with the perpetrators.

“He doesn’t get it or, or he gets it better than anybody understands,” Trump said on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends.” ‘’It’s one or the other. And either one is unacceptable.”

Later Monday, he said he would no longer speak with The Washington Post because of headlines on the newspaper’s web site which said that Trump had seemed to suggest that Obama was responsible for the Orlando attack.

But a Post reporter and photographer attended a Trump campaign event later without incident.

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