Trump likely to ditch gun bills sponsored by Conn. senators

WASHINGTON — Fearing a backlash from his base, President Donald Trump appears to have dropped his plans for gun law reforms that Connecticut Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal were hoping to shape.

Murphy, in conjunction with Sens. Patrick Toomey, RPa., and Joe Manchin, DW.Va., was trying to sell the White House on legislation that would expand FBI background checks of potential gun buyers, a measure introduced more than six years ago in response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.

Murphy had been optimistic that the bill would be endorsed by Trump and finally win Senate approval.

But on Friday, he said he doubted the background check legislation would move forward.

“I haven’t heard anything directly from the White House in weeks and would be surprised if something happens at this point,” the senator said.

Blumenthal had been working with Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., on a bill that would provide states with incentives to pass “red flag” laws — like the one first approved in Connecticut — that temporarily remove weapons from those deemed by law enforcement or a court to be a danger to themselves or others.

Unlike Murphy, who said he hasn’t spoken to the White House in weeks, Blumenthal said he and Graham have continued to communicate with White House staff about a federal red flag, or emergency protection order bill.

“I still have hope,” Blumenthal said.

Three months ago, when there were backtoback mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso, leaving 31 people dead, Trump assured the public that he was prepared to take the issue of gun control seriously. “We’re going to come out with something that’s going to be really, very good — beyond anything that’s been done so far,” the president told reporters.

He voiced strong support for background checks “like we’ve never had before,” and other measures, including the red flag initiative.