After the August massacres in El Paso and Dayton, President Trump talked at length about new gun safety legislation. But as the calendar turns to November, it appears it was all lip service. Trump has abandoned the idea of increased background checks or “red-flag” laws that allow authorities to confiscate guns from those deemed a threat. From The Washington Post:
“Trump has been counseled by political advisers, including campaign manager Brad Parscale and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, that gun legislation could splinter his political coalition, which he needs to stick together for his reelection bid, particularly amid an impeachment battle.
“The president no longer asks about the issue, and aides from the Domestic Policy Council, once working on a plan with eight to 12 tenets, have moved on to other topics, according to aides who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private deliberations.“
Trump seemed serious about new legislation, for about a month. But then the NRA got in his ear. Wayne LaPierre, the chief executive of the gun rights group, met with Trump at the White House in late September. Afterwards LaPierre reportedly said it was time to “stop the games” over firearm legislation. And suddenly that was the end of it.