President Donald Trump is likely to face opposition from National Rifle Association (NRA) over gun control. President Trump said in his speech that he would place age restrictions on gun purchase, which is strongly opposed by the NRA. He reportedly said, “There are many ideas that I have, there are many ideas that other people have and we’ll pick out the strongest ideas, the most important ideas and the ideas that will work and we’ll get them done,” he said. “It won’t be talk like it has been in the past. It has gone on too along. Too many instances. And we’ll get it done.”
The executive director of National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action expressed his support for President Donald Trump, calling him the “most pro-Second Amendment president in recent history.” However, at the same time, Cox reported called the proposals as “troubling.”
Cox said in a statement to The Hill, “we believe he is serious about finding meaningful solutions to our nation’s serious problems, so that sociopaths and the dangerously mentally ill are prevented from committing these horrific crimes.”
President Trump offered his support on Wednesday and extended proposals to arm school employees and teachers. “If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, that could very well end the attack very quickly,” Trump said. “We’re going to be looking at that very strongly.”
On the age restriction proposal, NRA Spokeswoman, Jennifer Baker said, “Legislative proposals that prevent law-abiding adults aged 18-20 years old from acquiring rifles and shotguns effectively prohibits them for purchasing any firearm, thus depriving them of their constitutional right to self-protection.”
She further added, “We need serious proposals to prevent violent criminals and the dangerously mentally ill from acquiring firearms. Passing a law that makes it illegal for a 20 year-old to purchase a shotgun for hunting or an adult single mother from purchasing the most effective self-defense rifle on the market punishes law-abiding citizens for the evil acts of criminals.”
President of the National Association for Gun Rights, Dudley Brown said, “It’s pretty clear to me that President Trump has officially caved to the anti-gun media when it comes to gun control.” He further added, “He’s turning his back on gun owners.”
Cox said that the National Rifle Association aims to protect the people by preventing access to firearms in the wrong hands. He further added, “At the same time, we will continue to oppose gun control measures that only serve to punish law-abiding citizens for the acts of criminals,” he said. “These are not mutually exclusive or unachievable goals.”
President of the Firearms Policy Coalition and executive director of the California-based Calguns Foundation, Brandon Combs, said, “I don’t think attacking the fundamental rights of law abiding people is the right policy,” he said. “We’re talking about emotionally charged arguments on both sides … tragedies should not drive public policy.”
