City
Epaper

Gun legislation negotiations moving very slowly: Trump

By IANS | Updated: September 20, 2019 07:25 IST

US President Donald Trump has said bipartisan negotiations on gun reform legislation are moving "very slowly."

Open in App

"We're not moving on anything," Trump told "Fox & Friends" on Thursday. "We're moving very slowly in one way because we want to make sure it's right."

The Republican blamed the slow progress on former Congressman Beto O'Rourke, who said during last week's Democratic presidential primary debate that he would ensure mandatory buybacks for assault-style rifles if elected, Xinhua reported.

"Part of the problem that we have is because Beto O'Rourke's statement about taking away guns," Trump said.

"All of the moderate Republicans and some Democrats are now afraid to do anything to go down that slippery slope," Trump said.

Trump's remarks came as his administration is reportedly circulating a memo on Capitol Hill describing a possible proposal to expand background checks to all advertised commercial sales, including sales at gun shows.

If someone who attempts to buy a firearm fails a background check, it would be reported to law enforcement officials, according to the memo.

Attorney General William Barr, whose department had drafted the memo, told reporters on Wednesday that the proposal does not have support from the White House.

"I'm up here just kicking around some ideas, getting perspectives so I can be in a better position to advise the president," Barr said. "But the president has made no decision yet."

This past summer, several mass shootings claimed scores of lives in the US, bringing back public attention to the nation's gun violence epidemic while rekindling debates on gun reform.

The House passed a bipartisan background checks bill earlier this year but it still awaits a vote in the Senate.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: trumpWilliam BarrWhite HouseBeto OrourkeXinhua
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalWhite House Again Shares Cryptic Pixelated Images on Social Media After Shaky Footage, Ringtone Video

Social ViralWhite House X Account Hacked? Two Strange Videos Posted by US President's Palace on Social Media Platform Confuse Netizens

InternationalVan Crashes Into Barricade Near White House, Driver Detained; Area Shut Down

International'Warrior Dividend': Donald Trump Announces $1,776 Christmas Bonus to Active US Soldiers

InternationalDonald Trump Slams Bondi Beach Anti-Semitic Terrorist Attack at Hanukkah Reception in White House

International Realted Stories

InternationalUS rescues second pilot of downed F-15E in Iran, confirms Trump

InternationalUS rescues missing F-15 crew member, say officials: Report

InternationalPurge at the Pentagon: Ousted Army Chief's final message stresses "leaders of character"

InternationalMissing crew member of downed F-15 aircraft recovered alive; no official confirmation

InternationalLibya records 63 mine victims in 2025, including 21 children: UNSMIL