Big Democrats Tell Trump That Firearms Bill Must Include Universal Audits

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leading congressional Democrats said Sunday to Republican President Donald Trump that gun control legislation does not meet the criteria for universal verification of weapons sales history. fire "will not do the job".

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said they spoke to Trump by telephone on Sunday morning, marking the 200th day since House Democracy passed legislation to to expand background checks to all firearms purchases.

Following a series of shootings in August that claimed the lives of more than 30 people, Trump discussed a bill with legislators from both sides. He said on Wednesday that progress was being made in the area of ​​firearms legislation, adding that many areas were under discussion, including background checks.

The Senate under Republican control has not yet passed the House bill. Last week, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters: Until the White House gives us an indication of what the President is ready to sign, we are waiting to see what it looks like. "

He added: "These appalling shootings, in my opinion, deserve an answer, I hope we can get something that will actually become the law of the United States of America."

After the phone call with Trump, Pelosi and Schumer said: "This morning we have clearly explained to the President that any proposal that he approves and that does not include the background checks legislation. universal adopted by the House will not do the job, there will always be dangerous loopholes and people who should not have guns will still have access to it. "

The two leaders said they had promised to join Trump "for a historic signing ceremony at the Rose Garden" if the president approved the law and urged McConnell to adopt it "in order to save as many lives as possible."

The White House described Trump's appeal with Pelosi and Schumer as "cordial," but said the president had made no commitment to the House bill, known as H.R.

Trump "rather indicated his interest in working to find a bipartisan legislative solution on appropriate responses to the problem of mass-armed violence," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in an e-mailed comment. . "The President reiterated his commitment to his administration to continue working on these issues."

Previous attempts to pass gun control after mass shootings, including the murder of 20 children and six staff members in December 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, have for the most part failed in the face of fierce lobbying by the National Rifle Association and other groups of shooters.

The August shootings in Texas and Ohio have re-focused the issue. Trump said he preferred to act, possibly to address mental health issues related to violence or a thorough background check.

The White House has yet to come up with specific proposals, but officials said the measures could include speeding up the death penalty for mass shooters.