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A pair of shootings in Texas and Ohio last month pushed the firearms debate to the fore. Trump instructed the Justice Department and members of the White House's Domestic Policy team to prepare a menu of options that he could present to lawmakers upon their return to Capitol Hill . The Justice Department presented its proposals to the White House two weeks ago.
And while the list does not include universal background checks, sources indicate that some officials – even Attorney General William Barr – have quietly invited him to consider supporting such a move.
At the same time, the president launched an extensive survey of his political advisers and allies – including family members, conservative commentators and those paid to give him political advice – in order to The extent to which such action could affect its position vis-à-vis its base. Support. Many expressed concern about continuing "significant background checks" – as Trump said in August – could erode his support among Republicans.
Contradictory arguments and political disputes have led the president in opposite directions. As legislators prepare to debate the issue, Trump always decides what to do.
Among the elements considered, according to those familiar with the subject: allow the inclusion of the data of minors in the databases of background checks; alert local authorities in case of failure of a background check; apply heavier penalties for straw purchases; the prohibition of firearms purchases for persons on terrorist watch lists; and an increased penalty for people who lie on background check forms.
These are in addition to the measures announced publicly by the President and his assistants: the extension of the "red flag" legislation that would allow the withdrawal of weapons from those considered to be in danger; add additional government records to an existing background check database; improve mental health services; and accelerate the death penalty for convicted mass shooters.
Trump Nudging
Administration assistants said some Trump officials, including Barr, had encouraged the president to support the universal background check. Trump expressed initial support for background checks after the pair of shootings early last month, but yielded under pressure from the National Rifle Association and conservative members of his entourage.
Barr convened high-level justice officials last week to discuss possible solutions, including legislative solutions to prevent weapons from firing on potential mass shooters, according to informed people at the meeting. Among the issues raised by some officials, there was the need for a universal background check, sources said.
The recent shooting in Odessa, Texas has highlighted flaws in the federal background check system, which requires licensed gun dealers to conduct background checks, without imposing the same requirement on sellers private.
Barr expressed his concern about this loophole and told officials that this was an issue he was working on. But officials say Barr is anxious to put Trump into a deadlock by pushing legislation that the president and his advisers have just shelved.
Universal background checks were not on the list sent to the White House. When the President finally decides what to do next, we expect Barr to play a leading public role in overseeing any change.
The options developed by the administration have not been publicly disclosed. Up to now, Trump has resisted calls for steps to expand background checks, a measure that enjoys broad support in public polls but to which many advocates have fire are opposing.
Last week, another shootout in Texas revived the debate over firearms. This time, the shooter failed during a background check when attempting to purchase a gun in 2014 because he had previously been declared "mentally deficient". He subsequently purchased the firearm used during the massacre as part of a "private sale", which did not require a background check.
Trump insisted after filming that the momentum in Washington had not changed. According to officials, the government has not yet reached a concrete proposal on firearms, leaving lawmakers on both sides in limbo.
Waiting for Trump
Capitol Hill's Republican leaders said they were waiting for Trump to take a clear position on the type of bill he would sign before deciding on the course of action.
"I said a few weeks ago that if the president took a stand on a bill so that we know we would actually legislate and not have votes in a row, I'd be happy to put it on the floor. "said the Senate majority leader. Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday at the radio show Hugh Hewitt.
McConnell added that he was expecting to receive details of the administration in the coming week.
On Wednesday, Trump said he was considering 29 different proposals, but he did not provide details. He added that he "had had many phone discussions" with members of Congress and that "we will soon make good decisions."
"I support the safety of our citizens and support the maintenance of firearms for sick people, people with mental illness," he said.
The president has been under pressure from lawmakers of the NRA and the GOP, who represent conservative districts, to avoid support measures that would be perceived as restrictive for gun owners. Some White House officials oppose stricter gun control measures, despite Trump's alleged openness to solutions.
But the White House has been conducting discussions over the last few weeks on possible gun-related measures with Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a strong advocate for gun violence in the Senate, and Republican Senator Pat from Pennsylvania. Toomey, who calls for a bipartisan bill to expand the background checks of commercial firearms sales.
Trump also met in the Oval Office on Thursday the Democratic Senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin, a co-sponsor with Toomey of a background check bill that had already failed in the Senate in 2013 after having struggling to gain the support of Republicans.
In the discussion, Trump did not rule out background checks to support, according to a person familiar with the case. But he did not explicitly approve the Toomey-Manchin bill and said he was more likely to engage behind the package of small items that the administration is preparing.
Throw doubt
People familiar with the debate questioned the likelihood of the Manchin-Toomey's background checks bill getting support from the president, and Republicans in the Senate have been skeptical of the legislation in recent days. Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told reporters last month that discussions were underway on the background checks bill, "but I do not see the dynamics of this project having changed much."
On the contrary, Republican and White House lawmakers promoted the red flag laws as the main potential response to the recent wave of gunfire, said several people involved. South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced shortly after the shooting of El Paso and Dayton that he had reached an agreement with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal on a bill granting subsidies to states that adopt red flag laws.
European lawmakers may be more comfortable supporting the Graham and Blumenthal grant program, as legislation is a step removed, leaving the decision-making to the states.
Nevertheless, some Republicans are concerned about the protection orders under the Red Flag laws: "If we have this discussion, if we are going to offer subsidies to the states for them to pass red flag laws, we should fix those grants very strict guidelines in terms of due process, "said Johnson about Graham's proposal.
Trump's advisers cautioned against the implications of the red flag laws for veterans, who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental problems that could, under some proposals, have trouble getting a gun after the service.
And Trump's own son, Donald Trump Jr., also has reservations about this idea. When a White House official called Trump Jr., an outdoor enthusiast and often substitute for conservative groups, during the August holidays to inform him of some of the solutions being considered, the son of the President worried not only background checks, but also red. flag laws, a person familiar with his comments said.
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