President Donald Trump is open to improving background checks for gun purchases in the wake of the 17 murders at a South Florida high school, the White House said Monday.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump has already spoken to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, about a bill he introduced with Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. That bill is designed to strengthen how state and federal governments report offenses that could block certain people from purchasing a gun, CNN said.
"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system," Sanders said in a statement.
Sanders' comments came as
students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, are still reeling from last week's shooting that left 17 people dead. Police have identified Nikolas Cruz as the shooter.
After the shooting, Trump had called the shooter "mentally disturbed."
CNN noted students, teachers and lawmakers have been calling for Trump and GOP congressional leaders to push for stronger gun control laws in the wake of the shooting.
Trump, who is spending the weekend at his private Palm Beach estate, started President's Day at his nearby golf club. The White House did not immediately answer questions about whether he was playing golf.
The president spent most of the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, as White House aides advised against golfing too soon after the shooting at a Parkland high school that left 17 dead.
Trump spent much of the holiday weekend watching cable television news and grousing to club members and advisers about the investigation of Russian election meddling.
This report contains material from The Associated Press.
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