Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned President Donald Trump in a meeting with him on Sunday that any gun control legislation that does not include universal background checks “will not get the job done,” making it more difficult for the negotiations between Trump and a group of senators to succeed, Politico reported.
Trump has been in talks over potential solutions with senators in both parties that would expand background checks but would not be as extensive as legislation passed in the House in February that would apply the checks to all firearm sales with limited exceptions.
Trump issued a veto threat on the House bill, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not called it to a vote in the Senate, saying he will not do so for legislation that Trump would not sign.
Pelosi and Schumer issued a joint statement after their meeting with Trump, saying “we made it clear to the president that any proposal he endorses that does not include the House-passed universal background checks legislation will not get the job done, as dangerous loopholes will still exist and people who shouldn't have guns will still have access,” according to The Hill.
The Democratic leaders added that “Every day that Senator McConnell blocks our House-passed, life-saving bills, an average of 100 people — including 47 children and teenagers — die from senseless gun violence.”
They said they promised the president that if he signs the legislation they would “join him for a historic signing ceremony at the Rose Garden.”
However, White House spokesperson Judd Deere said Trump made no commitment to support the bill.
Deere said Trump held the meeting, which was cordial, at the request of the Democrats.
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