President Donald Trump widened his focus on a response to a deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school — appealing to lawmakers Tuesday night to strengthen background checks.
“Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!” Trump tweeted.
Trump’s plea for stronger background checks on gun buyers came after he ordered the Department of Justice to propose regulations that would ban bump stocks that turn semi-automatic guns to fire off hundreds of rounds per minute.
It doesn’t appear a bump stock device was used in the Florida shooting last week, The Hill noted — but Trump’s call to the DOJ helps answer critics demanding stricter gun control legislation in the wake of the attack that killed 17 people.
As for the background check appeal, Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., told The Washington Post that he plans to introduce a bill that would expand checks for people trying to buy firearms.
But Trump’s Tuesday night tweeting also included a slam at frequent media target CNN, as well as MSNBC.
The president derided the outlets for their coverage of a purported anti-Trump rally that was actually organized by Russians posing as Americans.
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