Gun Violence Inaction: Parkland Promises Made and Broken, NRA Reversal
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In the week following Parkland, Trump held a remarkable televised meeting with lawmakers in which he expressed support for raising the minimum age for rifle purchases to 21, comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and even taking guns from dangerous people before due process. He told Republican lawmakers they were 'afraid' of the NRA. Within weeks, after meetings with NRA president Wayne LaPierre, Trump had reversed on raising the purchase age and most other proposals. The final federal response was an executive action banning bump stocks — the device used in the 2017 Las Vegas massacre (58 dead) — which was later struck down by the Supreme Court.
Overview
The day after Parkland, Trump said the right things. A week later, he said more right things at a televised bipartisan meeting. Two weeks after that, after meetings with the NRA, he had reversed on all of them.
Seventeen people had been killed at a high school. The final federal response was a bump stock ban. The Supreme Court later struck that down too.
The White House Meeting
The February 21 White House meeting was remarkable. Trump told Republican lawmakers they were "afraid of the NRA." He said he supported raising the minimum age for rifle purchases to 21. He said he favored "take the guns first, go through due process second" for dangerous individuals.
The meeting was broadcast live. The words were clear. Within a week, after meetings with NRA President Wayne LaPierre, Trump's formal proposal included none of it.
The Pattern
Trump's pattern on guns matched his pattern on other issues: say the popular thing publicly, negotiate with the relevant interest group privately, abandon the popular position, and move on. The difference with Parkland was that the public statements had been unusually specific and had been made on live television with lawmakers present.
The Parkland students who had organized the March for Our Lives watched the president reverse himself in real time.
The Numbers
More than 150,000 Americans were killed by gun violence during Trump's first term. The U.S. gun death rate remained approximately 25 times higher than comparable wealthy nations. No significant federal gun legislation was enacted.
The bump stock ban — the only action taken — was later struck down by a court whose three newest justices Trump had appointed.
Timeline
Sequence of events
October 1, 2017
Las Vegas massacre — 58 killed, bump stocks used
A gunman kills 58 people at a Las Vegas concert using a bump stock to fire semi-automatic weapons at rates approaching automatic fire. Trump expresses support for reviewing bump stock regulations.
February 14, 2018
Parkland massacre — 17 killed
A gunman kills 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Survivors immediately organize for gun reform legislation.
February 21, 2018
Trump bipartisan White House meeting — strong gun control statements
At a live televised bipartisan meeting, Trump supports raising the rifle purchase age to 21, comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and taking guns before due process. He says lawmakers are 'afraid of the NRA.'
February 28, 2018
After NRA meetings, Trump abandons age limit and most proposals
After meetings with NRA leadership, Trump's White House releases a proposal omitting the age limit increase and most of the other measures he had publicly supported. The reversal draws wide attention.
December 18, 2018
Bump stock ban finalized
The Trump administration finalizes regulations banning bump stocks. The regulation is later challenged and struck down by the Supreme Court in 2024.
Sources
- ↑ Trump Backs Off Assault Weapon Age Limit After NRA Meeting — The New York Times
- ↑ Trump reversal on guns after NRA meetings — The Washington Post
- ↑ Trump's gun-control reversal after NRA meetings — The Associated Press
Verification