Whatever Became of Trump’s Gun Safety Promise?
Two new mass shootings serve as a reminder that Trump promised to tackle gun violence but has yet to take action
It’s been 125 days since 31 people were killed in mass shootings at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, and a nightclub in Dayton, Ohio. In the weeks that followed, elected officials from both sides of the aisle vowed to work together to tackle the epidemic of gun violence. President Donald Trump seized the moment, promising he would look into gun safety measures such as expanding background checks and so-called “red flag” laws, which allow for the temporary removal of firearms from people who are a danger to themselves or others. He won praise from pundits and analysts. Democrats who were trying to work with him on the issue expressed hope that they would come to an agreement.
And then, nothing happened. Instead of releasing the proposal he promised would come out “soon” in September, the White House went silent. No plan was ever released.
On Friday, three people were killed and several were injured when a gunman opened fire at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola Florida. The shooting came just two days after a gunman killed two and injured a third person on Wednesday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Incidents like these…
