Trump reportedly open to improving background checks for guns
In the wake of the deadly school shooting in Florida, President Donald Trump is reportedly open to the idea of improving a federal background checks system for gun purchases.
On Monday, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah released a statement about the bill that Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, have introduced. The bill, which Shah said Trump had spoken to Cornyn about, would reportedly beef up the reporting system for offenses that would keep people from purchasing guns.
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“While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system,” Shah said, according to CNN.Â
Thus far, the only action Donald Trump has taken on guns since taking office has been to relax restrictions keeping mentally ill people from acquiring guns.
School shooting sparks debate
Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old shooter, went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday just before the end of the school day.
He went on a deadly rampage, shooting at least 17 people dead, with 23 injured. The people injured were both students and staff.
According to both the Associated Press and ABC News, Cruz was part of a group called the Republic of Florida, which wants to create a white-only state in Florida.
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Jordan Jereb, the leader of the group, told the AP that Cruz “acted on his own behalf of what he just did and he’s solely responsible for what he just did.”
Jereb also said that while Cruz was a part of the group, he did not know him personally.
After the shooting students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School took to social media to ask President Trump to act.
Students around the country are planning to take part in a national school walkout on March 14.
