Face of Nation : President Donald Trump condemned “racism, bigotry and white supremacy” in a televised address to the nation Monday after a devastating and bloody weekend left at least 30 people dead in two mass shootings in less than 24 hours. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America,” the president said from the White House. “Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart and devours the soul.”
The president did not specifically condemn anti-immigrant rhetoric on Monday, instead blaming violent video games and mental illness for the scourge of mass shootings that have been a steady drumbeat throughout his presidency. It is unclear if either of those were factors played a role in the Texas shooting or the second attack early Sunday morning in Dayton, Ohio.
Trump also voiced support for stronger death penalty legislation for those who commit mass shootings, putting additional resources and new tools toward helping to identify early warning signs before shooters act, and reforming mental health laws. “Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun,” he said. During his address, the president misstated the Ohio city where the shooting took place, referring to “the memory of those who perished in Toledo.”
Trump avoided calling for any specific gun control laws, in contrast to a tweet hours before his White House remarks in which he said Congress should pass background-check legislation tied to immigration reform, a move that could give Republicans leverage over Democrats in passing controversial immigration measures.
Trump also gave his support in his remarks to so-called red flag laws, which would allow family members to obtain a court order to take away a relative’s firearm if they believe he or she posed a risk. The measure has been backed by Republicans while Democrats have focused on improving background checks.
“The Media has a big responsibility to life and safety in our Country. Fake News has contributed greatly to the anger and rage that has built up over many years. News coverage has got to start being fair, balanced and unbiased, or these terrible problems will only get worse!” he wrote.
Following the February 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 students and teachers dead, Trump at first indicated he could support tightening background checks for gun buyers, but backed away and instead threw his support behind a proposal to arm and train some teachers how to use firearms and called for institutionalizing mentally ill people believed to be capable of violence. Trump has also moved to ban bump stocks, devices that allows semi-automatic rifles to fire continuously like machine guns. In February, the Democratic-controlled House passed two bills that would have tightened background checks on gun buyers, but the GOP-controlled Senate never took up either of the bills, and Trump had promised to veto the legislation.
Senate Democrats on Sunday called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to cancel the chamber’s August recess so that they can take up gun control legislation in the wake of two mass shootings this weekend and in Gilroy, California, on July 28 — including at least one of the bills the House passed in February.
That bill, dubbed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, would create new background check requirements for gun transfers between unlicensed individuals. Under current law, only licensed gun dealers are required to conduct a background check for buyers.
The other bill the Democrats passed in February would extend to 10 days the amount of time federal officials have to complete a background check on a gun buyer before a sale is completed. Under current regulations, if a background check isn’t completed within three business days, the sale can be completed anyway.
Responding to Trump’s tweets, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Trump should push for passage of the House-passed background check legislation.
