US Congress faces mounting pressure to act on guns

 

US President Donald Trump and Congress are mulling possible changes to federal gun laws in the aftermath of a school shooting in Florida that left 17 people dead

US lawmakers returned to Congress Monday under pressure to address the nation's gun violence epidemic following the Parkland mass shooting, as staff make an emotional return to the Florida school where 17 people were killed.

President Donald Trump has called for gun law reform in the wake of the tragedy, including strengthening background checks on firearm purchases, but the White House has yet to announce support for specific legislation in Congress, where enacting federal gun restrictions faces major obstacles.

The Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives have remained largely silent on the matter, with members of their party split on how to proceed.
The vast majority of Democrats want to bring gun control efforts to fruition in Congress, and a new CNN poll showed that 70 percent of Americans support stricter gun laws, up 18 points since October.
Republicans from suburban districts where calls for gun control have swelled have expressed an openness to raising the age limit for purchasing semi-automatic rifles to 21, or banning devices that turn such weapons into machine guns. But many conservative lawmakers consider any action that restricts gun rights as a creeping assault on citizens' constitutional right to bear arms.

The split appeared to leave the prospects of significant new gun legislation in doubt.
"I'm a little bit pessimistic that something will happen," moderate House Republican Charles Dent told CNN Monday.

Dent said enhancing background checks and banning bump stocks "should be no-brainers," but the president's unambiguous support on the issue was still needed.
Trump, who repeatedly touted his Second Amendment credentials on the 2016 campaign trail, has said he is open to raising the minimum age for gun purchases and to banning bump stocks, which were not used in the Parkland killings.

The National Rifle Association has opposed some of the proposed gun measures.
Trump wants to see security boosted at US schools, and has promoted the idea of arming some teachers and staff in addition to on-campus guards.
Speaking at the Governors' Ball ahead of meetings with the top officials from all 50 states on Monday, Trump said school safety is a top priority: "I think we'll make that first on our list."

Source: AFP