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Everytown for Gun Safety Statement on President Trump’s “Listening Session” Amid Pressure to Act After Mass Shooting in Parkland, Florida

2.21.2018

According to Axios, Today’s “Listening Session” is at 4:15 p.m.

WASHINGTON – Everytown for Gun Safety released the following statement today ahead of President Trump’s “listening session” with students, parents and other gun violence survivors amid national outrage in the wake of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:

“The President and Congress must listen to the students, educators, mothers and fathers across America who are demanding meaningful action to reduce gun violence. Congress needs to get serious and meet this moment with significant action, starting with legislation to require criminal background checks on every gun sale — supported by 97 percent of Americans.”

Today’s event should be an opportunity for President Trump to explain what his administration will do following the Parkland, Florida mass school shooting, and answer questions such as:

  • President Trump says “we must now focus on strengthening background checks.” New polling shows 97 percent of American voters support requiring criminal background checks on every gun sale (including 97 percent of Republicans). So long as a felon or domestic abuser can skip background checks completely and buy guns from an unlicensed seller, no questions asked, our federal law has a massive loophole and is enabling gun violence. Will he support legislation to require criminal background checks on every gun sale?
  • Why would he accept $30 million in support from the NRA and immediately begin repealing Obama-era regulations if he now claims to support various gun safety measures?