Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will meet with the National Rifle Association (NRA) to discuss banning individuals on the terror watch list and “no-fly’ list from legally purchasing firearms. Chris W. Cox, the NRA’s executive director for its Institute for Legislative Action, says the NRA welcomes the discussion with Trump and looks forward to speaking with him.
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Trump announced the meeting on Wednesday with the following tweet:
“I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.”
I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2016
Trump has ensured his supporters that the purpose of the meeting is to ensure that “Americans have the means to protect themselves in an age of terror” and has stated several times that he will “always be defending the second amendment.” Hear his official statement in the video tweet below:
#Trump to meet w/ @NRA to discuss "how to ensure Americans have the means to protect themselves in…age of terror." pic.twitter.com/wruIzuB6FX
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 13, 2016
Trump has been passionate about protecting the Second Amendment from the beginning of his campaign. He has received the earliest endorsement from the NRA in the history of presidential elections and has taken shots at Hilary Clinton’s anti-Second Amendment gun control policies by stating she is out to “abolish the 2nd Amendment.”
Trump has stated that the conversation will not focus on disarming law abiding citizens and will be centered around whether or not people on the watch lists should be able to purchase guns. Trump has been a large proponent of the idea that the Second Amendment, and armed citizens, are key in preventing terror attacks on American soil.
However, despite their support of the Second Amendment, both Trump and the NRA believe terrorists should not be able to purchase guns through legal channels. Cox reiterated the NRA’s stance on the subject with the following statement:
“The NRA’s position on this issue has not changed,The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period. Anyone on a terror watch list who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing.”
Trump made his position on the subject clear in statements made following the San Bernardino terror attack. At the time of the attack Trump seemed to be under the impression that people on the watch list were already prohibited from purchasing guns. He told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos:
“If people are on the watch list or people are sick, you have — this is already covered in the legislation we already have George. It’s already fully covered,”
When Stephanopoulos informed Trump that people on the terror watch list can purchase firearms he responded by saying:
“if we have an enemy of state, I don’t want to give him anything.”
His comments have led political pundits to believe he agrees with the NRA when it comes to preventing potential terrorist from buying guns. Many GOP congressmen oppose the push to ban individuals on the terror list from purchasing guns. They cite several cases of individuals mistakenly being added to the list and having their rights stripped away. They argue that it is a clear violation of the Second Amendment.
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