Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 4 May 2018

Trump's NRA address comes after zigzag on gun-control policy

By CATHERINE LUCEY sue of age restrictions by
Associated Press assigning the question to a
WASHINGTON (AP) — Back commission.
for a return engagement, Trump's moves have drawn
President Donald Trump's concerns from both sides of
address to the National the gun debate.
Rifle Association on Friday "He ran as supposedly the
comes after he temporar- best friend of the Second
ily strayed from the group's Amendment and has be-
strong opposition to tough- come gun grabber in chief,"
er gun controls following said Michael Hammond,
the school shooting in Park- legislative counsel to the
land, Florida — only to rap- Gun Owners of America.
idly return to the fold. Hammond said his mem-
For the fourth year in a row, bers were upset Trump had
Trump will speak to the approved a spending bill
group, which meets this that included background
year in Dallas. Last year, check updates. "We're not
he became the first sit- confident at all. We are
ting president to appear very disappointed."
in more than 30 years, de- Kristin Brown, of the Brady
claring that the "assault" on Campaign to Prevent Gun
the Second Amendment Violence, said Trump had
had ended. But this year's offered mixed messages
speech comes as gun vio- since the Parkland shoot-
lence is taking on a new In this April 28, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during the National Rifle Associa- ing.
urgency after one of the tion-ILA Leadership Forum, in Atlanta. "Which Donald Trump is go-
deadliest school shootings Associated Press ing to show up?" she asked.
in U.S. history. "Will it be the one who sym-
Student survivors of the political tensions around VP Mike Pence and others. get this weapon at 18." He pathized with the Parkland
Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory gun violence, White House #2A #watchtheleftmelt- was referring to the AR-15 students he brought to the
Stoneman Douglas High press secretary Sarah down" the Parkland shooting sus- White House, the one who
School that left 17 people Huckabee Sanders said But one of the Parkland stu- pect is accused of using. met with members of the
dead are now leading this week that safety was dent survivors, David Hogg, Those words rattled some Senate ... or the one who
a massive national gun a "big priority." But, she was critical of Trump's Republicans in Congress had burgers" with NRA
control movement. While added, "We also support planned attendance. and sparked hope among head Wayne LaPierre.
the shooting has not led the Second Amendment, "It's kind of hypocritical of gun-control advocates Several groups have an-
to major changes from and strongly support it, him to go there after saying that, unlike after previous nounced plans to protest
the White House or the and don't see there to be so many politicians bow to mass shootings, tougher over the weekend. The pro-
Republican-led Congress, a problem with speaking at the NRA and are owned by regulations would be en- testers will include parents
it did — at least briefly — the National Rifle Associa- them," Hogg said. "It proves acted this time. But Trump of those killed in Parkland
prompt Trump to declare tion's meeting." that his heart and his wallet later retreated on those and in other shootings.q
that he would stand up to Trump has long enjoyed are in the same place." words, expressing support
the powerful gun lobby. He strong backing from the During a televised gun for modest changes to the
later backpedaled on that NRA, which spent about meeting with lawmak- background check system,
tough talk. $30 million in support of his ers in late February, Trump as well as arming teachers.
Trump's attendance at this presidential campaign. The praised members of the After expressing interest in
year's NRA convention was NRA showcased its high- gun lobby as "great pa- increasing the minimum
announced just days ago profile guests for the event, triots" but declared "that age to purchase a so-
and came after Vice Presi- with NRA Executive Director doesn't mean we have called assault weapon to
dent Mike Pence already Chris Cox saying on Twitter: to agree on everything. It 21, Trump later declared
was scheduled to appear. "We are honored to cel- doesn't make sense that I there was "not much politi-
Asked why Trump was at- ebrate American Freedom have to wait until I'm 21 to cal support" for the move.
tending, given the current with @realDonaldTrump, @ get a handgun, but I can He then pushed off the is-