Schumer on Gun Control: Republicans Have a Chance Today to Convince the President to Do the Right Thing

EXCERPT:

SCHUMER: “Leader McConnell has said he will bring a bill to the floor if it has the President's support. That means there is a truly historic opportunity for President Trump to lead his party towards sensible gun safety laws that in the past Republicans in obeisance to the NRA have refused to support for decades. Public support, public pressure is mounting from one end of the country to the other. 93% of Americans support background checks. The majority of Republicans, the vast majority, the majority of gun owners, the vast majority, support it. The President can provide Republicans important political cover. They shouldn’t need it because so many Americans are for this, but they do because of the power, sometimes exercised rather ruthlessly by the NRA. And so the President can do it. This is a moment of truth for the President, for Leader McConnell, and for all of my Republican colleagues. The American people are fed up. Too many people are being killed across the country every day. Just yesterday, I was waiting at the airport. A man came over to me and grabbed my arm and said to me that his nephew was a victim of gun violence and pleaded with me for action. It’s affecting more and more people, their families, their friends, their communities. I imagine every one of my colleagues has met someone like this man — I don’t know his name — over the past month. The mayor of Dayton, Ohio, Nan Whaley, joined with Democrats yesterday at a press conference. Another incredibly compelling voice pushing for some progress on this issue. We invited her to speak at our caucus lunch today, and I expect my Republican colleagues have mayors in their states that just like her are exhausted by the daily gun violence in their cities. Republicans have a chance today to convince the President to do the right thing and come out in support of a policy that is not a fig leaf, that is not milquetoast and will do nothing, but one that will actually save lives. I strongly urge our Republican colleagues, Leader McConnell, to use this afternoon’s meeting at the White House to discuss supporting the bipartisan background checks bill."