Speaking at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, a loose, relaxed and occasionally extemporaneous President Donald Trump assured an adoring audience that “you are my friends, believe me.” After dissing the press and pundits for dismissing his candidacy, the President promised “I am going to come through for you.”
“I am here to deliver you good news . . . the eight year assault on your second amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end . . . No longer will federal agencies be coming after law-abiding gun owners.”
Without adding any detail (*cough* dismantle the ATF *cough*), President Trump went on to extol the virtues of newly confirmed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. And tout his elimination of the lead ammo ban on federal lands.
“Responsible gun ownership saves lives,” Trump trumpeted. “The right to self defense is essential to public safety.”
The President used the pronouncement to launch his promise to restore “law and order” under Attorney General Jeff Sessions. And build the wall. “Don’t even think about it,” he repeated, mantra-like, “Don’t even think about it.”
“Let me make a simple promise,” Trump promised, returning to firearms freedom, “as your President I will never, ever infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Freedom is not a gift from government. It’s a gift from God.”
“We’re here today . . . to defend the right of a free and sovereign people to keep and bear arms . . . and to the NRA I will never, ever let you down.”
Not mentioned: The Hearing Protection Act, national reciprocity, “gun-free zones,” the ATF or any specific gun rights issue. So, a feel-good victory lap and a meeting of the mutual admiration society.
Whether President Trump will be A Friend of Ours for pro-gun legislation was not resolved here. It remains to be seen. Watch this space.