A whole lot of The People of The Gun surely seem incensed over reports of President Trump’s support of Extreme Risk Protection Orders. These so-called red flag laws would temporarily deprive an individual of their firearm rights. However, looking closer, Trump’s support of such measures seems over-stated at best.
Lindsey Graham, in a piece in The Daily Caller, is quoted as saying:
“I spoke with the President this morning about this proposal and he seems very supportive.”
He seems supportive? That seems rather subjective to put it kindly.
Furthermore, Graham tweeted out a written statement on the matter. And frankly, Graham plays fast and loose with a whole lot of half-truths in order to solicit further support for red flag laws. It begins with this:
I support the Second Amendment.
You probably recognize that as a favorite tactic of anti-gun politicians like…Barack Obama. “I support the Second Amendment, but…” and “The notion that I [Obama], or Hillary or Democrats or whoever you want to choose are hell-bent on taking away your guns is just not true…”
In other words, if you like your guns, you can keep your guns.
Nevermind recent headlines like these:
Biden says he’s coming for assault weapons, as 2020 Dems urge new ban in wake of shootings
…Asked what he’d say to gun owners worried that Biden would be coming for their guns, he quickly answered: “Bingo! You’re right, if you have an assault weapon.”
Kamala Harris willing to send cops to people’s homes to confiscate banned firearms
Obviously, President Trump has not come out stating “let’s ban guns/magazines and start confiscating them” as Democrats have. Nor has he even flirted with doing so.
In fact, Trump’s so-called support of additional gun control laws has been tepid at best. Let’s look at his own words via Twitter.
We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain. Likewise for those so seriously wounded. We can never forget them, and those many who came before them. Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019
….this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019
For those who cannot see embedded tweets, here is the plain text:
We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain. Likewise for those so seriously wounded. We can never forget them, and those many who came before them. Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying….this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!
Just what, aside from ensuring “strong background checks” does Trump support? Let’s revisit yesterday’s press conference. In it, Trump supported legislation that would allow the seizure of firearms from those who pose a grave risk to public safety – after a due process hearing.
We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms, and that if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process. That’s why I have called for Red Flag laws also known as Extreme Risk Protection Orders.
However, the “Red Flag” laws Lindsey “Grahamnesty” Graham, Senator Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal and others have proposed do not have a due process provision until after the guns are seized.
So, dear fellow gun owners, before joining the foaming-at-the-mouth crowd proclaiming the sky is falling over Trump’s so-called support of red flag laws, take a deep breath and step back from the edge of the cliff.
At best, some people are misrepresenting the President’s support for gun control legislation. While others are playing games with what sort of gun control legislation Trump might support and when (such as marrying it to immigration reform). They wish to pretend they have the president’s support for their own gun control ideas when they really don’t.