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August 21, 2019

Trump Backtracks on Gun Control Despite Calling for Background Checks After Dayton & El Paso Shootings
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President Trump is backing away from supporting new gun control
measures. After the mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas,
earlier this month, Trump called for lawmakers to unite and pass new
background check laws, but in a call with NRA head Wayne La Pierre
Tuesday, he reportedly assured him that universal background checks were
"off the table." Trump instead is heavily shifting the focus to mental
illness as the main cause of gun violence, despite data demonstrating
people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of gun
violence than perpetrators. Democrats are increasingly calling for a ban
on assault weapons as part of comprehensive gun reform.

In related news, the El Paso mass shooter who killed 22 people has been
placed on suicide watch. He told authorities he was "targeting Mexicans"
when he attacked shoppers at a Walmart near the Mexican border. At least
26 people have been arrested after threatening to commit mass attacks
since the El Paso and Dayton shootings at the start of the month that
killed 32 people, including the Dayton gunman.


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