US gun control laws must include background checks, opposition politicians tell President Donald Trump
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement on Sunday to call for increased scrutiny of firearms buyers
Congressional Democratic leaders warned President Donald Trump on Sunday that any proposal on gun control must include a House-passed bill to expand background checks for gun purchases – or else risk no legislation at all.
In a joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said they spoke Sunday morning with Trump, who planned to announce as soon as this week what measures he supported.
Pelosi and Schumer said they made clear that any proposal lacking the House legislation “will not get the job done” by leaving dangerous loopholes.
“We know that to save as many lives as possible, the Senate must pass this bill and the president must sign it,” they said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has declined to hold a vote on the bill, which was approved by the Democratic-controlled House in February. He says it’s not clear the Senate would be able to pass the legislation or that Trump would sign it into law.
