Convicted felon Donald Trump — who may lose his gun license soon — is pushing an extreme MAGA agenda of making it easier for criminals to carry guns. As his VP contenders continue to stand by him, DNC Spokesperson Aida Ross released the following statement: 

“Just like Donald Trump, his would-be VPs have long records of refusing to take action to prevent convicted felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous people from getting their hands on guns – for example, convicted felons like Trump. Instead, Trump has railed against commonsense gun reforms and happily caved to the gun lobby’s every demand. The truth is neither Trump nor his potential running mates can be trusted to keep American communities safe.”

Convicted felon Donald Trump made it easier for criminals to carry guns by standing in the way of commonsense gun reform while the murder rate skyrocketed during his presidency. Now, he’s continuing to rail against commonsense gun reform.

New York Times: “Conceding to N.R.A., Trump Abandons Brief Gun Control Promise”

“President Trump on Monday abandoned his promise to work for gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association, bowing to the gun group and embracing its agenda of armed teachers and incremental improvements to the background check system.”

The Hill: “The [Trump] White House on Monday issued a statement warning that President Trump would veto proposed legislation to enhance background checks for gun purchases if it passes the House and Senate.”

Politico: “Trump quietly used regulations to expand gun access”

“In addition, the Trump Justice Department narrowed the definition of “fugitive,” excluding people from being added to the national database and barred from buying a gun.”

Associated Press: “FBI: 2020 homicides up nearly 30%, largest 1-year jump ever”

Philadelphia Inquirer: “The Council on Criminal Justice, a D.C.-based research group, found that homicides in 21 American cities were up 32% between March and October compared with 2019. And some analysts believe 2020 could record the largest-ever single-year increase in murders in the United States.”

New York Times: “In the face of N.R.A. opposition, [Trump] has also retreated from his earlier openness to expanded background checks and a renewal of the expired ban on assault weapons.”

Politico: “Donald Trump told National Rifle Association members on Friday that ‘no one will lay a finger on your firearms’ if he wins the presidency, vowing to roll back Biden-era gun restrictions.

“The former president specifically said he would roll back the Biden administration’s ‘Zero-Tolerance’ policy that revokes federal licenses from firearm dealers that violate gun laws. And he said he would undo regulations on pistol braces, or stabilization devices that have also been used in gun massacres.”

Trump: “I will sign concealed carry reciprocity. Your Second Amendment does not end at the state line.”

CNN: “Trump suggests arming teachers as a solution to increase school safety”

Reuters: “[Trump] also called for eliminating gun-free school zones, adding that such zones leave victims with no means to defend themselves in case of an attack by an armed person.”

Trump’s VP contenders have opposed commonsense gun reform for years.

JD Vance: ‘The background check system is not the problem… the idea that expanded background checks is going to solve that problem is unfortunately not true.”

Washington Post: “Rubio, the two-term Republican incumbent, said days after the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. — at an event with student survivors — that he would support such age restrictions as well as expanded background checks on gun purchases. But at his first and only debate with Democratic challenger Demings, the senator said the law ‘doesn’t work’ and also said background checks would not have stopped the litany of shootings…

“And he criticized the gun-control legislation that Congress passed this year with some Republican support, calling it ‘crazy’ and suggesting it would allow guns to be seized in too many situations.”

WPDE: “South Carolina Senator Tim Scott was among the 33 Senators that voted against the [Bipartisan Safer Communities Act].” 

Daily Republic: “Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., isn’t interested in expanding federal background checks for gun-buyers. Background checks would not have stopped recent violent, public gun deaths, she said.”

Florida’s Voice: “U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Florida, said Tuesday he voted against the bipartisan gun legislation because it supported funding for red flag laws, which he called a ‘poison pill.’”

New Republic: “GOP Rep. Byron Donalds Tells People to Stop Being Emotional After Nashville Mass Shooting”

Fort Smith Times Record: “Rep.-Elect Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, said Wednesday that Congress should focus on the mental health system in response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He is opposed to any new gun regulations, saying that there are ‘enough already on the books.’”

KFYR: “Gov. Doug Burgum, R-N.D., has signed a proclamation designating North Dakota as a Second Amendment Sanctuary State. Gun rights were a hot topic this legislative session and Gov. Burgum has signed at least ten gun related bills into law, most notably a bill that removes liability from someone who’s defending themselves.”

1819 News: “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Katie Boyd Britt said she opposed the bill and does not support additional gun laws. ‘Gun grabbers use so-called ‘red flag laws’ as a gateway to push their disarming agenda,’ Britt told 1819 News.”

NRA-PVF: “Britt opposes gun, magazine and ammunition bans… Britt opposes the Biden/Schumer/Pelosi so-called “universal” background check system that would criminalize the private transfer of firearms, which is only enforceable through a federal firearm registry.”

The News TN: “Blackburn voted against passage of the ‘Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,’ a piece of gun control legislation that incentivizes for states to pass ‘red flag’ laws, closes of the long-controversial ‘boyfriend loophole’ that allows some domestic abusers to purchase firearms, pours resources into federal mental health efforts and strengthens background checks for those under the age of 21 purchasing firearms, among other essential steps.”

KHOU: “Gov. Greg Abbott signed the open carry and campus carry bills into law Saturday.”

Trump keeps pandering to the NRA — which has spent tens of millions of dollars supporting his campaigns — and told school shooting victims to “get over it.”

New York Magazine: “President Trump met with survivors of the Parkland school shooting and attempted to convey a sincere intention to act. … What happened next was predictable. Trump met with the head of the NRA. He stopped talking about the issue he was going to solve.”

Rolling Stone: “Trump on Iowa School Shooting: ‘Get Over It’”

“A day after a gunman killed a sixth grade student and wounded five other people at Perry High School northwest of Des Moines, Donald Trump returned to the state at a campaign event and told residents that they ‘have to get over it.’”

Trump: “There’s no bigger fan of the NRA [than me].”

NBC News: “Trump says mass shootings are not ‘a gun problem’ as 2024 GOP hopefuls pledge loyalty to the NRA”

New York Magazine: “After Taunting Republicans for Being Afraid of NRA, Trump Gives In to NRA”

Washington Post: “After latest shooting, Trump pushes Facebook ads ‘straight from the NRA playbook’”

Politico: “Former President Donald Trump on Friday addressed the National Rifle Association’s annual conference in Houston … just three days after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school.”

CNN: “A slew of 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls courted gun rights activists Friday at a National Rifle Association convention in Indianapolis that took place in the wake of mass shootings in Kentucky and Tennessee in recent days. Former President Donald Trump … attended the gathering.”

Yahoo News: “The gun-rights group spent $54 million during the 2016 election cycle, including $30 million to help Donald Trump get elected president.”

Fortune: “For instance, in 2020, the NRA alone spent over $12 million campaigning against Biden and another $4.5 million in favor of Donald Trump.”