Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged President Trump on Wednesday to back a bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would ban “bump stocks,” instead of relying on a new federal regulation that bans them.
“Rather than just draft memos, @realDonaldTrump should call on Congress to pass @SenFeinstein’s bill to ban bump stocks. On far too many issues, this administration has been all talk & little action – we can’t afford that approach when it comes to curbing #gunviolence,” Schumer tweeted Wednesday morning.
Rather than just draft memos, @realDonaldTrump should call on Congress to pass @SenFeinstein’s bill to ban bump stocks. On far too many issues, this administration has been all talk & little action – we can’t afford that approach when it comes to curbing #gunviolence. 3/
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 21, 2018
Feinstein herself issued a statement late Tuesday stating the White House’s plan to order the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to prohibit bump stocks needed to be backed up by legislation. Feinstein argued that the ATF has said it doesn’t have the authority to ban the accessory, which is used to increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons.
“If ATF tries to ban these devices after admitting repeatedly that it lacks the authority to do so, that process could be tied up in court for years, and that would mean bump stocks would continue to be sold. Legislation is the only answer,” Feinstein said. Schumer agreed with her in his Wednesday tweet.
“However, there are serious problems with @realDonaldTrump’s approach. 1st, his own @ATFHQ agency has warned that it does not have the authority to ban bump stocks. The only way to close this loophole permanently is through legislation,” Schumer said.
However, there are serious problems with @realDonaldTrump’s approach. 1st, his own @ATFHQ agency has warned that it does not have the authority to ban bump stocks. The only way to close this loophole permanently is through legislation. 2/
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 21, 2018
Schumer’s decision to back Feinstein’s call is a likely sign of the difficulty Republicans and Democrats will have if they consider broader gun legislation this year, since it signals Democrats will try to legislate what Republicans are hoping can be done through regulation.
Schumer also said he is not happy with the House Republicans decision to combine a bill boosting federal background checks with a bill allowing people with a concealed carry permit in one state to use it to carry in other states, even states that don’t authorize concealed carry. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have said they support a standalone bill to boost gun background checks, but it hasn’t moved yet, and Schumer’s tweet confirmed that Democrats don’t like the House version.
.@HouseGOP combined the Fix NICS bill w/ the NRA’s top priority, concealed carry reciprocity, creating a bill which would be even worse than the status quo. I strongly urge @SenateGOP to avoid making the same mistake & instead work w/ Dems to pass real #gunsafety solutions. 5/5
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 21, 2018
Schumer also said Democrats would be looking to add other items to any Senate bill that starts moving, another sign that a bill will face real hurdles there.
“2nd, the Fix NICS bill @POTUS has tentatively endorsed barely scratches the surface of our problem & must be just the start of a legislative remedy that at a minimum fully strengthens & funds #backgroundchecks, closes loopholes, & keeps guns from ppl who shouldn’t have them,” Schumer added.
2nd, the Fix NICS bill @POTUS has tentatively endorsed barely scratches the surface of our problem & must be just the start of a legislative remedy that at a minimum fully strengthens & funds #backgroundchecks, closes loopholes, & keeps guns from ppl who shouldn’t have them. 4/
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 21, 2018
Trump is scheduled to meet later at the White House on Wednesday with survivors from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., shooting.
